The Northern Digital Awards have been celebrating all things digital in the North of England for over 10 years.
Ethical, transparent and respected, the awards are judged by esteemed industry experts who follow a robust two-step judging process that includes pre-scoring to establish a shortlist and judge discussion to determine winners and in some cases silver awards.
None of our award judges can take part in the competition and any conflicts of interest must be declared.
The Northern Digital Awards have been accredited ‘Outstanding’ by the Independent Awards Standards Council – Awards Trust Mark.
To apply to become a judge, fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
Abbi has had a long career in Financial Services which has given her a deep understanding of customer needs, motivations and behaviours. An avid consumer of social media herself, she has lead on a number of social media campaigns for Barclays UK across a range of segments from home-ownership to wealth management and everything in between. Most recently her focus has been on engaging at an ultra-local level with customers and communities across the UK working with agencies, professionals and colleagues to build the value of the Barclays brand.
Andrew Diggle | Head of Digital Content | Formula 1
Andrew is a deeply experienced global media leader, expert in directing large-scale sports and entertainment digital platforms, international fan engagement and commercialisation. Currently he oversees global digital content for Formula 1, one of the fastest growing sports across digital platforms in the world. Previously Andrew oversaw Content, Programming and Production at Manchester United, and directed all of its media platforms through unprecedented digital transformation, growth and extension in a ground-breaking commercial and digital environment. Prior to Sport, Andrew was central in B2B and B2C start-ups in funding and innovation support, and digital publishing in the scientific, medical and reference areas.
Andrew Parker | SEO & Organic Growth Consultant |
Angelika Eremeeva | Global Social Media Lead | Travelpayouts
Angelika Eremeeva is an award-winning social media and travel marketing expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She has worked with some of the world's leading travel brands, events, and platforms, including National Geographic, Medium.com, Wanderful, TBEX, Booking.com, GetYourGuide, Agoda, SkyUp Airlines, Expedia Group, Viator, and Tripadvisor. Angelika is known for developing a unique viral SMM strategy that helps brands create high-impact content, engage global audiences, and generate millions of views. Her expertise in content creation, influencer collaborations, and data-driven marketing has made her a recognized leader in the digital space.
Archana Dhankar | Senior Director, Marketing- Global Demand & Social Media | Sutherland
With 20+ years of experience in global marketing, I specialize in growth strategies powered by strategic AI implementation. I have helped organizations enhance marketing and sales effectiveness while delivering measurable business outcomes. As a LinkedIn Top Voice (2024) and TEDx speaker, I'm passionate about helping marketing organisations embrace AI while maintaining brand integrity and human creativity at the core of their strategies.
Boluwa Olojo | Growth & Performance Marketing | Helping Hands Home Care
Chris Barnicott | Chief Technology Officer | SSE Plc
Chris is currently the Chief Technology Officer for SSE and has over 25 years of experience with technology strategy and solutions for consumers, business and industry. Chris’ career has spanned the beginnings of cable TV, internet and communications in the UK with Virgin Media and the digital evolution of the energy industry with Centrica and SSE.
Clare Sweeney | Consultant | Keepace.Consults
Dan Morehead | SEO Manager | Channel 4
Dan has been in the SEO industry for over a decade and is now leading SEO at Channel 4 as the legacy public service broadcaster transitions into the streaming age. Previously at the BBC, he specialises in digital transformation and technical SEO for enterprise websites. Former SEO speaking engagements have included BrightonSEO and Friends of Search in Amsterdam.
Daniel Saunders | Director of Digital | Evergreen Finance London
I've worked in Digital for 18 years. Within Digital marketing I work closely with the directors and heads of service to identify new business opportunities and Strategies. Having an in-depth understanding of different markets and competitors in the area to maintain a competitive advantage which is used to work alongside key stakeholders in managing the translation of the business strategy into clear plans. Proactively researching markets, competitors within different regions and establishing ways to develop a competitive advantage within our strategies. Within Stanley Black and Decker, I am a catalyst for change, I plan and execute UK market E-commerce and digital marketing activities to increase sales, grow online channels, and grow new and existing online customers managing substantial 6 figures budgets over many different groups. As an international keynote speaker in the Digital sphere, I inspire and lead a large team of specialists, drive the delivery of brilliant digital products and services, mentoring at levels from executives to C suite. I utilize analytics and insight tools to evaluate end-to-end customer experience across multiple customer touch points. Working with trade marketing teams to analyse product categories and make appropriate product mix recommendations and effectively contributes to SEO, PPC, UX and CRO. I have built, nurtured and lead a diverse, multidisciplinary team to deliver digital transformation across the Stanley Black and Decker group. Defining the required digital capabilities across our people, their processes, and the technology we use. With Stanley Black and Decker being a multinational corporation, I make myself a visible leader by holding regular lectures and Q and A sessions with entry executives all the way up to C suite teams.
David Edmundson-Bird | Principal Lecturer in Digital Marketing & Enterprise Associate Director: Digital Innovation | Manchester Metropolitan University
David Edmundson-Bird is Principal Lecturer in Digital Marketing and Faculty Lead for AI at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, responsible for developing policy and good practice embedding the use and practice of Digital and AI in teaching, research and business engagement. He lectures on core taught modules in SEO, digital strategy and E-Commerce at degree apprentice, undergraduate, and postgraduate level. David has worked in senior management roles in the digital sector (opening Manchester’s 2nd web design agency - Sozo - in 1995 and taking on his first E-commerce client in 1996) as well as spells in academia. He consults for SMEs providing training, coaching, and mentoring in strategic marketing, digital marketing practice, and e-commerce development themes. He delivers Digital and AI practice learning for SMEs as part of the UK Government Help to Grow programme as well as the UKRI-funded Centre for Digital Innovation. He is co-author of editions 7 and 8 of Pearson’s Digital Business & E-commerce Management with Dave Chaffey and Tanya Hemphill.
Elaine Mullan | Head of Marketing | Corlytics |
Elaine Mullan is the Head of Marketing at Corlytics, a leading global provider of regulatory risk intelligence and analytics for the financial services industry. She brings extensive experience from her successful tenure at various technology firms, where she led impactful marketing campaigns and product launches on a global scale. Elaine has been recognised as one of the top 30 most influential marketers in the fintech sector.
Jaime Hill | Ecommerce Director | ex Oak Furnitureland, Hurtigruten & Monsoon Accessorize
Jaime has over two decades of experience as a Marketing & Ecommerce professional with a successful track record leading teams and developing strategy to transform organisations’ digital capability and channels to market. She has had success in roles at brands including Avis, Barclays, Dairy Crest and Oak Furnitureland, and across a wide range of B2B and B2C vertical markets. Most recently, Jaime was Interim Head of Ecommerce & Trading at Monsoon. A graduate of the Institute of Digital Marketing and qualified Executive Business Coach, Jaime's professional passion is for making life easier for the customer at every touch point.
Jason Yip | Head of Marketing Web, CRM and Analytics. | Newcastle University
Jason has over 20 years of Digital marketing experience, working in both the public and private sector for organisations such as One NorthEast, NewcatleGatehead Initiative, both universities in Newcastle upon Tyne; Northumbria University and now Newcastle University as the Head of Marketing Web, CRM and Analytics. He has led on and been nationally recognised for delivering diverse and creative Digital marketing projects, including the World’s ‘Coolest’ Tourism website as voted by the Sunday Times, Geordieland, an innovative use of a real-time social media map of Newcastle, NU World a virtual experience platform for Northumbria University and was recognised by The Economist as a ‘Change Ambassador’ for driving innovation in Marketing Technology.
Jennifer Szczepaniak Sloane | Marketing Manager | Lynton
With over a decade in Marketing, Jennifer is an expert in marketing processes and requirements for delivering success. Jennifer started her career within the science industry and has since gained experienced in a range of verticals, progressing from a Product and Marketing executive, through to Head of Marketing. After completing her MBA at Leeds University, Jennifer applied her knowledge, combined with previous experience to help grow her company. Jennifer is always looking to learn more from within and outside of her industry and champions innovation at any opportunity.
Jo O'Reilly | Freelance digital PR consultant |
Jo O’Reilly is a Freelance digital PR consultant based in Chester. She has been working in Digital PR for 6 years and before going freelance had worked both in-house and agency side. Before pivoting to Digital PR she worked as a journalist. She is fascinated with all things digital pr, especially reactive pr and newsjacking.
Karen Webber is a marketing coach and strategist. As the owner of Goodness Marketing, Karen helps small businesses with big hearts do marketing that feels good, does good and gets good results.
Kim Bull | PR, Social Media and Brand Activation Manager | Specsavers
Kim Bull is a brand and marketing leader with a background in healthcare, sports, and retail. Kim has helped brands such as Specsavers, Aldi, and Science in Sport grow through creative campaigns and smart strategy. With a wide range of experience spanning award-winning product launches to major sports partnerships with Team GB, Tottenham Hotspur, and INEOS Grenadiers, Kim brings both creativity and commercial focus to every project. Passionate about building high-performing teams and telling stories that connect, Kim thrives on turning insight into impact and driving tangible business results.
Limor Barenholtz | SEO Director | Similar Web
Limor is the SEO Director at Similarweb, and has been practicing SEO for 20 years now. Limor specializes in all aspects of Technical SEO - From JavaScript SEO & rendering, through mobile & multi-device optimization, all the way to page experience metrics - She loves the challenges it presents, clean codes makes her smile & creating scalable SEO strategies makes her happy. As the former Head of SEO at McCann Tel Aviv, Limor has vast experience in both local & international SEO for major brands & publishers, as well as in planning & integration with multi-channel campaigns. Limor is a speaker at BrightonSEO, co-author of the "In-house SEO Book", and a judge at The Drum Awards When she's not doing SEO, Limor loves playing Poker and handball, listening to music, and being with her baby twins - Naomi & Maayan.
Lottie Hippisley is Brand Marketing Manager at Ocado Retail, where she brings a wealth of experience from her role leading print media and brand partnerships. Having led marketing at search marketing agency Honchō, her career spans both startups and global brands, including the Moonpig Group's Buyagift and Red Letter Days, where she honed a unique blend of creative flair and commercial acumen in the acquisition team.
Lukasz Zelezny, UK Search Awards judge, Top10 UK Social Media influencer and former director of organic performance at uSwitch / Zoopla. Currently is working as an independent SEO Consultant helping in organic traffic acquisition, technical SEO and content marketing. Lukasz started his career in 2005 and has since been responsible for the organic performance of a number of companies including HomeAway, Thomson Reuters, The Digital Property Group, Fleetway Travel, uSwitch, Zoopla. Each year Lukasz is speaking at many SEO and social media conferences. He was a speaker at ClickZ Shanghai China, ClickZ Jakarta Indonesia, SiMGA Malta, SES London as well as Marketing Festival in Brno, Brighton SEO in Brighton and UnGagged in London. Every year he is actively participating in 10 to 20 events as an SEO/Social Media keynote speaker. Additionally, he organizes workshops and meetups where he is sharing tips around SEO, Social Media and Analytics. To get in touch with Lukasz simply search “Lukasz Zelezny” or visit https://Zelezny.uk
Meriem Nacer is the founder of 4M Digital Consulting Ltd, where she applies 13+ years’ paid media agency experience to provide cutting-edge PPC, Display, YouTube, and Paid Social advertising strategies. A Google Ads and Microsoft Ads specialist, Meriem's expertise extends from strategic consultancy and audits to hands-on management and training for global brands and retailers. Her budget management skills are exemplary, having handled weekly budgets from £500 to £3M, amounting to over £150M annually. Meriem's work encompasses a diverse range of sectors, including retail, cosmetics, luxury, travel and finance, making her a versatile and sought-after digital marketing consultant. She is also a published author and certified PTLLS-accredited trainer, recognised for her contributions to digital marketing knowledge and education.
Nadya Koleva | CEO | Eventagrate
Nadya is a senior executive with an outstanding track record in Marketing, Events, Operations, Interactive Technology and Business Development, working with companies such as NEOM, HBO Max, Cartier, Nokia, Atlantis, Nissan, Qatar Airways etc. A proven leader of high-performing teams, who aim to create seamless journeys both online and offline, connecting the dots of what it truly means to be “digital”. Most recently Nadya was the head of Planning, Operations and Data science of NEOM’s Marketing team and has just transitioned to her new role as a CEO of a digitally driven real estate company in Dubai.
Neville Hobson | Social Strategist, Communicator, Podcaster |
Neville Hobson is a UK-based communication professional, consultant, and podcaster with extensive experience in digital marketing and social media strategies. Over three decades in corporate communication, he has been a prominent figure in how emerging technologies, and social media, shape business, communication, and marketing practices. Neville co-founded the popular business podcast For Immediate Release (FIR) in 2005, offering insights and opinions on public relations, social media, and digital communication to a global audience. Known for his expertise in external and internal communication and the evolving role of AI, Neville has helped organisations use podcasting to enhance their communication and engagement strategies. An early adopter and advocate of digital communication, Neville has been blogging since 2002 and sharing insights at industry and other public events. He is a frequent speaker at client events where he discusses the intersection of technology, communication, and business, and future trends. As a long-serving judge for multiple communication awards contests, he brings a seasoned perspective to evaluating digital communication excellence.
Nina Keh | Head of Content and Marketing | shesaid.so
Nina Kehagia is a creative strategist, music & culture curator and researcher at University of Liverpool. She currently serves as the Head of Content and Marketing at shesaid.so, contributes as a board member of the Liverpool City Region Music Board and runs a music community called Groove Inspired. Nina’s independent research and work focus on the intersection of the music business and new technologies, music cities, cultural aspects of music, and dance music history. Her extensive professional collaborations include partnerships with renowned record labels (e.g., Mute, K7!, Warp), festivals (e.g., Sònar, Soundcity, Primavera Sound), and established artists (e.g., Laurent Garnier, DJ Paulette).
Oleksandra Khilova | SEO Specialist and Marketing Manager | Collaborator.pro
Oleksandra Khilova is SEO Specialist and Marketing Manager at Collaborator.pro. Oleksandra has over 8 years of experience in SEO and Digital PR. Oleksandra regularly attends webinars, conferences, and SEO-related events. She focuses on SEO, Link Building, Marketing, Branding, and Reputation Management.
Phil Bacon | Marketing Director, Strategist, and Consultant | Marketing Managed
I'm a marketing strategist with over 20 years of experience spanning in-house roles, agency collaborations, and consultancy. My career has taken me across diverse sectors, including education, food, technology, engineering, and manufacturing, where I’ve been involved in almost every aspect and channel in marketing, whether that has been hands-on or managing multiple agency and freelance relationships. Before founding Bacon Marketing in 2020, now Marketing Managed, I've worked in senior marketing roles for various companies, both in-house and agency-side. These roles allowed me to hone my skills in campaign execution, lead generation, and strategic planning. Over the years, I’ve led high-stakes marketing initiatives, including complex multi-product and brand launches, digital marketing transformations, and multi-channel campaigns that have consistently delivered results. My early career gave me valuable experience in managing complex marketing operations, working with multi-disciplinary teams, and building strategies for businesses aiming to grow. Whether it was coordinating large-scale campaigns for industry leaders or scrapy startups, I’ve always approached challenges with a focus on innovation and results. Over the last 5 years, I’ve channelled my experience into building a four-stage marketing process that’s helped clients achieve measurable success. I’ve executed thousands of campaigns, from raising brand awareness to delivering exceptional ROI, and I’ve shared my expertise with the broader marketing community through podcasts, webinars, and industry discussions. When I’m not working on campaigns or consulting with clients, I'm probably spending time with my family, building Lego, or crafting something tasty in the kitchen.
Rejoice Ojiaku | SEO Manager | Nelson Bostock UNLIMITED
Rejoice Ojiaku is an SEO Specialist & Content Strategist, as well as the Co-Founder of B-DigitalUK – a platform for showcasing and empowering black talent in the UK digital marketing scene. Her expertise lies in SEO, Diversity and inclusion, all bolstered by strong personal branding both online and offline.
Richard Gregory | Founder | AgencyNXD
Richard is co-founder of AgencyNXD as well as an advisor and NXD to multiple tech firms and agencies, including Adzooma, Fluid Digitial and Ruler Analytics. Heralding from “Silicon Ramsbottom” he is an ardent supporter of the digital and tech industry in the North of England. Previously, Richard was the managing director of digital agency Latitude, director of Tech North and co-founder of SAScon.
Rory Armitage-Burns | Head of Growth | Hairburst
Shai Belinsky | SEO Manager | Similar Web
Shruti Khanna | Manager - Games Data Science and Engineering | Netflix
With over 15 years of experience in the tech industry, I am a seasoned analytics and data science leader who has made significant contributions to renowned companies such as Netflix, Meta, Intuit, and Informatica. My career is marked by a proven track record of leading high-performing analytics and data science teams to deliver insights and analytics that drive business performance and growth. I excel in building strong cross-functional relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders, both technical and non-technical, to achieve strategic business outcomes. My approach is proactive, setting high-impact, innovative visions, priorities, and roadmaps while anticipating and addressing challenges in the analytics and data science landscape. I lead through influence, empowering and amplifying the work of my team to foster a culture of innovation. My expertise lies in leveraging advanced analytics to deliver impactful business solutions and translating complex insights into strategic initiatives that propel business growth.
Sian Nicholas | Global Social Media Manager | Charlotte Tilbury
A driven and ambitious creative, with 6 years experience working in social media and fashion marketing for both leading retailers and on a freelance basis. Siân is currently Global Social Media Manager at Charlotte Tilbury and her speciality focuses on Instagram and events. A graduate of University of Southampton, Winchester School of Art with a 2:1 honours degree in Fashion Marketing, plus additional modules in Writing for The Creative Industries and Writing to Publication. Siân also holds a certification in Fashion Law from The Fashion Law Institute at Fordham University, NYC.
Simon Howland | Digital Marketing Consultant |
Simon is an independent consultant, qualified scuba diver, sailor and aspiring badminton player. When not at sea or on a court he works with ambitious companies wanting to understand, shape and accelerate their online performance. With 20+ years experience across multiple industries and sectors, he has developed a fresh and unique approach to delivering impressive commercial results focussed on the things that really matter, avoiding wasting time and budgets by developing better working practices across people, technology and strategy. Not afraid to make tough decisions backed by data and experience, and with an extensive network of digital professionals to call on, he is well positioned to help even the most ambitious clients succeed.
Simon To | Digital Director & Consultant | Website3.com
Simon To is the Digital Director & Consultant at Website3.com, Simon goes above and beyond delivering performance marketing solutions for clients. Simon has over 12+ years of practical experience and 200+ clients under his belt. Website3.com is a new generation of digital media & marketing, supporting clients with the new wave of generative AI in marketing and automation. Website3 provides hands on digital consultancy for all your marketing needs. Website3 Paid Media Services include: Google . PPC . Shopping . Search . Bing . Social Media . Facebook . Instagram . YouTube . CTV . Display . Programmatic . Native . Analytics . Strategy . Planning . Delivery
Stephen Kenwright | |
Stephen founded SEARCH-FIRST creative agency Rise at Seven in 2019, growing it to employ 110 people across 4 offices and reaching revenues of more than £7m, before exiting in 2022. He previously held senior roles at digital transformation consultancy Kin + Carta PLC and the UK's largest automotive retailer Pendragon PLC. He founded SearchLeeds, a conference that hosted more than 2,000 marketers at the first direct arena in its most recent iteration.
Stephen Waddington | Director | Wadds Inc
Stephen Waddington is the founder and managing partner of Wadds Inc, a professional advisory firm for agencies and communications teams, and a co-founder of Socially Mobile Community Interest Company. He is pursuing a PhD at Leeds Business School, underscoring his commitment to advancing the industry's understanding of public relations through academic research. Waddington originally trained as an engineer. His interest in technology and its communicative aspects led him to a career in public relations. He has worked for The Economist, HM Government, Intel, Microsoft, The Press Association, NHS, Tesco and Virgin Media Business clients. He has written and edited ten books, including Brand Anarchy, Exploring Public Relations and Management Communication and Share This, and served as President of the CIPR.
Steve Kuncewicz | Head Of Creative, Digital & Marketing | Glaisyers ETL
Steve is a Partner and Head of Creative, Digital and Marketing at Glaisyers ETL in Manchester. He specialises in intellectual property, media social media and privacy law and is listed as a "recommended lawyer" in the Legal 500, and was a oo-founder pf the Bulletproof Agency Network. He is a regular media spokesperson, and has given interviews to the local and national press through BBC Breakfast, Sky News, ITV, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live and LBC London. Steve is also the Manchester Publicity Association’s Honorary Solicitor.
Tom Booth | Marketing Director & Freelance Brand Consultant | Bring to Reason
Tom Booth, Marketing Director and Brand Consultant, is the founder of Bring to Reason, a consultancy built to make brands better from the inside out. He is a seasoned brand and marketing transformation consultant with over a decade of leadership experience across both agency and client-side roles. Tom specialises in unlocking commercial performance through strategic creativity, digital optimisation, and hands-on implementation. His expertise spans FMCG, sport, property, and hospitality. He played a key role in building challenger cleaning brand Elbow Grease and has worked with major sporting names including RDX Sports, Adidas, and the NFL. In property and placemaking, he has led campaigns for developers across the UK. Tom also led his previous agency with a strong focus on hospitality and F&B, delivering standout campaigns for Turtle Bay, Barburrito, Individual Restaurant Group, TRG, and a long-term retained partnership with Carlsberg Marstons.
Victory is a Founder and Freelance Marketing Consultant at Contenticore with six years of global experience working with over 20 brands across the US, Asia, Africa, and Europe. She currently serves as the Marketing Coordinator, Europe at GMAC, where she supports marketing initiatives and sales strategy. She is also the Co-founder of Clazenix, an organisation built on a mission to empower young professionals globally with digital marketing skills. She holds a Master's in International Business Management (Distinction) at Coventry University. Her focus is on applying practical expertise to help brands strengthen their content strategy and enhance visibility.
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What’s It Really Like to Judge the Northern Digital Awards: A Behind-the-Scenes LookRead More
"The awards ceremony reminds us how strong digital performance is in the north of the UK and it’s great to have this recognised at an event. As an agency, it’s great to come together with agencies and businesses from the north to recognise some of the fantastic work completed over the last 12 months and celebrate in true northern style!" Cedarwood Digital
"The Northern Digital Awards is a highly anticipated event that celebrates the outstanding achievements of digital marketing agencies across the North of England. Simul Digital’s nominations across multiple categories highlight our expertise and dedication to excellence. We are proud to have been shortlisted for the following awards: Best PPC Campaign, Best Ecommerce Website, and Best Small Digital Agency of the Year." Simul Digital
"We couldn’t be more thrilled to be a finalist across all six of the categories we entered. outbloom was created as an accessible solution for brands looking for innovative solutions and experienced partners for their performance marketing. This is the first time we have entered the Northern Digital Awards since founding outbloom, so to be shortlisted against our peers, many of which we know personally is a true testament to our values and success over the past 18 months. We couldn’t be more proud to be shortlisted, and are looking forward to awards night (we all know Northerner’s know how to party!)" outbloom
“We couldn’t be prouder to be shortlisted for the third year on the trot, and especially when we have secured a place on the shortlist in four award categories! We take these awards very seriously and always find it rewarding to be recognised independently for the hard work that we as a team, together with our partners put in day in day out. Whilst the wider market conditions have been challenging over the last twelve months, we have managed to deliver another record breaking year and we can never underestimate the contribution of our partners to our continued success. We’re looking forward to attending the Northern Digital Awards together with our Northern based partners and hopefully toasting a victory!”Paul Thompson Face the Future
“It’s amazing to be shortlisted for the Northern Digital Awards for the third year in a row. As a proud Yorkshireman and Northern company, we’re delighted to be shortlisted alongside the best campaigns and digital business’ in the North. Being recognised shows the power of teamwork, with Face the Future’s performance continuing to positively trend against the market, which is seeing negative growth. We’re looking forward to attending the Northern Digital Awards with the team from Face the Future and Green Ginger Digital. Good luck to everyone that has been shortlisted!” First Digital
