The Northern Digital Awards are judged by a panel of industry leaders and experts in a rigorous two stage process including pre-scoring to determine shortlists and a judging meeting where entries are discussed and evaluated in detail to decide winners.
The 2023 Judges will be announced shortly
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Judges
Mike Barker | Strategic Leader | Local Government and NHS
Mike Barker started his career in PR working for local authorities and leading agencies within the NW. He moved in house to the NHS in 2002 and has since held a variety of director of communications, corporate affairs and corporate strategy roles. He has held Board level positions within the NHS for the last 20 years holding amongst his responsibilities the communications portfolio. He is currently the CEO of an NHS organisation responsible for a £450m commissioning budget with extensive stakeholder relations programmes.
Joanna Bodley | Senior Lecturer In Digital Marketing & Marketing | Manchester Metropolitan University
With over ten years’ experience, Joanna Bodley has seen every side of the industry from creative to comms and large to small agencies, as well as in-house teams. She has developed, implemented and overseen social and digital strategies and provided guidance for a wide range of clients like The Co-operative Bank, Gumtree and Chewits. She has a keen understanding of the complexities involved in making digital, social media, content and advertising efforts a success. She harnesses this as a speaker and professional educator, having delivered training for numerous organisations, including Econsultancy. Jo is now a Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and course director for their MSc Digital Marketing programme. She also runs her own consultancy, Jo & Co.
Saikiran Chandha | CEO | Typeset
Saikiran Chandha is the CEO and founder of SciSpace (Formerly Typeset), the only integrated research platform to discover, write, publish, and disseminate your research paper. He is a Times of India 40 under 40 awardee and the recipient of the Indian Achievers Award - the prestigious Indian National Award. In addition, he is featured on Forbes, Fortune, and NASDAQ.
Richard Dawson | DIGITAL MARKETING COACH | CHESHIRE DIGITAL MARKETING
Richard has over 20 years of experience and has helped more than 30 SME Business Owners successfully grow their business to the NEXT LEVEL using the latest digital marketing best practice. His clients tell him, that as well as helping them to successfully grow their business, he give them lots of great advice, helped them focus, help them keep an eye on the bigger picture and not get distracted! He also works with Digital Marketing Agencies and Service providers to enhance their offering to clients and add value to what they do. He also writes about Politics and Digital Campaigning.
Mike Deyes | Deputy Director of Marketing | University of Liverpool
Mike is the Associate Director of Marketing at the University of Liverpool and leads on digital channels. He has a background in PR, communications and fundraising in both charity and education sectors. Mike is a great supporter of industry awards having sat on Northern Digital, Public Sector and other judging panels.
David Edmundson-Bird | PRINCIPAL LECTURER IN DIGITAL MARKETING & ENTERPRISE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR: DIGITAL INNOVATION | Manchester Metropolitan University
David is Principal Lecturer in Digital Marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he leads a team of specialist digital marketing academics and runs a number of digital communications programmes. He is co-author of 7th edition of Digital Business & E-commerce Management with Dave Chaffey and Tanya Hemphill. David is Chair of Global Judging Standards for Don’t Panic. His role is to ensure objectivity, transparency and consistency across the judging panels for all Don’t Panic assets, and to provide a quality assurance process in the judging process. He set up Manchester Met’s first part-time MSc in Digital Marketing in 2007, their first full-time MSc Digital Marketing Communications in 2016 and Manchester Met’s Global E-Learning MSc in Digital Marketing. David founded Manchester Met’s Agency Life programme in 2012 to enable students to experience live work skills in the workplace very early in their course. He has enjoyed several spells in academia as well as senior management roles in the digital sector, helped to set up Manchester’s second web design agency back in 1995, He sits on the Board FutureEverything and is a trustee of The Education Trust.
Adam Guerguis | Head of Operations | Airbnb
Based in Montreal, Adam has more than 10 years in search marketing and growth hacking experience. His latest job is Head of Operations for airbnb organic growth. He also has been working with very exciting brands in several industries, languages, and sizes like Yahoo!, MSN, Groupon, UNHCR, Skrill, Paysafe card, and others. Adam is also a digital marketing trainer, guest speaker, mentor, digital marketing blogger since 2010, and a MSc. Marketing Candidate. In his free time, Adam likes coding and reading about marketing,
Tom Hill | Head of Digital Marketing | Pretty Little Thing
Tom has over 10 years of experience in Digital Marketing, having worked at independent agencies, network agencies, and in-house. After starting his career agency-side, working on accounts such as Asda, Halfords, Sofology and Ronseal, he made the move in-house, firstly leading the Digital Marketing and Media teams at Sky Bet, before his recent move to Pretty Little Thing, where he is the Head of Digital Marketing. He has previously guest lectured at Leeds Beckett University and Leeds Trinity University, and has also acted as an advisor to multiple ad tech companies. Tom brings a wealth of experience across the entire spectrum of Digital Marketing channels.
Shashank Katare | Senior Engagement Manager, Digital Strategy Group | Adobe
Shashank Katare is a Senior Engagement Manager and a leader in the Digital Strategy Group (DSG) at Adobe. Shashank is a seasoned technology and strategy leader with 13+ years of highly diversified experience across a mix of business industries including Retail, Travel & Hospitality, and Consumer Goods. He works with senior client executives, leading digital transformation & customer experience initiatives for Adobe's enterprise retail clients and provides data-driven strategic thinking to C-level executives to define vision for business transformation, personalization at scale and business value. Shashank leads opportunity identification and data driven analyses, and drives cross-functional collaboration, alignment and execution across the organization. He is an experienced people leader and is passionate about building high performing teams and building a strong organizational culture. He holds an MBA from NYU Stern and HEC Paris and a B.E (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from BITS Pilani, India.
Katrina Kerr | Chair of Chester Bid and Trustee | Storyhouse
Katrina works as a marketing consultant, primarily in tourism and is a trustee of Storyhouse and Chair of the Chester Business Improvement District, an organisation dedicated to positioning Chester as a city that offers the highest all round quality of life. She is also a board member of the Tourism Society. Prior to that she was CEO of Marketing Cheshire, she reformulated the business model to ensure the longevity and commercial viability of the organisation, overhauled its digital channels and footprint, developed its relationship with Visit Britain. Katrina has also worked for a number of multinational communications agencies - Ogilvy, J Walter Thompson, Publicis on campaigns for clients such as HSBC, Unilever, American Express, Reckitt Benckiser and the UK Government. She started her career in HM Diplomatic Service where she worked in Paris and Brussels. Katrina studied languages at the University of Bristol and has an MBA from INSEAD.
Steve Kuncewicz | Head Of Creative, Digital & Marketing Sector Group | BLM Law
Steve is a Partner and Head of Creative, Digital and Marketing at BLM Law in Manchester. He specialises in intellectual property, media social media and privacy law and is listed as a "recommended lawyer" in the Legal 500’s 2019 edition, and was a Co-founder if 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 and Co-Chair of Creative ProManchester.
Phil Leather | Head of Marketing | Parallax
Jude Liemburg | Marketing Director | GOARC
Bringing over 15 years of experience as a marketing professional in the high-tech industry, working with companies to create and strengthen their market position internationally. Extensive global marketing experience in the B2B industry, development, establishment and on-going marketing activities of both start-up companies and large corporations. Highly experienced at marketing strategies and initiatives that are aimed to facilitate the company's business goals, while contributing to the company product's distribution, sales, revenue and the perception of its brand.
Trond Lyngbø | SENIOR SEO CONSULTANT | Search Planet
Trond Lyngbø is the founder of Search Planet and a senior SEO Consultant. He has over two decades of experience in SEO, e-commerce, content strategy and digital analysis. His clients include multinational Fortune 500 corporations and major Norwegian companies. Trond has helped grow businesses through more effective search marketing and SEO strategies. He is most passionate about working with e-commerce companies and web shops to develop and expand their omni-channel marketing initiatives.
Denise Maskew | Head of Digital Ecommerce | Talk Talk
Jack Norell | Consultant
Dina Okeil Taha | SEO Manager | Majed Al Futtaim
Dina Taha has been in the Marketing industry for 20+ years, with a background in both Offline and Online marketing in the MENA region covering different industries like Pharmaceuticals, Education, Retail and finally E-Commerce, Dina is the SEO Manager for Carrefour Egypt one of the biggest retail players in Middle East (Majed Al Futtaim). Dina’s role is to leverage both SEO and ASO activities for Carrefour’s Online presence in terms of website and mobile application. She is a big advocate for data-led decisions and loves digging through numbers. Her regional roles allowed her to get the essence of different markets in Middle East & North Africa. Dina has a passion for training too; she has a number of guided SEO courses on Coursera. Dina believes in continuous learning and stretching her capabilities, so she pursued study MIBA (Major: International Marketing) and graduated from ESLSCA -Paris. In her time off she loves traveling & exploring different cultures and doing adventure activities
Giulia Panozzo | Senior Manager, Search Marketing | StockX
Pankaj Pilaniwala | Product Owner | Google
Pankaj Pilaniwala is an insightful Product leader who has extensive experience in creating impactful products that can grow businesses and change lives. He's led and built products in Edtech, Fintech, and other customer-facing technologies - including running a startup that gamified learning experience. He understands how to create data-driven products that give customers what they need. He brings together expertise in tech, and people management skills when it comes to creating an aesthetically pleasing tech ecosystem. His product acumen makes him an inspirational leader. He is an expert in his field. He is a true innovator who constantly explores new technologies to create new solutions to provide customers with the best possible experiences and has a proven track record of delivering delightful product experiences.
Stewart Plant | Head of Marketing | Zaun Limited
Stewart Plant is the Head of Marketing for Zaun Limited, the last British in-house manufacturer of woven and welded mesh fencing systems. Over his 25-year career, he has been responsible for leading the marketing and communications for major public and private sector organisations. A former full-time photographer in the Royal Air Force, he was responsible for the multimedia and communications of the RAF Search and Rescue Force, engaging with national news channels and publications to promote the vital work of the force globally. For the last 9 years, he has been a champion of construction product marketing around the world, working as Group Marketing Manager (EMEA), Head of Marketing, and Marketing Director. In his spare time, Stewart is a rower and has represented at numerous competitions across the UK and Europe including the World Rowing Masters Regatta competing against former Olympians in a single scull.
Erin Portsmouth | Director of Corporate Affairs | Oldham Cares
Erin is a Chartered public relations practitioner who started her career in private sector marketing and communications consultancies, but for the past eleven years has worked in the National Health Service. She is currently Director of Corporate Affairs at NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group where she oversees a portfolio including communications, engagement, public affairs, equality and diversity, organisational development and governance. She has a Masters degree in public relations, and served on the Chartered Institute of Public Relations North West Group Committee as a volunteer for ten years, also holding a three year term as Chair. She was appointed to the Board of Trustees of homelessness charity Emmaus Salford in 2017.
Daniel Saunders | Retail eCommerce Manager | Stanley Black and Decker
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.
Silvia Sigrist | Marketing Manager | Seep
Silvia Sigrist is the Marketing Manager at eco home care brand Seep, where she leads e-commerce growth strategy and performance. Having spent three years working agency side specialising in digital campaigns, and three years working in startups, Silvia understands how to design and implement strategies that propel brands and products forward. Silvia has worked for both multinationals and startups including Hewlett-Packard, FrieslandCampina, JLL, and AllBright. In addition to her marketing experience, Silvia is a trained mentor. Silvia holds an MSc in Strategic Marketing from Imperial College Business School.
Matthew Tasker | Head of Digital Channels | United Utilities
Matt leads the digital channels team at United Utilities, the largest listed water company in the UK serving more than 3 million homes and businesses in the North West. Matt’s team looks after digital customer service including social media and webchat, digital marketing and optimising the customer experience, and the performance of a range of digital customer journeys across various platforms. Prior to working at United Utilities, Matt started his career as a business management graduate at RWE npower before moving on to hold various marketing and digital roles at npower, Vax and British Gas. Outside of work he’s also the chairman of Hale Barns Cricket Club.
Naomi Timperley | Co Founder | Tech North Advocates and GSI
Co Founder of Tech North Advocates. Proud to be in the top 50 Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK IT 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Naomi is an experienced growth and innovation consultant with established relationships across the UK. She has extensive experience working with start-ups and growth businesses particularly in the tech, digital and creative sectors. Naomi has been a mentor for 8 years and mentored several hundred businesses. She an Honorary Industry Fellow at the University of Salford Business School and chair of the Industry Advisory Board. Naomi also sits on the board of charity Digital Inc and social Enterprise PIE. She was previously Chair of Future Everything and Capital Pilot.
Anthony Wharton | Senior Strategist | Tangerine
Anthony is a Senior Strategist who manages cross channel activation at all stages of the digital marketing funnel. He takes a data-driven and insight-led approach to campaign ideation and distribution that helps brands achieve their business objectives.
Anna Wilson | Head of Digital Development | Tangerine
Anna works day-to-day to build brands online, creating audience-first social media activity integrated with the wider digital footprint to deliver meaningful results for the brand. Over the last 12 years Anna has worked with the team to create multi-award winning campaigns with brands like Yorkshire Bank, Thomas Cook Sport, Virgin Media, Pizza Hut Restaurants and Specsavers.
Claire Worthington | Managing Director | Village Web Company CIC
Claire is a web developer, mentor and digital skills trainer from Stockport in Greater Manchester. She is passionate about digital exclusion and encouraging diversity in the tech industry. Claire is the founder of Village Web Company CIC, a social enterprise, which builds websites and delivers a range of training courses.