Judges 22

Katrina Marshall is a communications specialist and trained journalist.  She’s on the PRCA’s Race Ethnicity and Equity board and lectures & writes about social justice; diversity & inclusion and the intersect between race, gender and sexuality.

Katrina works in communications for an NHS Community Trust and loves fast horses, hot curries and fine wine.”

Vicki’s career in PR started in London at Channel 4 as an entertainment publicist where she managed press for The Big Breakfast, T4, 4Music, Queer as Folk and Family Guy. A jump to Granada Sky Broadcasting on the Southbank saw her launch the the UK’s first digital channels, Granada Plus and Men and Motors and from there the BBC beckoned where she launched Cbeebies and CBBC channels onto our screens. A stint at Comic Relief was the most informative role of her career and one that set her up for a life of purpose driven comms.

Back in Wales, and after spells in Welsh Government and as Director of Comms at some of Wales’ largest charities, she set up Cowshed in 2014 to create integrated behaviour change campaigns that make a real difference to the people they serve. Put simply, Cowshed exists to create campaigns that work for clients we love and causes we believe in – a purpose proudly written on a wall at their Cardiff HQ.

With her team of 20, Vicki has led award winning campaigns for Welsh Government, United Nations Refugee Agency, Comic Relief, BBC and National Trust. In this most shitty of years, Cowshed made No 9 in the Fast Growth 50, was recognised as one of the Top 50 most exciting companies to work for in Wales and won tonnes of awards.

Vicki has a strong commitment to be a driving force of change in the industry and started Wales’ first Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Internship PR programme at Cowshed in 2019.  To date this scheme has helped five amazing recruits into roles in the industry. Vicki is a Chartered PR, MPRCA and WIPR Mentor.

Alice is a client director and senior creative at Milk & Honey PR with over six years’ experience agency side. Alice has a passion for creative and purpose-led campaigns, leading Milk & Honey’s creative output. Before joining Milk & Honey, Alice worked at global consultancy Teneo, with a portfolio spanning tech, health, FMCG and charity. As well as developing and delivering corporate and consumer campaigns for household-name brands, she has extensive experience in proactive and reactive media relations and issues management. She has worked with brands including Facebook, Instagram, WW (Weight Watchers Reimagined), Tesco, King and Reckitt, and in her current role has led campaigns and press offices for Make-A-Wish UK, giffgaff and Inner Circle.

Rachael Lloyd is International Head of PR and Communications at online dating app eharmony, with a passion for creative, authentic storytelling.  She was originally a journalist for several national titles, which helped develop her powerful instincts for a winning, newsworthy campaign.

Geri Wright Chart. PR is a Senior Client and Board Director at leading agency LK Communications. A member of the PRCA Northern Ireland committee, Geri has more than 15 years of experience within the industry, having held senior positions at global agency powerhouse Ogilvy in London and Phoenix Natural Gas in Belfast.

Matt has worked with telecoms businesses since 1999, when WAP meant something entirely different and Motorola promised 3G could handle video calls (it couldn’t!). Since then he has worked with sector clients as diverse as Nortel, Ericsson and Lucent in the early days, through to ZTE, LG and Qualcomm, leading the latter for the last six years. Matt’s experience also spans the broad gamut of enterprise technologies, from cloud infrastructure to security services and mobility platforms to smart cities. Matt oversees Hotwire’s B2B portfolio in Europe, leading relationships and working in partnership with clients to develop strategy, measurement best practice and creative integrated campaigns.

Dr Sian Rees is an Associate Professor at Swansea University where she is Head of the School of Culture & Communication.  During her industry career Sian worked for Haymarket Publishing as Publishing Director and was managing director of her own marketing and PR consultancy.

Andy Jones is often found asking his colleagues, ‘but do the results match the objectives?!’ as he hunts for his next winning entry. An experienced B2B marketer who specialises in employer brand marketing and internal communications, Andy has submitted over 500 award entries for everyone else but himself.

As a member of the National Executive of NUS Wales, I was involved in the development of a response to the meningitis outbreak throughout universities in Wales in 1996.

I was the Parliamentary Candidate in Preston in the General Election of 2005 and a Borough Councilor on Merton Council between 2002 – 2006, when I worked with the Leader of the Council to improve education across the council area.

I now run Keystone Consulting. We provide strategic advice on communications and ensure all organisations – big and small – can influence their political environment.

Successes include securing 100% business rates relief for retailers, a consultation on violence against shopworkers, a place for highspeed freight in the Williams Rail Review and ensuring online and blended learning were part of the Children and Families Act 2014.

In April 2020, Party Games, my debut novel was published. It tells the story of Josephine, who having gained her dream political job, must now navigate a path between ideology and ambition.

Shayoni Lynn FCIPR FPRCA CMPRCA is CEO and Founder at multi-award-winning strategic communications and behavioural science consultancy, Lynn PR.  Shayoni is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) and Chair of PRCA Cymru.

In 2021, she was listed in the PRWeek Power Book – the definitive list of the most influential and respected communications professionals in the UK. In the same year, she was listed in the PROPEL 100 – a list of the most influential PR agency professionals in the world.

She represents Wales at the UK PR Council where she is leading a workstream on ethics and is a founding panel member and Vice-Chair of CIPR’s Behavioural Insights Interest Group, and a committee member for CIPR Education & Skills, and the Government Communication Service (GCS) South West and Wales.

Shayoni is a regular industry awards judge (CIPR, PRCA, CASE, PR Week, SABRE) and speaks on the use of data, behavioural insights, and measurement & evaluation at conferences globally.

Shayoni is an Associate Lecturer on the MA in International PR and Global Communications Management at Cardiff University. In 2019, she was recognised in the WalesOnline 35 under 35 list of top young businesswomen in Wales.

Bron Eames FCIPR MPRCA has over 40 years’ PR experience and is a champion of insightful, creative and effective communications and communicators.

Having held senior positions with many high profile agencies she is now an independent consultant working with in-house and consultancy teams as an advisor, trainer and practitioner.

Bron is chair of PRCA Midlands.

Annabel is a diverse communicator with experience at several leading UK communications consultancies. She is currently a director in the senior leadership team at Copper Consultancy, leading a team to deliver marketing, public affairs and stakeholder campaigns for the development and infrastructure sectors. She delivers campaigns that build understanding, acceptance and excitement around the world of infrastructure and development, communicating complex concepts, often in challenging political, social and environmental situations, to enable positive change and ground-breaking development.

She delivers proactive and forward-thinking communications and stakeholder engagement and her experience enables her to undertake research which continuously advances engagement techniques across the industry. This includes leading Copper’s Attitudes programme, a series of research reports designed to help the industry to overcome potential challenges before they happen, and to meet the expectations of their customers.

With over two decade’s experience in delivering integrated, multi-channel award-winning campaigns, Paul overseas creative strategy at Fanclub and Humankind.

Previously a Director in the Brand team at Edelman and at consumer agency, Fever, his clients have included, Sony, PlayStation, Sky, First Direct, NOW TV, EE, Tesco and Heineken.

Lauren Archer is a freelance Strategic Brand Marketing, PR & Social Media Consultant based in Newcastle upon Tyne, with particular expertise in the digital industry, technology sector and with B2B organisations.  Lauren has over 13 years of experience working in senior communications roles and has previously been named one of the Top 50 Women in Digital under 30 by The Drum, and a Women in Marketing Awards finalist.

Beginning her career in the third sector, Becky worked for the national veterinary charity PDSA. Following this, she made the move into the world of live events with roles at the NEC Group – the UK’s leading venue management business. In the last nine years, she has worked across a range of the Group’s brands, including the NEC, Utilita Arena Birmingham and The Ticket Factory.

Since her appointment as Head of PR and Communications in February 2020, she has led crisis management and public affairs activity on behalf of the Group, whilst also engaging with its stakeholder community to achieve strong reputational benefit and commercial aspirations.

James Brown is the CEO of wtv.

wtv. is a global hybrid and virtual event management business with operations in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America and Asia.

wtv.’s technology’s rich interactive, immersive capabilities have the potential to significantly elevate the content, engagement and delivery of events, ranging anywhere in size from fast and frequent team meetings to town halls, AGMs and other large scale moments in time.

Over the past two decades Smyth Harper has held a range of high-profile communications roles across the public sector. He is currently head of communications at Lancashire County Council, one of the country’s biggest local authorities. Outside of work he chairs LGBT Foundation, one of the UK’s leading equalities charities.

Katie Fincham is Experience Content Director at performance marketing agency, Reprise. While managing a team of over 60 content and outreach specialists she’s also responsible for the content marketing output for numerous multi-lingual, global brands including Adobe, Etihad, Hertz and Groupon.

Tired of the PR industry, and desperate for a new era of coms, Rachel founded Axe & Saw a new purpose led agency, with diversity, inclusion and equity at its core.

With over 12 years’ experience she has built a unique offering, merging brands with culture to produce fresh new perspective to the way things are done. As a result of this she’s attracted likeminded leaders and brands willing to do the work and make a positive difference to society.

Axe & Saw are clear in their vision and values, building brands that will leave a legacy for future generations. By connecting brands with their current community and showing up in the spaces they engage with, it allows authentic storytelling to be central to each campaign.

Kelly is Managing Director of award-winning agency Speed. Redefining PR in an age of earned reputation and earned trust, Speed is the largest PR agency in the South West helping its clients build brands and reputations, drive growth and inspire and engage.

An experienced communications specialist with over two decades of experience, she has worked across a myriad of sectors with market leaders and challenger brands from Grant Thornton, Virgin Media and Barclaycard to Nestlé, D S Smith, RAC and Aviva.

Her specialist skills include strategic communication consultancy, issues-based PR, ESG comms, influencer and stakeholder engagement, industry thought leadership and multi-channel content strategies. Kelly is passionate about the power of PR to connect people and effect positive change.

Marketing Lead at 3manfactory, a rev ops and brand agency in Preston, Gemma has spent the last decade creating and delivering compelling strategic marketing, social and comms campaigns for public and private sector clients across hospitality, leisure, education and inward investment. Gemma specialises in community management and social media marketing.

With more than six years of agency experience, Hannah currently works with a range of clients in the housebuilder, construction, property and financial services sectors. She also sits as co-chair on the PRCA Scotland NextGen committee, helping students and junior-mid level professionals develop their skillset through a range of events and networking opportunities.

Richard is the founder of Stone Junction, a STEM PR agency based in Stafford, Munich and Romania, and working internationally. The company handles the PR for 53 businesses, based in dozens of countries around the world and has won 40 awards for that work since 2015, including six in 2022.

Since 2018 Stone Junction has been the CIPR or PRCA outstanding consultancy in the Midlands six times, having grown at a year-on-year rate of forty-three per cent for more than a decade. In fact, the company is growing so fast, and doing so much cool stuff, that PR Week named it as an agency to watch in its 2018, and top 50 tech and top 150 overall agency in every year since.

Richard is a chartered PR practitioner, former chair of the CIPR in the Midlands and in 2019, was named in the CIPR’s ’70 at 70′ list of the UK’s most influential public relations practitioners. In 2021, Propel listed him in its 100 most influential tech PR people in the world.

Thom heads up digital for SPEY and is co-chair of the PRCA in Scotland. He has over 20 years of experience in PR and marketing, particularly online, working with Weber Shandwick, STV and 118118.”

As Managing Director and Owner of ADPR, Kate ensures the smooth day-to-day running of ADPR, its impressive portfolio of clients and team of talented staff. Kate is passionate about helping businesses to grow and succeed through the power of communications.

With over 15 years experience, Kate has worked alongside many different companies ranging from global organisations through to SMEs and start-ups. Kate’s experience has immersed her in a wide range of sectors including travel & tourism, health & fitness, marine, retail, professional services, defence and food & drink. She takes a strategic approach to marketing and PR, ensuring that activity is aligned to help clients reach their goals.

Kate is a firm believer in good leadership and people development and works closely with her team, supporting them to develop their own skill sets and professional interests.

Under Kate’s ownership, ADPR has won multiple industry awards including Outstanding Small PR Consultancy, Best Consumer Relations Campaign, Best Arts, Culture or Sports Campaign and Best Apprenticeship Employer. She was also named in South West Business Insider’s prestigious 42 Under 42 feature showcasing the region’s top business leaders and entrepreneurs under 42 years of age.

Nikki is the Managing Director of MPC. Having started at the company as an account executive, she has spent the last 10 years working through every position within the business gaining valuable on the ground experience of running tailored programmes of community and stakeholder engagement. Current clients including Homes England, Legal and General Investment Management and the Herts Growth Board. Nikki is also pioneering MPC’s products and services in the social value field.

Laura Sutherland is the Founder and Director of Aura PR, which she founded in 2008. She is a Chartered practitioner with 20+ years’ experience in integrated public relations and communication, with a specific focus on data-led strategy and integration of communication across the organisation.

Laura is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and of the PRCA, former CIPR (UK) Board Director and Council member, former Chair of the CIPR Fellows’ Forum and former Scottish Chair of PRCA and CIPR. She currently sits on the PRCA’s Misinformation and the Climate Crisis Strategy Group.

Laura was awarded the honour of the Sir Stephen Tallents Medal from the President of the CIPR in 2019. She won PRCA Dare Awards Consultant of the Year in Scotland two years in a row, 2018 and 2019. She’s been named in the CIPR’s 70at70 anniversary book, FuturePRoof’s “Once upon a time in PR, 21 public relations pioneers shaping our industry” and was included in the 2017 Vuelio Top Ten PR blogs.

Laura is host of the People Buy People podcast, founder of PRFest and she is also a mentor to PR professionals and to senior business leaders who need to better understand public relations and how to integrate it within the business.

Laura’s work spans corporate, military, entrepreneurship and consumer.

Sarah has over 25 years’ experience in PR consultancy. She spent much of her early career at Haslimann Taylor, rising to become deputy managing director. She set up Whistle PR in 2012 and manages a team offering strategic consultancy, PR, social media, internal communications and ESG. Sarah’s experience spans corporate, consumer and B2B communications within a diverse range of sectors.

Elaine is an award-winning, accredited communications professional with more than 30 years’ experience in the industry.

She specialises in media relations, and reputation management, and has worked for many different clients across private, public and third sectors.

Elaine is a volunteer advisor to the chief executive of Healthy n Happy, a community-based charity.

Lucy McKerron is Associate Director at brand and culture PR and comms agency, Purplefish. Bringing 15 years’ experience of working in employer brand and experience agencies, Lucy’s absolute passion is around brand culture and the role that can play in creating brilliant experiences across consumers and colleagues.

Senior Communications Adviser at the North East LEP, Nicola McIntosh is an experienced comms specialist, having worked in the industry for over 20 years. At the age of 28, Nicola was named PR Professional of the Year by the North East Chartered Institute of Public Relations – an accolade of which she remains extremely proud. Today, her career has come full circle – having started out working on public relations for a local economic regeneration team, Nicola moved into tourism comms and then health and life sciences before her role at the LEP saw her return to her early love of economic development. In addition to leading on internal communications, she now works closely with the investment and innovation teams to showcase the regional partnership initiatives that are helping to create more and better jobs for the people of the North East.