Judges

Paul has overseen the birth and expansion of the live events arm of Guinness World Records across the globe. GWR Live! has attracted an audience of over a million in it’s short lifetime and turned record breaking into field-marketing and entertainment events for global brands and leisure businesses. Companies and agencies such as Cadbury, Dentsu, ADK, Multi-Corporation, Butlins, Ikea, M & S, WPP, Fallon, Unilever, Panasonic and Mitsui-Fudosan have all partnered on projects in the last 18months.

As Creative Director for Artajj (UAE) and Operations Director MotivAction (UK) he designed and operated experiential marketing campaigns, trade and consumer launches for numerous multinationals.

His entertainment CV includes a stint as (the first) Head of Entertainment for Thomson Holidays with a remit to entertain over 10,000 guests daily across 100 venues. He has also designed interactive entertainment areas for a theme park and led projects for Tatweer, Tui and P & O.

Experienced sales and marketing professional Izania is responsible for business growth in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. She works closely with the strategy team to expand Active Network Events’ enterprise-level client base by emphasising the company’s expertise in increasing the reach, lifecycle and attendance at events, along with the business benefits this brings.

Izania believes in the smart use of technology to facilitate digital and live strategies that increase audience acquisition and deliver real return on investment. She is also passionate about the power of engagement marketing to turn customers into strong brand advocates. Furthermore, her entrepreneurial nature, solutions-oriented approach and clear strengths in business development and marketing strategy make her an inspirational figure, focused on winning business through building strong client relationships.

Developing her extensive knowledge of the events industry, Izania’s previous role was as chief executive of UK association Eventia. Her five-year tenure was so successful she received an outstanding achievement award, lifetime membership and remains an ambassador for the organisation. Her extensive sales and marketing experience also includes global sales director at Starwood Hotels and Resorts, UK, and marketing manager at Ernst & Young, New Zealand.

Described as “not just a talker, but a doer who makes things happen faster and better than others”, Izania has also been praised for her “seeming limitless energy and highly commercial approach”. Such qualities have seen her build an extensive network of key contacts across the UK and Europe, from which she has brought together senior leaders for strategy sessions to help take the meetings and events industry forward. Viewed widely as a thought leader, Izania frequently shares her insight through speaking opportunities, coaching and mentoring.

...

With a wealth of experience in marketing and selling domestic and international hotels and venues, 2004 saw Jackie appointed by Delaware North Companies (DNC) as Head of Sales, Conferences and Banqueting at Wembley Stadium, with specific responsibility for the creation, implementation and management of the sales and marketing functions for non-event day space at the new Stadium.

The last few years have seen many accolades including being voted 18th in the high profile Event 100 Club 2010 and also 18th in 2011’s C&IT’s Power 50. Prestige Events also featured Jackie in 2009 in the 40 under 40 list quoting 'Tasked with promoting the most famous sporting venue on earth, Jackie has proved to be one of the most respected professionals in the industry' and the few years has seen her lead Wembley to win several awards including the MIMA (Meetings Industry Marketing Awards) Silver Award for Best Brochure in the Venues section, and Prestige Events Coolest Sporting Venue of the Year. As a freelancer prior to joining DNC, Jackie worked in the outbound incentive industry, along with taking on a role of Travel Trade Director for a group of hotels in Jersey, the Channel Islands. She has also worked with a variety of associations including the HBAA (Hotel Booking Agents Association) as PR Consultant, and has been an active member of both the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) and a former Board member of UK Inbound (formerly British Incoming Tour Operators Association.

She is a founder member of The Biz Group a consortium of tourism marketing professionals. Before her consultant days, Jackie was Sales & Marketing Director for The Vienna Group plc, and prior to that her early informative years were spent with Hilton, Comfort and Centre Hotels.

Jan is Vice President of the National Outdoor Events Association and has been actively involved in organsing their Convention,Conferences and Exhibition Stands. Jan's job is Managing Director of Sunbaba an Event Branding Company where she has been for 24 years, 12 of those supplying Events so she is very aware of the challenges that come with working within the industry.

Jenny joined MCI in 2000 as Business Support Manager overseeing Human Resources and Business Services.  From there she was promoted to MICE Operations Manager and in 2002 to Director of Event Operations.  In her role as Director of Event Operations she developed the business unit into a tight efficient team and she lead the drive for continuous process improvement and customer focus. She was promoted to Deputy Managing Director in July 2008 and currently oversees Sales and Business Services functions.

Prior to joining MCI, Jenny worked in London for Mentorn Barraclough Carey, Bates Dorland, De Beers Consolidated Mines and J. Walter Thompson.

Jenny is on the Board of Directors for MCI UK as well as being a member of the Directors Team at MCI Group level.

Kate works in Group Internal Communications at Tesco as their Events Manager where she has been for the past three years.   With around 15 years experience she has worked both client and agency side and her experience is wide ranging from pharma to retail and the voluntary sector.  It includes events as wide ranging as the Save the Children volunteer conference, management of an exhibition stand at the Internal AIDS Congress in Toronto, a sales incentive to Iceland and the unveiling of a blue plaque.

Lee is the founding Managing Director and majority shareholder of the multi award winning event organizers Media 10.   Lee and his team of 9 directors have won no less than 25 industry awards in just 7 years making Media 10 the most decorated events company in the UK. 

The Company now runs 6 magazines as well as 10 exhibitions visited by over half a million consumers per annum and the Company has recently launched events in South Africa and Australia.  In September 2009 Media 10 acquired the 102 year old ‘Ideal Home Show’ and for the 2nd year running the show has confirmed its position as the number 1 home event in the UK.
 

Lucy Gemmell founded “rhubarb” 15 years ago and since then she has been the driving force behind the evolution of arguably the UK’s best catering company.

From the very outset (when she was simply catering for private dinner parties from her mother’s kitchen), Lucy’s aim for “rhubarb” was to be ‘deliciously different’. She was determined to create a new type of catering company, one that was able to provide breathtaking style as well as food and service excellence.

Over the years Lucy has always employed people that believe in the same exacting standards, thereby ensuring that together the “rhubarb” team have continually delivered the most superb events to each and every client. Lucy personally approached Clive Beharrell to become Chairman of the business, employed Helen Bowey in “rhubarb’s” very early days, and was also instrumental in PB Jacobse’ appointment as MD.

Lucy has always believed that anything is possible - catering for a wedding in a remote forest, fl ying a team of the chefs to deepest Africa, and conjuring ice bars laden with the fi nest seafood on a French beach. Her devotion to achieving all these things, without making them seem like even the slightest challenge, has allowed “rhubarb” to enjoy a reputation for unutterably glamorous party perfection.

But Lucy’s true talent lies in creativity – in thinking of amazing new ways of serving food and drink, in finding beautiful new ingredients and incredible new suppliers, in identifying and defining new drinking and dining concepts, and in simply dreaming up the most fantastic ideas. In her current role as “rhubarb’s” Creative Director, she is perfectly placed to reinforce “rhubarb’s” world renowned reputation – on a day to day basis she is responsible for making sure every “rhubarb” venture, whatever it may be, is conceived and delivered with creativity at it’s core, whether it’s a take-away sandwich box or a crystal champagne tray.

Lucy has also been instrumental in taking “rhubarb” in new directions – most recently with the Royal Albert Hall catering contract, and notably with her consultancy work at the Rugby World Cup and Olympics. There is no doubt that Lucy has singlehandedly succeeded in taking the “rhubarb” product to the biggest sponsors of all the very best sporting events worldwide, and she will of course be crucial to the events industry as a whole when we embark on London 2012, which will be her 7th Olympic event. (Lucy even has her own sporting history too - being a very successful three day eventer in her youth!) She has also ensured the “rhubarb” retail concept is perfectly placed for success at each of the Group’s restaurants, and she plays a huge part in everything from menu creation to choice of uniform and silverware.

Lucy’s contacts are second to none, from the best florists to the most celebrated chefs, from restaurateurs to royal families, and every hospitality industry contact in between. She has brought the most high profile events onto “rhubarb’s” books – from Elton John’s White Tie and Tiara Ball to the Ark Charity Gala. “rhubarb’s” clients love her for her ability to listen to their needs, to create a vision for their event that they had never even dreamt of, and then finding the people to deliver that vision, exceeding every expectation along the way. Now though, with more than 150 superb staff members and two small children, Lucy is able to sit back from the business a little, safe in the knowledge that “rhubarb” is in exceptionally good hands – the hands of people who are as passionate about the company as she has always been