Judges

Managing Director, Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting UK

Neil Parsons is a highly self-motivated, people-focused leader who is an expert in the UK accountancy profession landscape. Appointed as Managing Director at Wolters Kluwer Tax and Accounting UK in 2022, Neil is responsible for the strategic direction and operational excellence of the UK business. Wolters Kluwer creates software which enables tax and accounting professionals and businesses of all sizes drive productivity, navigate change, and deliver better outcomes.

Partner, Pearson Hards Solicitors

Claire Darby specialises in all aspects of dispute resolution, including contract, negligence claims, employment matters and landlord and tenant disputes. Claire has an extensive range of dispute resolution experience, both for individual and commercial clients, and is always keen to take on new and challenging cases.

Funding and Organisational Development Lead, Kingston Voluntary Action

Alison has worked in the voluntary sector for twenty five years, mainly in smaller voluntary/community organisations. This includes in front line services;  within voluntary sector research, and in CVSs, such as Kingston Voluntary Action. In these roles she has provided local voluntary organisations with advice, support and training, to help them identify what they need and organise and build capacity to support their communities.

Corporate Head of Employment, Skills and Enterprise, Kingston Council

Sean brings 20 years of public sector experience working closely with business on issues as diverse as retail and town centre transition; workspace provision; skills and employment, tourism, and many initiatives to encourage and support business start-up, growth and innovation. This builds on extensive work in policy and strategy development, voluntary sector support, and early career excursions in retail-leisure management.

Managing Partner, Holland Hahn & Wills

Holland Hahn & Wills are Chartered Financial Planners and Wealth Managers. They deliver financial peace of mind, allowing clients to enjoy a worry-free retirement and concentrate on what really matters. Their focus is to build close and lasting relationships with clients. Their experience and attention to detail sets us apart as experts on the psychology of retirement.

Entrepreneur, Business Leader & NeD

Christian is a true entrepreneur who remains passionate about business growth through innovation,  continuous improvement and partnerships. Christian founded Genuine Solutions in 2005 which became a globally recognised, multi award winning enterprise which specialises in the recycling and re-use of Mobile phones and accessories and his successes have culminated in been acknowledged by various awards, most notably the Queens Award for Enterprise. Chris McBride has received many accolades for his business style with the most recent in 2021 where he was awarded the RBK Mayors Awards for his contribution to community.

Founder and a Director of The Community Brain

Robin Hutchinson trained as an artist and has since worked at senior levels in the public, private and not for profit sector. Robin is founder and a Director of The Community Brain, a CIC established to help support, develop and nurture communities through engagement with the arts, creativity, education and heritage. Robin is a founding Trustee of the Rose Theatre and Chair of the Charity Creative Youth

Managing Director, Time & Leisure

As Managing Director for over 17 years, I have enjoyed building the Time & Leisure brand and establishing our trusted and much-loved magazines in the region. We have grown our print portfolio to cover ten amazing local areas across SW London and Surrey, plus our weekly Time & Leisure Weekend newsletter and the fantastically exciting Food & Culture Awards, to offer readers and businesses a complete print-digital-event media experience.  Supporting many independent businesses has given me a complete understanding of the challenges they face and the significance of their achievements. 

Director of Undergraduate Business & Associate Professor Kingston Business School, Kingston University

Liz Machtynger teaches Strategic Management, Marketing and Innovation and MBA Consultancy modules and has previously taught International Business, Marketing Communications and employability skills on undergraduate as well as postgraduate courses.

Head of Enterprise Education, Kingston University

Martha helps people to be more enterprising in their lives and their businesses. She works with colleagues across Kingston University to encourage building problem-solving and innovation into curriculum; with students to develop their ideas for new products, services, and businesses; with both profit and non-profit organisations to help them to grow. She is responsible for incubation services in the University.

Owner, LeBoo Media

Martin is the owner of LeBoo Media, a Kingston-based copywriting and communications consultancy. He joined the Kingston Chamber of Commerce in 2017, and has been a director since 2018. Martin knows what it takes to win at the Kingston Borough Business Awards, having taken the Creative Effectiveness Award last year, and is proud to be a judge this time round.

Vice Principal Higher Education and Business Partnerships, South Thames Colleges Group

A great believer in the community, entrepreneurship and making a difference. Originally from London, I have worked in the education sector for 25 years and also have a Dance company of which I hold Ecstatic dances all over the world. Let’s build locally and make an impact.

Green Economic Recovery Lead, Regeneration & Economic Recovery, Kingston Council

Ioanna has over 25 years’ experience in sustainable economic development. Her career has focussed on socio-economic research and programme management, as well as setting up partnerships and stakeholder relations. She has developed numerous economic development and climate emergency strategies and she has experience in environmental auditing, including environmental management issues affecting business efficiency, economic development and place competitiveness. Ioanna is currently the lead officer for Green Economic Recovery at Kingston Council.

Managing Director of IQinIT

Katerina is the Managing Director of IQ in IT , a cutting edge Cloud IT provider offering cloud based services.

Katerina has been an active member of Kingston Chamber of Commerce for many years and became a Director in 2015. She became President is 2020, our first one elected in a virtual AGM!

Rotary Club

David is a qualified Chemical Engineer and retired Project Manager from the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry. During his career, he led major engineering projects in the UK, Far East, Middle East and North America. He lives in Surbiton and is married with 3 grown-up children. David is active on community projects in the local area and is currently President of Surbiton Rotary Club.

Partner, Russell-Cooke Solicitors

Kieran is a partner in the private client group and since qualification he has specialised in private client law, advising families and individuals on matters including estate planning, administration of high-value estates, trust administration and Court of Protection work.

He also deals with issues relating to the elderly and incapacity, powers of attorney, probate and wills, in addition to acting for clients on a range of property issues that arise in the course of private client work.

Senior Communications Manager at Unilever

Katya is an experienced Senior Communications Manager with a demonstrated history of working across the range of communications areas in the consumer goods industry. Skilled in corporate communications, media relations, issues management, change communications, internal communications and employee engagement.

Director of Operations at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel – Kingston

Daniel runs the Hotels operations on a day-to-day basis, from bedrooms & bathrooms to bars & brasseries ensuring each check in for the hotel or Bar & Brasserie guest has an unforgettable experience. He is a competent and dynamic individual with sound organisational skills and able to work effectively with people from all backgrounds.