JUDGES

Aaron Phipps MBE is three time Paralympian and gold medal winning champion from the Tokyo 2020 games. He plays the brutal, only full-contact disability sport, Wheelchair Rugby aka Murderball. His team went from being 5th in the world to the best on the planet, in the middle of a global pandemic!

He is a keen fundraiser and in 2016 became the first person in the world to scale Kilimanjaro on his hands and knees.

He has been voted in the top 100 most influential people in the UK with a disability.

Andreas Scriven is a Senior Managing Director with Teneo’s Management Consulting business, based in London.

Andreas specialises in travel, leisure and hospitality, and has extensive consultancy and M&A experience across the UK, U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Africa. His other key areas of expertise include both buy- and sell-side commercial due diligence, strategic reviews and advice, operational reviews with a focus on profit optimisation and/or cost reduction, brand and operator selection, bank support (including independent business reviews, operational reviews and workout options), feasibility and market analysis, and hotel-focused expert witness work.

Prior to joining Teneo, Andreas held various senior roles, including Lead Partner for Hospitality & Leisure at Deloitte for seven years and International Managing Director at Christie & Co, where he was responsibile for 16 offices across Europe and the Middle East, as well as the China desk. He also led the Consultancy service line across the firm. Andreas previously worked for both Arthur Andersen and Deloitte across the U.S. and Europe and has operational hotel experience in Hong Kong, the U.S. and Europe. His client experience includes many of the leading global brands/operators, private equity and hedge funds, property investors and developers, as well as overseas investment funds.

Andreas is a regular keynote speaker at leading industry events and is often featured in international news outlets and the trade press. He is a graduate of Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.

Andrew has deep experience in the human resources, particularly in the area of reward and performance - both from an internal corporate and external consulting perspective. He specialises in all areas of remuneration and benefits and is passionate about providing superior customer service and value. 

Andrew focuses on partnering with organisations to help align pay with strategy and culture, including the provision of independent advice to remuneration committees.

Claire has worked for some of the world’s leading companies, including Coca-Cola, BP, and IHG Hotels and Resorts. Over her 30-year career, she’s lived, worked, and travelled in over 65 countries, leading teams of HR professionals across three continents. In the last 10+ years, she’s mostly worked with executives at the heart of the corporate centre, supporting them to shape and deliver business results. Her expertise lies in building long-term talent strategies, transformation, and enabling a winning culture by giving great talent the space to grow from entry-level roles right to the top.

Retired from ‘paid work’, Claire now uses her skills to spread positive energy, give back, and enable change that matters. She’s passionate about unlocking talent, breaking down stereotypes, and investing in helping change leaders succeed to maximise the difference she can make. Her areas of interest include mental health, suicide prevention, resolving employment disputes, cheer-leading young leaders, and building confidence and support for people doing extraordinary things.

David is an accomplished Chief People Officer (CPO) with over 20 years of experience in shaping and leading people strategies across complex, fast-moving organisations in both the private and public sectors. Known for his pragmatic leadership and ability to deliver transformation through people, David has held senior HR roles in sectors ranging from healthcare to leisure and hospitality and professional services.

When leading the People function at the Rank Group, David was integral to the delivery of their three year transformation programme which was budgeted to deliver £119m in revenue benefit. Most recently, as CPO at Newcross Healthcare, David was responsible for the People strategy at one of the UK’s leading providers of complex care and healthcare staffing solutions, where he was passionate about building an inclusive culture, enabling change and using data and technology—including AI—to drive performance and enhance the colleague experience. David is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD (FCIPD) and a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) with an MSc in Occupational Psychology. Both in his career, and in his voluntary work, most recently as a Trustee of South Bucks Hospice, he has supported organisations undergoing rapid change and cultural evolution.

Outside of work David is a keen follower (and less so now) participator in sport and enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters (and of course their dog, Loki).

David Angel is the Managing Partner of Redgrave, responsible for the overall management and growth of the firm.

With 30 years in the industry, David has worked closely with senior leaders at private equity backed portfolio firms and leading public companies on their CEO, Chairman and other Board level appointments.

David joined Redgrave in 2013, initially to lead our CFO and Consumer Practices, before expanding his remit to oversee all specialist functional teams.

Following an early career in finance with Deloitte (Touche Ross), he has spent the last 30 years cultivating deep functional expertise as well as business management skills within the search industry.

David studied Politics & Philosophy at the University of York. Outside of work, he loves spending time with his family, at the Emirates Stadium or with his Canon SLR. He also enjoys running, playing 20/20 cricket and spending time in the French Alps trying to finesse his skiing style.

Deryn McIntosh is a seasoned Human Resources leader with extensive experience in talent management, organizational development, and change management. As Vice President of HR at RCI International (Travel + Leisure Co), Deryn played a pivotal role in shaping inclusive workplace cultures across EMEA, APAC, and India.

Deryn brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of workplace equity and inclusion. Her dedication to advancing DEI principles ensures that this award ceremony recognizes and celebrates the true champions of diversity.

Ebony Quow is a dynamic HR leader and board advisor, renowned for driving transformative people strategies that unlock talent potential and embed lasting cultural change. A specialist in HR transformation, organisational design, and DEI strategy, she challenges the status quo, collaborating with C-suite leaders to shape inclusive, high-performing environments that drive sustainable, impactful business outcomes.

Beyond corporate HR, Ebony plays a key role as an Advisory Board Member for the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, where she passionately supports initiatives that make cricket more inclusive and accessible. As an Ambassador for WiHTL & Diversity in Retail, she advises on long-term DEI strategies that amplify representation and equity.

With a commitment to breaking down barriers, and facilitating meaningful change Ebony’s influence extends across corporate, sport, and retail sectors. She thrives on shaping governance, accelerating diverse talent, and driving high-performance cultures that foster innovation, inclusion and belonging.

Emily Trant leads Wagestream's core mission to tackle financial exclusion and build an inclusive app that improves the financial wellbeing of all workers. Her role brings together stakeholders across policy, the public sector, and financial services, from running co-creation sessions with customers to leading an Impact Advisory Board. She also directs the company's program of academic research in collaboration with leading think tanks and global universities.

Before Wagestream, Emily co-founded Touco Lab, a social impact venture that built financial services products for people with cognitive impairments using open banking technology. Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from The University of British Columbia. She is also the host of the Invisible Worker podcast.

I’m an Area Manager with over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, and I’ve had the privilege of being part of the WiHTL community, including serving on the advisory board for WiHTL & DiR. My time with WiHTL has been incredibly valuable – it’s given me the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, contribute to important conversations around inclusion, and play a small part in helping to drive change across our industry. Being part of this community has not only helped me grow professionally, but also reinforced the importance of creating spaces where everyone can thrive.

With expertise in executive stakeholder management and talent acquisition, she has consistently delivered exceptional results identifying talented leaders and managing high-level Board and global leadership appointments.

Imogen’s experience spans executing retained executive searches for publicly listed and private equity-backed clients in the UK and across the globe, reaching as far as Australia. Skilled at identifying and attracting international talent, her growing client base spans Travel & Leisure, including cruise lines, hotel groups, airlines, tour operators, destination management companies (DMCs), travel management companies (TMCs), online travel agency (OTAs), and travel tech. Additionally, her expertise extends to fashion and apparel, health, wellness, and beauty.

Her commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is evident in her work, where she has helped clients build leadership teams that reflect the communities they serve.

Before her return to Redgrave, Imogen was a Principal at a global strategy and transformation specialist, recruitment services and independent consulting firm, leading their EMEA Consumer business.

Beyond her professional achievements, Imogen is a former Principal Flautist and a music graduate from the University of Birmingham. Her passion for live music often finds her enjoying performances at various venues, including world-renowned Ronnie Scott’s. An adrenaline seeker with a need for speed, Imogen likes to follow in Susie Wolff’s footsteps and can often be found out on the go-kart track. Imogen’s love for travel takes her to all corners of the globe, especially places where she can indulge in her love for sailing.

I am Head of Accounting and Tax at Elior and proudly serve as an Elior champion for diversity and inclusion. Previously, I had the honour of contributing to the WiHTL Advisory Board and judging the inaugural Inclusion in EDI Awards 2024.

I am thrilled to return as an honorary judge for the second time. Drawing on my lived experience at the intersection of faith, family, and culture, I bring a heartfelt commitment to advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) across all facets of life. My personal journey fuels my passion for creating inclusive spaces where everyone, especially those from underrepresented communities feel seen, heard and valued.

Once again it is an absolute privilege to explore and assess the outstanding initiatives led by companies in the hospitality, leisure, and tourism sectors.

Jie Zheng is the Technology Team Lead for Innovation Hub - Sourcing at TUI, where they drive innovation with a technical speciality in AI and data science applications.

Jie began her career in hospitality, advancing to the position of General Manager at Nando’s before transitioning to technology. She served as an advisory board member for WiHTL in 2024 and remains a passionate advocate for inclusion in the hospitality and tourism industry, as well as in data and technology.

I was born and brought up in London and I stayed in London for University – studying International Relations at the London School of Economics. After graduation I went to work for Deloitte where I worked as an auditor and trained to be a Chartered Accountant. After a short stint at Marks & Spencer, I moved to Hilton with my first role working in the finance team for Continental Europe. Over the years I have done various roles within finance and was promoted to the role of VP Finance for EMEA in 2020. I started in my current role as VP Finance for MEA in 2023, moving with my family to Dubai. I have a husband and 2 children aged 14 and 18. As a family, we really love to travel and have visited over 30 countries together.

Kate is a senior leader at AlixPartners, providing expert support in organisation transformation and performance improvement for clients in Consumer-facing industries. With a background in complex Technology Transformation, Kate is a strategic advisor for board-level executives as they pursue the opportunities that AI and digital innovation offer.

Kate is passionate about positive social impact in business, with active roles as Chair of the charity Caxton Youth (Westminster) and UK Youth Development Board. She is a Fellow of the RSA: Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

Louise is a founding member of WiHTL having worked with the team since its inception in 2016. She brings over 20 years of experience in senior hospitality, retail and consumer roles and is currently running her own consulting business.

She has a passion for helping organisations build inclusive cultures and driving people centric transformation.

Outside of work she’s a proud mum of twin boys, piano learner, tennis trier and life drawing enthusiast. She’s also a committee member for Lords Taverners, a sports charity working with children with disabilities and from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Patrice Gordon is the Founder & CEO of Eminere, a bespoke leadership consultancy dedicated to building better humans, so they can build better businesses. With a corporate career spanning senior Finance and Commercial roles at some of the UK’s most iconic brands including: Virgin Atlantic, Royal Mail, and British Airways, Patrice brings deep commercial acumen and lived leadership experience to her work.

A qualified Executive Coach, she specialises in inclusive leadership, women’s advancement, and reverse mentoring, championing bold, systemic change from the inside out. Her work has earned recognition from Richard Branson, the TED Leadership community, Adam Grant, and Brené Brown, and has been featured across international platforms.

A long-standing contributor to WiHTL, Patrice formerly co-chaired the Race and Ethnicity Committee and is proud to return for her second year as a WHITL Awards Judge.

Pavlina is a Partner in Q5’s Organisational Development and Culture practice. She has extensive experience leading large-scale behavioural change and leadership effectiveness initiatives that help organisations drive performance and achieve their strategic ambitions. Her work focuses on creating environments where individuals and teams can thrive.

She partners with clients to develop robust talent strategies, activate vision and values, embed behaviours, and build critical capabilities across all levels. Her focus is on practical, high-impact change — enabling leaders and teams to work more effectively together and deliver stronger outcomes. Pavlina is particularly passionate about supporting leadership teams to strengthen their effectiveness through open dialogue, the right tools, and the right environment to tackle their most pressing challenges and opportunities.

Her tailored interventions are known for delivering real and lasting shifts in how people work. Her style is both compassionate and constructively challenging, creating safe spaces for experimentation while addressing the systemic dynamics and behavioural patterns at the heart of organisational performance. She helps teams think and act differently to make strategic change stick.

Pavlina has worked across multiple sectors including retail and consumer goods, with clients such as Unilever, Magnum Ice Cream Company, BAT, and N Brown. She is an ICF-accredited Executive and Team Coach and holds an MSc in Organisational and Social Psychology from the London School of Economics (LSE).

Poonam is an experienced technology leader with global experience across multiple sectors. Recognised for leadership in tech transformation and featured in the WiHTL & DiR 2024 Women to Watch Index in Technology and Engineering. MSc in Management and Leadership, with thesis research focusing on diversity in leadership within STEM roles. Head of Technology Operations at Moto, leading the Race and Ethnicity Colleagues Resource Group and serving as a WiHTL Advisory Board member. A passionate advocate for diversity in tech, mentor for women in tech, mummy to three girls and a leader for happiness.

A seasoned senior executive with over 25 years of experience spanning eCommerce, iGaming, Telecoms, FMCG, and Travel sectors, Raj is a commercially focused CFO with a diverse skill set in Business Strategy, Executive Business Partnering, M&A, and Business Transformation. Known for building and leading high-performing teams, Raj excels at driving change and delivering results in complex, matrixed organisations.

With a proven track record in both PLC environments, including industry giants like Saga and Thomas Cook, and private equity/entrepreneurial settings such as Virgin Group and Fosun Group, Raj brings a wealth of expertise in navigating dynamic business landscapes. A strong communicator and influential leader, he inspires teams at all levels, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.

Rashi started her recruitment career in 2000 working for a global FTSE 250 recruitment business. Since then, she’s led, managed and recruited talented professionals across industry and commerce, professional services firms, and public sector and not-for-profit organisations. Rashi works with a network of clients across the UK, Europe and US and is responsible for Group Operations.

Robert Richardson FIH MI is the Chief Executive Officer of the award-winning Institute of Hospitality (IoH), the world’s largest professional body of almost 16,000 hospitality professionals worldwide, and a registered charity. IoH is dedicated to driving the recognition of the hospitality profession and uplifting its membership through lifelong learning, mentorship, and network-building.

Richardson built his career in the hospitality industry, working his way up through the ranks from hotel floor staff to hotel General Manager, and now as CEO of IoH, he has a deep belief in making the hospitality industry open, inclusive, and accessible to all who seek to join it. In 2021, Robert led the Institute to win the Chartered Governance Institute UK&I “Diversity & Inclusion Strategy of the Year” award in recognition of these efforts.

Prior to joining IoH, Richardson served in senior management positions at major hotel chains including Hilton Worldwide, IHG and Ramada Jarvis, before applying those industry best practices to a few of England’s best independent hotels. For 12 years, Richardson served as General Manager across two independent, luxury properties, including a luxury boutique hotel and golf resort in the Kentish countryside, and a grade 2 listed coastal heritage property. 

A true people champion, Richardson believes that for organisations to succeed and thrive, people must feel they belong regardless of background or position. To this end, he regularly speaks on his efforts in the international and U.K. conference circuit and trade press, as well as contributing frequently to radio and podcast conversations in both his home country of the U.K. and abroad. 

Richardson was recognised by Hotel Designs on their 2020 Brit List as “one of the top 25 hoteliers operating in Great Britain” and Boutique Hotelier magazine has recognised Richardson in their annual Power List as a “Young Trailblazer”, and an “Industry Titan”.

In 2022 Richardson was made an “Honorary Master Innholder” by the Worshipful Company of Innholders and was recognised in the USA produced Global Hospitality Magazine as “one of the 100 Most powerful People in Europe’s travel and Hospitality Industry” in both 2022 and 2023, and in 2024 as “one of the 50 Most Inspirational People in Global Hospitality and Travel”.

Richardson is a trustee for the registered charity “Room to Reward”, a unique volunteer- recognition charity created to say ‘thank you’ to the inspirational volunteers who give up their time to make a difference to those who need it most.

Scott has worked in the recruitment and executive search industry since 2001. Before joining JSS, he co-founded Investigo in 2003 and, alongside Simon Smith, and he led the MBO in 2013, which was backed by Investec Bank. He eventually exited under the sale to Career International in 2017. Under his leadership, Investigo grew its revenues to over £100m, winning numerous industry awards and gaining a reputation as one of the industry’s success stories. Since joining JSS, client mandates have increased by over 100%.

Sherry Ndala is the Apprenticeships & Emerging Talent Lead at JD Sports, where she takes a strong focus on driving equity and access within her role and is passionate about creating inclusive pathways for diverse talent to thrive.

Sherry also chairs JD’s ethnicity, faith, and culture employee resource group, CORE, and sits on the advisory board for Diversity in Retail, using her voice to champion meaningful, sustainable change across the industry.

Therese is a highly sought-after Human Capital and Business Advisor supporting organisations across a range of sectors including Financial Services, Telecoms, Healthcare, Retail, Hospitality, Distribution, Construction, and Property both in the UK and internationally.

She is the Chair and co-founder of startup organisation MeVie, Chair of the Financial Wellbeing Forum, and a global advisor for financial wellbeing business Wagestream and working carer platform WeMa. Therese’s clients have included professional services firm Harvey Nash, franchising business Waves, fund managers Hawksford, and retailers Sainsbury’s and McDonald’s. She has attended numerous round-table discussions with the UK government, influencing policy on People related topics including sessions with three Prime Ministers and multiple Government Ministers. She was also a member of the HRH Queen Elizabeth II mentoring foundation.

Formerly Chief People Officer at Tesco Bank, Therese was a key player in the transformation of the UK financial services sector following the global banking crisis. She has ExCo and Board Experience in financial services and retail and has been widely recognised as one of the UK’s most progressive Human Resources practitioners featuring in the Top-15 of HR Magazine’s list of Most Influential HR Practitioners on six occasions. Therese spent 30 years with Tesco plc where she worked across a range of HR and strategic roles in their UK and international divisions including Retail Stores, Distribution, Telecoms, Dotcom, dunnhumby, and Financial Services.

She sat on the leadership / ExCo of each of these business divisions with a focus on driving People-centred change across these diverse organisations in a way which was consistent with the overall culture and strategy of the group. With a proven track record in driving transformational change, Therese has supported multiple organisations in the implementation of Dave Ulrich’s 360-degree change model: Therese is a Chartered Companion of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a Member of the British Psychological Society.

Vivienne is the CEO of the FTSE Women Leaders Review, the UK’s business-led voluntary framework, supported by Government to improve the representation of women on the Boards and Leadership teams of the FTSE 350 and 50 of the UK’s largest private companies. 

Vivienne also holds a number of board and advisory roles supporting businesses in their data, privacy and digital strategies, with a focus on digital identity, anti-financial crime and equality & diversity. Vivienne has over twenty five years experience in global financial and professional services sectors, including at London Stock Exchange Group, Refinitiv, Thomson Reuters and Citibank.

Vivienne is an exceptional advocate for gender balance in business, and is the former CEO of Women in Banking and Finance. She was awarded an OBE for services to Financial Services and Gender Diversity in 2021.