Judges 2025

Jayne Andrews, Fractional CMO

View Jayne’s Biography

Dan Appleby, Managing Director, Drummond Central

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Amanda Baxter, Marketing Manager, Advantex Network Solutions

View Amanda’s Biography

 

Cat Bramwell, Senior Consultant, Nigel Wright Group

View Cat’s Biography

 

Chris Burns, Global Marketing Director, Enerpac Tool Group

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Adam Carmichael, Product Management & Marketing Director, Erwin Hymer Group

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Paul Cairney, Marketing Lead, Sage

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Emma Clark, Brand Leader

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Ben Cook. Deputy Director of External Relations, University of Sunderland

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Chris Coulson, Marketing Director, Fairstone Group

View Chris’s Biography

Chris Fletcher, CEO, Visualsoft

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Matt Foster, Associate Director, Gardiner Richardson

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Jack Ford, Head of Marketing, Hive HR

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Michele Gettins, Chief Marketing Officer, iamproperty.com

View Michele’s Biography

Kieron Goldsborough, CEO, Different Narrative

View Kieron’s Biography

Lisa Graveling,  Communications and Marketing Director, Gentoo

View Lisa’s Biography

Louise Harris, Head of Marketing, The Inn Collection Group

View Louise’s Biography

Nicola Irving, Head of Strategic Marketing and Communications, OpenWorks Engineering

View Nicola’s Biography

Chris Kent, Associate Director, Nigel Wright Group

View Chris’s Biography

Zeinab Lenton, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Sage

View Zeinab’s Biography

Paul Lucherini, Chief Commercial Officer, Everflow

View Paul’s Biography

Joanne Mailen, Product Lead, Wilsonart

View Joanne’s Biography

Sarah McCourt, Head of Communications and Marketing, Nexus

View Sarah’s Biography

Chris McShane, Marketing and Product Director, Printed.com

View Chris’s Biography

David McNiven, Head of Marketing, Hays Travel

View David’s Biography

Sasha O’Neill, Marketing Director, The Edwin Group

View Sasha’s Biography

Adrian Ord, Sales & Key Accounts Manager, Northern Print

View Adrian’s Biography

Laura Sharp, Head of Marketing, Go North East 

View Laura’s Biography

Jess Sinton, Principal Consultant, Nigel Wright Group

View Jess’s Biography

Steven Underwood, Managing Director, Bonded

View Steven’s Biography

Bryony Vaughan, Sales and Marketing Director, Tharsus

View Bryony’s Biography

James Watson, Head of Marketing, Nuby UK LLP

View James’s Biography

Zoe Watson, Marketing Director, Tritility

View Zoe’s Biography

Rebecca Wilson, Vice President of Communications, Venator

View Rebecca’s Biography

Neil Whittaker, Sales and Marketing Director, Media Works

View Neil’s Biography

Zoe Watson, Marketing Director, Tritility

View Zoe’s Biography

Tracy Welford, Head of Marketing, Mandata

View Tracy’s Biography

Ben Whitfield, Newcastle NE1

We pride ourselves on the integrity and diligence of our judging process. Our esteemed panel of judges bring expertise and experience from all areas of marketing and business management. Each category is allocated three judges who will meet face to face with our finalists at the judging day.

More judges being announced daily – check back for updates!

Jayne Andrews, Growth Expert I Brand Builder I Global Experience I Marketing Academy Alum

Jayne has over 30 years’ experience in marketing, most recently as Marketing Director at Fentimans and now as a fractional Marketing Consultant.

Based in Hexham, she previously worked in London, Sydney and Miami, building brands across diverse sectors.

Her diverse career spans loyalty programs for T-Mobile and O2, Safe Sex Campaign partnerships for the UK Government, and a Marketing Director role in online dating. In 2013 she launched Carnival Cruise Line in Australia and New Zealand, then moved to Miami in 2019 to lead the North American brand. She steered Carnival’s brand through the pandemic, relaunching post-Covid, before returning to the UK in 2021.

 

 

 

Dan Appleby, Managing Director, Drummond Central

With over 20 years in creative agencies, Dan began his career in London before returning to his native North East. Under his leadership, Drummond Central has grown into one of the largest and most highly awarded independent creative agencies outside London.

Drummond Central is a 100% employee-owned agency with a team of over 65 people. The agency currently works with famous brands like Greggs, bet365, Triumph Motorcycles, Dreams and Jack Daniel’s, as well as local heroes, including Newcastle Building Society, Fentimans and The University of Sunderland.

Dan has been an elected member of the IPA Council since 2020 and was awarded a lifetime Fellowship (FIPA) for his contribution to the organisation and the wider industry. He’s a passionate believer in the power of creativity to grow businesses and a proud advocate for Northern marketing, having once been told he was “committing career suicide by leaving London

Amanda Baxter, Marketing Manager, Advantex Network Solutions

Amanda Baxter is Marketing Manager at Advantex Network Solutions, where she works with senior stakeholders to shape brand strategy and drive integrated campaigns that deliver measurable ROI and long-term business growth. With over 25 years’ experience across UK and international markets, Amanda combines strategic vision with hands-on execution. Throughout her career, Amanda has led initiatives across the full marketing mix, from brand repositioning and go-to-market launches to demand generation, communications, and customer engagement. She specialises in translating complex propositions into compelling narratives, combining data-driven decision-making with creative storytelling to build brands that resonate and perform.

Cat Bramwell, Senior Consultant, Nigel Wright

Cat has joined Nigel Wright with over 15 years of experience in the retail sector, primarily operating Pandora Franchise stores throughout the North East of England, helping to grow the brand, develop the ecommerce presence and establish excellence across the customer experience. Cat now sits within the Sales and Marketing team specialising in junior marketing roles across sectors within the North East of England.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Burns, Global Marketing Director, Enerpac Tool Group

Chris Burns is a Global Marketing Director with over 15 years’ experience leading growth for both fast-scaling private firms and multinational corporations. As Global Marketing Director at Enerpac Tool Group, he helps shape global strategy across diverse markets, helping to strengthen brands, modernise marketing, and drive measurable business growth. Chris is known for combining creative storytelling with data-led decision-making and building high-performing teams that deliver real commercial impact. A Northumbria University graduate, he has guided brands through transformation, launched products across multiple industries, and championed campaigns recognised for their effectiveness and innovation.

Adam Carmichael, Project Management and Marketing Director, Erwin Hymer Group UK

I am Product Management & Marketing Director at Erwin Hymer Group UK, where I lead sales, product, and marketing across several of the UK’s most recognised brands within the RV industry. I have also worked within industry leaders such as the Zumtobel Group, British Engines & Akzo Nobel. With a background in product management and marketing in engineering environments, I’m driven by a passion for transforming businesses through bold brand strategies and outstanding products. From launching a full fleet of new motorhomes to creating market-leading lighting innovations with Thorn, I thrive on turning ideas into commercial success. Combining an analytical mindset with creativity, I focus on building brands that inspire confidence, deliver real value, and leave a lasting impact.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Cairney, Marketing Lead, Sage

Paul recently re-joined Sage, the global leader in accountancy software as Marketing Lead for its Accountants segment. With over 20 years of senior marketing experience across a range of sectors, he has worked with prominent brands including Royal Bank of Scotland, The Co-operative Bank, MBNA, United Utilities and Newcastle Building Society.

Paul’s expertise spans both B2B and B2C marketing, giving him a unique ability to navigate various markets and craft exceptional customer experiences. A passionate advocate for the North East, Paul is committed to working with purpose-driven organisations that aim to make a positive impact. He currently serves on the Board of Darlington Credit Union.

 

 

 

Emma Clark

Emma has more than 25 years’ marketing experience across sectors as diverse as financial services, research and recruitment, utilities and technology. Her early career focused on the non-profit and charity sector before moving into B2B, and her experience crosses both in-house and agency. She is passionate about customer-centric and data-driven campaigns, about developing the next generation of marketers and how a consistent and well-embedded brand can help organisations to differentiate and build relationships with their audiences. She strongly believes that brand and marketing should sit at the heart of any successful business.

 

 

 

 

Ben Cook. Deputy Director of External Relations, University of Sunderland

Ben has more than 20 years’ experience in marketing, working for major global brands including UNIQLO and Costa Coffee. His career spans both agency and client-side roles, with expertise in managing multiple international markets, CRM, loyalty, and digital strategy. At UNIQLO, he helped relaunch the brand in the UK and later led digital marketing across nine European markets. Passionate about developing and growing brands, Ben is now Deputy Director of External Relations at the University of Sunderland, where he focuses on shaping and strengthening the university’s brand and reputation.

 

 

 

Chris Coulson, Marketing Director, Fairstone Group

Chris Coulson is Marketing Director at Fairstone Group, one of the UK’s largest wealth management and financial planning firms, and a judge for the North East Marketing Awards. A marketing specialist with a broad range of experience across sectors, Chris has built and led effective marketing teams that deliver on both strategic and commercial goals. Based in the North East but active across national and international markets, his work spans acquisitions, brand integration, and large-scale campaigns. He brings a clear, practical perspective on marketing’s role in business growth to the judging panel.

Chris Fletcher, CEO, Visualsoft

A seasoned commerce leader, Chris combines extensive retail experience from brands including Berghaus and Barker and Stonehouse with a transformative decade at Visualsoft, where he now serves as CEO. His hands-on journey through operations, client development, and project management provides a unique, 360-degree understanding of digital commerce challenges. This background, rooted in both client-side and tech leadership, fuels his drive to empower retailers with the tools and strategic vision needed to thrive online, delivering innovation and tangible growth.

Matt Foster, Associate Director, Gardiner Richardson

Matt is a creative brand strategist and part of the senior leadership team at Gardiner Richardson, a Newcastle based brand communications agency working regionally, nationally and internationally with a wide range of brands including RIBA, Akzo Nobel, Ringtons, Newcastle Building Society, Northumbria University, Newcastle Airport and Newcastle City Council. He is also a board member at regional writing development agency New Writing North.

Jack Ford, Head of Marketing, Hive HR

Jack Ford is Head of Marketing at Hive HR, an employee voice platform helping HR leaders leverage engagement insights for organizational performance. A three-time Head of Marketing with extensive B2B experience, Jack began his career at FTSE 100 companies including 3M and Sage, developing expertise in both traditional and digital marketing channels.

He has since led marketing teams at three scale-up businesses, navigating diverse challenges and growth opportunities. Jack has created content alongside industry luminaries including Rand Fishkin and Oli Gardner. Guided by his philosophy of creating "fridge-worthy marketing" - work so compelling you'd proudly display it at home - Jack brings a passion for creative B2B marketing to his judging role. His senior leadership experience across banking, media, tourism, and technology sectors provides valuable perspective for assessing marketing excellence in the North East.

 

 

Michele Gettins, Chief Marketing Officer, iamproperty

Michele joined iamproperty in 2019 to lead and grow the group’s Marketing function. An experienced senior leader with a strong strategic marketing and commercial background in both B2C and B2B, Michele has a proven track record of delivering results. Now as Chief Marketing Officer, Michele is accountable for building an A+ team and overseeing all aspects of marketing. She is passionate about putting customers at the heart of everything the business does, using customer and consumer insight to support innovation and brand differentiation as key drivers of business and category growth.

 

 

 

Kieron Goldsborough, Chief Executive Officer, Different Narrative

Kieron is CEO of the agency Different Narrative and has over 25 years' experience in leading marketing and communications campaigns for clients at a regional, national and international level. A qualified and experienced Creative Director and marketeer, with current positions at the Northern School of Art, The Northern Film & TV Studios and is a previous City Head for the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising.He is also Co-Founder for the Marketing Attribution platform Marketing Engine. Currently in its Beta stage Kieron is working with an exclude set of users to prepare the platform for full commercial release later this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lisa Gravelling,  Communications and Marketing Director, Gentoo

Lisa is the Communications and Marketing Director at Gentoo, one of the largest housing associations in the North East. Before moving into the not-for profit sector, Lisa led PR in B2B FTSE 100 Sage software and worked with brands including Hewlett Packard and Gillette whilst at Global PR agency Porter Novelli.  During her career Lisa led the introduction of one of the earliest B2B influencer programmes and featured in the PR Week top ten creatives in technology.

 

 

Louise Harris, Head of Marketing, The Inn Collection Group

Louise is an award-winning senior marketing leader with over 25 years’ experience driving digital transformation and commercial growth across hospitality and consumer-facing industries.  Currently Head of Marketing at The Inn Collection Group, she has delivered a brand-wide rebrand, launched a successful loyalty programme, and led digital initiatives that drove record-breaking revenue growth.  Previous senior roles include Pink Boutique and Tommee Tippee, where Louise delivered global e-commerce expansion and won a DMA Digital Award. Named North East Marketing Leader of the Year 2024, she is recognised for building high-performing teams and delivering measurable commercial impact.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicola Irving, Head of Strategic Marketing and Communications, OpenWorks Engineering

Nicola is Head of Strategic Marketing and Communications at OpenWorks Engineering, working in the international defence sector to provide AI-powered vision systems that defeat drones and other dynamic threats. Currently studying towards an MBA at the University of York with a particular personal focus on the strategic value of brands, Nicola has committed to continuous learning since graduating from Newcastle University with a degree in French, German and Spanish. Nicola is a director and trustee at Tyneside Women’s Health, where she is leading on brand definition and stakeholder engagement, and attends to strategy, governance and finance matters with her fellow board members.

 

 

 

 

Chris Kent, Managing Consultant, Senior and Director Commercial Appointments, Nigel Wright

Chris leads the Nigel Wright B2B sales and marketing specialism from our Wynyard office in Teesside. He joined Nigel Wright in 2015 following 10 years in the industry, to be part of the new management team to set up the Nigel Wright Teesside office. Chris is a part of the Management Team of the Nigel Wright Northern Regional Business and has a personal focus on senior and director level commercial appointments for B2B clients. Chris predominantly provides retained searches for niche and sector specific appointments with regional, national and international remits. His expertise is in supporting CEOs, MDs and Sales / Commercial / Marketing Directors successfully grow their teams to drive profitable business growth and he has experience working with owner managed SMEs, privately owned national / global corporate groups and subsidiaries, listed companies and private equity backed organisations. The sectors that Chris works with include: • Oil and Gas • Defence and Aerospace • Engineering • Manufacturing • Chemical and Pharmaceutical • Construction • Transport / Logistics / Distribution • Packaging • Print and Direct Mail • IT / Technology • Public Sector – Commercial Strategic Environments The roles that Chris typically runs searches for include: • Managing Director / Business Unit Director / Commercial General Manager • Sales Director / Head of Sales • Commercial Director / Head of Commercial / Commercial Manager • Marketing Director / Head of Marketing • Account Director / Senior Account Manager • Head of Product Management / Product Manager • Sales Manager / Senior Business Development Manager • Bid / Proposal / Tender Management • Digital Director / Head of Digital / Digital Marketing Manager • Customer Service Director / Head of Customer Service

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zeinab Lenton, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Sage

Zeinab Lenton is a highly experienced marketing leader with extensive experience across a range of sectors including finance, technology, arts & culture and education.

Currently at Sage, she specialises in product marketing, driving innovation in HR and payroll solutions. Her career spans roles at Trinity Mirror, Teesside University, and Tyneside Cinema, where she was Head of Marketing & Communications.

Zeinab is passionate about removing barriers to business success and is a regular speaker at industry events. Her expertise covers the full marketing spectrum—from PR and direct marketing to search and digital transformation—making her a respected voice in the marketing community.

Paul Lucherini, Chief Commercial Officer, Everflow

Paul Lucherini is a highly experienced commercial leader with a proven track record in driving sales and marketing performance across multiple industries. As Chief Commercial Officer at Everflow, he leads on strategy, growth, and brand positioning, overseeing commercial teams across multiple functions and verticals. Paul has held senior leadership roles at high-growth businesses, building and scaling sales and marketing functions that deliver sustained results. With deep expertise in brand strategy, demand generation, business development, and market expansion, he brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the judging panel of the North East Marketing Awards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joanne Mailen, Product Lead, Wilsonart

I am Product Lead at Wilsonart where I lead the product management for WetWall bathroom brand, as well as several other well known brands across Europe and the UK.
Passionate about Product and Product Marketing I have been in the field for most of my career with wide experience ranging from football clubs and SaaS through to cosmetics and heavy industry.
During my career I have been blessed to work for some of Europe’s industry leaders, including ICI, Armstrong Group, Nobia and Thorn Lighting – all based here in the North East of England.
I am thrilled to be part of the North East Marketing Awards showcasing the amazing talent and creativity right here in our region

 

 

Sarah McCourt, Head of Communications and Marketing, Nexus

Sarah McCourt is Head of Communications, Marketing and Customer Information at Nexus, the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. She leads an award winning multi-disciplinary team, shaping some of North East England’s most high-profile brands.

Along with being CIM qualified, she has had a career in communications and marketing spanning over 18 years, the majority of that in the housing sector.

Sarah was previously Head of Communications and Marketing at Sunderland based Gentoo Group before moving to Karbon Homes where she headed up the communications and marketing function and specialised in brand development and reputation management.

 

 

 

Chris McShane, Marketing and Product Director, Printed.com 

With 20 years of marketing leadership experience, Chris McShane combines strategic vision with creative innovation. During his eight years as Marketing & Product Director at Printed.com, he used a customer-focused, data-driven approach to drive double-digit growth, lead product development, and expand into new markets. He is also known for fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture that encourages fresh ideas.

Chris's career includes senior marketing roles at HMV, Live Nation, and Ticketmaster. His entrepreneurial spirit and passion for design led him to co-found the interiors brand, The Curious Department.

Outside of work, he and his husband are enjoying life as new dads.

 

 

 

 

David McNiven, Head of Marketing, Hays Travel

David McNiven is a seasoned marketing professional with nearly 20 years of experience in digital and offline channels. He has held key roles at Wavemaker and Cairn Group and spent 5 years in a variety of global roles at Expedia Group in London. Currently the Head of Marketing at Hays Travel, David leads a team of 80 marketing professionals delivering impactful results for the UK’s largest independent travel agent. His expertise includes strategy, business operations, and creating and overseeing market-leading campaigns.

 

 

 

 

Sasha O’Neill, Marketing Director, The Edwin Group 

Sasha O’Neill is Marketing Director at The Edwin Group, a national collection of education companies supporting educators in Schools and Trusts. With senior leadership experience spanning education, housing and utilities, she has also led marketing at Durham University, Bellway Homes and Northumbrian Water, shaping strategy and delivering campaigns that make an impact. She believes the best marketing is both art and science, blending creativity with commercial focus, and is passionate about championing talent and ideas across the North East.

 

 

 

Adrian Ord, Sales & Key Accounts Manager, Northern Print

Adrian Ord is Sales & Key Accounts Manager at Northern Print Solutions and brings 30 years of experience in print, production and client services to the judging panel of the North East Marketing Awards.

Across his career, Adrian has worked with marketing departments and creative agencies throughout the region and nationally. He has supported projects ranging from local campaigns to large multi-site rollouts, helping teams deliver consistent, high-quality outputs that meet both creative and commercial objectives. His collaborative approach and ability to translate creative ideas into workable solutions have made him a trusted partner for many long-standing clients.

Adrian’s expertise covers small format, large format, packaging and specialist finishes. He regularly advises marketing teams on the right combination of stock, finishes and formats to achieve the desired impact within budget and deadline. His knowledge extends to techniques such as foiling, embossing and UV finishing, and he is also experienced in guiding clients on sustainable production choices.

Having spent much of his career working side by side with agencies and in-house teams, Adrian understands the challenges they face: limited budgets, demanding timelines and the need for measurable results. This perspective allows him to evaluate marketing campaigns not only on their creativity but also on how effectively they are executed and how well they achieve their objectives.

As a judge, Adrian draws on three decades of working alongside agencies and in-house marketing departments. He is particularly interested in work that shows how creative ideas have been turned into practical campaigns that deliver real results.

Adrian’s inclusion on the panel reflects both the breadth of his industry knowledge and his reputation for working in partnership with marketing professionals to bring ambitious ideas to life

 

 

 

Laura Sharp, Head of Marketing, Go North East

 Laura is an experienced marketing and communications leader with over 18 years in transport, higher education, and the public sector. As Head of Marketing at Go North East, she has led award-winning campaigns that rebuild reputation, grow ridership, and champion inclusion. Her expertise spans customer-centric strategy, multi-channel campaigns, brand development, internal communications, and stakeholder engagement. Laura began her career agency-side before leading major projects at Nexus and Newcastle University. Passionate about creativity, community impact, and team development, she thrives on using marketing to drive meaningful change and inspire others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jess Sinton, Principal Consultant, Marketing , Nigel Wright

Jess joined our team in January 2021. Her focus is on mid-senior Marketing recruitment across retail, FMCG, professional services and tech industries. Originally from Newcastle, Jess studied Geography and Sociology at Sheffield University, gaining a BA Hons. She then moved to London in 2010 where she spent 6 years as a Retail Marketer for the likes of Links of London and Jaeger. In 2016, Jess moved into Recruitment, specialising in retail marketing recruitment. As Senior Consultant, she worked with high-profile high-street retailers, hospitality brands and consumer household name brands on mid to senior roles. After 4 years, Jess decided to move back to the North-East by joining our team here at Nigel Wright.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steven Underwood, Managing Director, Bonded

Steve is Founder & Managing Director at Bonded digital & media agency, with over 20 years in the industry, working with global brands through to ambitious start-ups.

Steve believes connection with people is the future of business communications; ‘in an ever changing fast paced world the importance of people has not changed; this is the constant.’

In addition to his role at Bonded, Steve has a passion for helping NE businesses grow & thrive. Steve is an advisor and mentor to other businesses and is chair of the NABS NE Committee.

 

 

Bryony Vaughan, Sales and Marketing Director, Tharsus

Bryony Vaughan is an experienced Sales and Marketing Director with over 20 years of delivering commercial growth, international expansion, and business transformation. She has a proven record of creating and executing go-to-market strategies that drive measurable impact. Currently, she is leading Tharsus through a major commercial transformation, diversifying revenue, forging strategic partnerships, and repositioning the company as a multi-sector leader in strategic machine design and manufacture. Previously at Palintest, she drove global expansion through high-impact sales and product marketing strategies. Bryony is passionate about building high-performing teams, developing innovative marketing strategies, and optimising customer journeys, while mentoring talent and embracing new technologies.

James Watson, Head of Marketing, Nuby UK LLP

James entered the wonderful world of marketing at the same time that Guinness put a Polynesian surfer on our TV screens to the beat of Leftfield’s Phat Planet.  And as tik followed tok, James clocked his own path through Formula 1, football, cycling and indeed all sports through his roles at Haymarket Media, E.ON, Umbro (Nike Inc), Paddy Power, Science in Sport and Endura.

In the summer of 2022, James left London and moved permanently to the North East in search of fresh air, hills and a dog, achieving all three KPIs, and getting married for bonus points.

Now at local brand Nuby, James is keen to support and develop the next generation of brilliant talent in the North East.

Zoe Watson, Marketing Director, Tritility

Zoe Watson is Marketing Director at Tritility, a national energy consultancy. She has 20 years’ marketing experience spanning the energy, construction, and manufacturing sectors, with a career that includes both agency and in-house leadership roles. Zoe began as a media planner, working with brands such as Pathé Film, before moving into senior positions where she built and developed high-performing teams. At Tritility, she leads the marketing strategy, driving business growth while building the company’s brand and market presence. Zoe is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (MCIM).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rebecca Wilson, Vice President of Communications, Venator

Rebecca Wilson is Vice President of Communications at Venator, with over 15 years’ experience in corporate communications across global manufacturing. Known for her ability to distil complex topics into clear, compelling narratives, she has led communications through major milestones including acquisitions, IPO and divestures. Most recently, Rebecca spearheaded a global behavioural change programme that reshaped company culture. Her strategic insight and leadership have consistently driven engagement and transformation. Rebecca holds a BA (Hons) in English Language and is passionate about purposeful communication that connects people to strategy

 

 

 

 

Neil Whittaker, Sales and Marketing Director, Media Works

Neil is currently Sales and Marketing Director at Mediaworks, a dynamic digital agency. Over the past 20 years, he has developed and grown brands across a broad range of sectors, consistently delivering significant commercial growth. His experience spans across sales, marketing and communications/corporate affairs giving him a rounded perspective on how to drive performance in fast-paced environments. A Chartered Fellow of both the CIM and CMI, Neil combines deep professional expertise with a passion for building collaborative, high-performing teams and shaping strategies that deliver lasting impact.

Tracy Welford, Head of Marketing, Mandata

Tracy is Head of Marketing at Mandata, a leading Newcastle-based provider of Transport Management Software (TMS) solutions. Mandata’s technology is trusted by many of the nation’s top haulage operators, helping them streamline operations across the UK and Europe.

With over 27 years of marketing experience, Tracy has held senior roles with several North East businesses. After completing her MBA, she founded and ran a successful marketing consultancy, which ultimately led to her joining Mandata in 2010. Since then, she has played a pivotal role in the company’s growth.

Tracy champions a marketing philosophy that goes beyond promotion - it’s about creating genuine value for customers. She believes that understanding customer challenges and anticipating their needs is essential to driving meaningful engagement. By combining creativity with a customer-centric strategy, Tracy ensures marketing supports business growth helping both customers and Mandata to stay ahead in a competitive market.