Meet our Culture Pioneer judges

Our judging panel comprises true ambassadors of people-first workplace cultures. These industry experts are all committed to our mission of championing the real change makers of organisational culture.

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Our 2024 judging panel

Perry Timms

Founder and Chief Energy Officer – PTHR
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Judith Germain

Leading Authority on Maverick Leadership. Leadership Consultant, Trainer, Author, at The Maverick Paradox.
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Prof. Emma Parry

Professor of Human Resource Management and Head of the Changing World of Work Group, Cranfield School of Management
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Laura Overton

Author, facilitator & award winning analyst | learning changemaker | Cofounder of Emerging Stronger
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Jackie Clifford

Director of Clarity Learning and Development, L&D Professional, Coach and Author
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Blaire Palmer

Keynote speaker, future of leadership authority, coach and author, That People Thing Ltd
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Gethin Nadin

Award-winning Psychologist, Bestselling HR Author and Employee Wellbeing Expert
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Natasha Wallace

Founder and CEO of The Conscious Leadership Company
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Karen Liebenguth

Executive & leadership coach, pioneer of coaching outdoors, mindfulness trainer
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Shakil Butt

D&I Specialist and Founder of HR Hero for Hire Ltd.
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Mac Alonge

CEO of The Equal Group
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Debra Corey

Chief Pay it Forward Officer, Speaker, Author and Consultant DebCo HR LTD
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Diane Lightfoot

CEO of Business Disability Forum
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Evelina Dzimanaviciute

Wellbeing consultant and neuroscientist, CEO of Elite Mind Academy
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Thom Dennis

EDI and CQ facilitator, CEO of Serenity in Leadership
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Joanne Lockwood

Inclusive culture expert, transgender advocacy, CEO of See Change Happen
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Nicky Marshall

Wellbeing expert, Discover Your Bounce Publishing
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Robin Hoyle

Head of Learning Innovation, Huthwaite International
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Bruce Daisley

Workplace culture consultant, 2x Sunday Times Bestseller, ex-Twitter VP
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Ritika Wadhwa

CEO & Founder Prabhaav Global
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Deborah Hartung

Culture Transformation Catalyst | Team Performance Amplifier | Leadership Coach | Author | Keynote Speaker | Thinkers360 Top 35 Global Thought Leader in HR & Culture
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Dr Jo Burrell

Clinical Psychologist, Coach & Co-founder of Ultimate Resilience
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Lior Locher

Award-winning Senior Learning Consultant (NIITMTS) | Author | TEDx speaker | Pusher of envelopes | Community enthusiast
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Jenny Garrett

Award-winning career coach, leadership trainer, speaker & author of Equality vs Equity: Tackling Issues of Race in the Workplace
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Celebrating our 2023 Pioneers

Meet the culture-driven people professionals and teams that impressed our judges and brought home trophies in 2023.

What our judges are looking for

The judges will be shortlisting entries that demonstrate a positive working culture to celebrate and share with our HR and L&D communities.

“Wouldn’t it be great if more employers in the UK make a conscious effort to move away from a work culture which celebrates overwork as a sign of commitment and ambition, and move towards prioritising the health and wellbeing of its employees?”

Karen Liebenguth
Culture Pioneers Judge for Wellbeing Category

“What I am looking from the entries for the Culture Pioneer Inclusion Award are those organisations that have tackled inclusion holistically like any strategic initiative, owned by the leadership, resourced, reported on and having sustainable long term impact.”

Shakil Butt
Culture Pioneers Judge for Inclusion Category

“Sometimes the best learning initiatives aren’t all singing and all dancing formal programmes but subtle, clever, thoughtful ideas that impact everyone from entry level to the most senior executives. Tell us your organisation’s whole story and what difference people have experienced.”

Blaire Palmer
Culture Pioneers Judge for Learning Category

“For the Brand category, we’re looking for entrants to tell us how their values come to life beyond words and mission statements. We want to see the soul of your organisation – what binds, bonds and builds you and your people to succeed.”

Perry Timms
Culture Pioneers Judge for Brand Category

“For the Leadership Award, we’re looking for leaders who can demonstrate integrity, compassion, vulnerability, commitment and adaptability – especially through challenging times.”

CulturePioneers