The Judging Panels

Meet our dedicated judging panels comprised of representatives from the awards sponsor and experts selected by Women in Change.

The Professional Services Change Leader of the Year Award

Sponsored by Buckles Solicitors

  • Head of the Family Team at Buckles Law

    I have been a Family Lawyer for 30 years. I am a qualified collaborative lawyer and accredited mediator, and specialise in assisting clients when relationships breakdown. In my view, this is a more sympathetic and realistic description of being a “Divorce Lawyer” that otherwise carries some emotional dread. I am Head of the Family Team at Buckles Law, and have recently stepped down from being on the Operations, Finance, and Compliance Boards. Without any formal change management qualifications, my day job also includes landing projects, managing expectations and maintaining a supportive and vibrant culture within the law firm. Like most professional services work, being a lawyer is centred around people, and that is where my motivation to achieve lies.

  • Global People, Culture & Change Lead at Gate One

    Caro blends large-scale programmatic discipline with a focus on individual coaching and leadership development, bringing teams together to create new possibilities, and ultimately deliver meaningful change.

  • Partner at Moore

    Carolyn has been in the accounting profession for a little over 30 years and is a partner in Moore East Midlands, part of the Moore UK network. Over this period, not only has she driven change forward within her own firm, she has helped business owners across the UK adapt to changes in the market place, transform their businesses and realise their ambitions.

    ‘Whilst growth and profit are seen as key drivers in business, it is important that it is not growth at any cost. In an accountancy practice our greatest asset is our people so we focus on setting the pathways for our team to learn, grow and succeed and that pushes us all forward’.

    Although driving change is not always something you immediately associate with accountants, Carolyn feels it is an intrinsic part of running the practice.

    ‘I started out thinking I was ‘just’ an accountant and whilst that is a huge part of what I do, there is so much more to running a business. I find everything I learn to move my own business forwards can assist me in helping my clients to move their businesses forward’.

The WIC Company of the Year Award

Sponsored by Change Quest

  • Change Management Consultant at Change Quest

    Ranjit is a chartered management consultant with extensive experience spanning Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As Founder and Director of ChangeQuest, Ranjit works closely with clients to support them in embedding best-practice change and project management approaches that enable efficient delivery and lasting transformational change.

    She is a popular speaker and author of a number of publications, including: Titanic Lessons in Project Leadership and The Effective Change Manager’s Handbook. She is also a faculty member and teaches the change management and stakeholder influencing units of a Master’s degree run by the Institute of Internal Communication and Solent University.

  • Group Transformation Director, Reckitt

    An experienced change management lead, with over 12 years’ experience in delivering multiple transformation programmes across various functions within 2 multinational companies.

    Gagan makes change happen by building relationships, creating a shared vision and encouraging constructive dialogue to ensure global transformation is delivered and sustained successfully.

The Rising Star Award

Sponsored by Change Right

  • Partner at Change Right

    Michael has spent over 20 years working in the public sector, prior to Change Right Michael worked for the Metropolitan Police Service managing the business change for three programmes as part of their Transformation Directorate. Subsequently, he worked for the Ministry of Defence within People Transformation, where he met the founder of the Women in Change Network, Sarah Bar-Lev.

    Michael has a passion for change management, especially improving workplace and workplace well-being for organisations.

    Michael said, “Having been involved with Sarah and the Women in Change Network from the beginning, I am excited to continue to support the network and its members, especially recognising the talent within the network through this awards process”

  • UK People, Culture and Change Practice Lead at Gate One

    Claire works with clients to design and deliver change programmes that really stick. Within this whirlwind environment, Claire’s remains focussed on coaching others to success and helping young talent shine.

  • Acting Group Transformation Director at JD Sports

    Sarah is currently the Acting Group Transformation Director at JD Sports Fashion Plc where she leads a team of 70 to deliver the transformational change activity in service of the group’s strategy. Having spent 15 years in the Transformational Change space, Sarah focusses on delivering change in an engaging and collaborative way and is passionate about coaching and developing her teams. Sarah was previously part of the Transformation leadership teams at Asda and Co-op, and prior to this had a 15 year career at KPMG advising clients on M&A activity.

The Best Mentor or Coach Award

Sponsored by JCS Global Partners

  • Director at JCS Global Partners

    My story is borne from a passion for helping others and providing practical solutions. After a few decades in the corporate world, working and living in several countries and across a diverse range of industries, I looked to the future and made a significant step change.

    In 2020, I started my career as a solopreneur. Utilising a dynamic, pragmatic and collaborative approach with a sharp ability to solve problems, I established my business to help clients facilitate change that impacts effectiveness, productivity, and personal development.

  • Founder & CEO at Koolen Consulting

    Emily Koolen is a leadership expert, coach, facilitator, strategist, and advisor.

    Her passion is building leaders & teams – the Human Way! She helps the smartest founders, leaders, and teams in their quest to change the world!

    She hails from Canada originally and who now makes the UK home. Her background includes over 25 years of HR strategy and leadership, team learning & development, scaling companies and leadership coaching. She’s worked globally in pretty much every sector, working with customers ranging from large multi-nationals to start-up entrepreneurs.

    Her focus these days is coaching some of the most innovative scale-ups, levelling them up to success and helping them navigate all the leadership & growth challenges they encounter as they grow. She also designs and facilitates bespoke team optimisation and acceleration journeys for companies and groups in states of change and growth. She’s a community builder and connector, fostering start-up and scale up ecosystems in some of the top tech & innovation hubs in the world.

  • Head of Operations at OneWealth Ltd

    Born and raised in Australia, my professional journey commenced in the dynamic realm of retail, where I dedicated eight years to understanding consumer behaviour and operational intricacies. Five of those years were spent in management roles, nurturing leadership skills and fostering team cohesion.

    At 26, I relocated to the United Kingdom with my husband, seeking new professional horizons and cultural experiences. To integrate into the community, I commenced work as a receptionist, leveraging the role to establish valuable connections and broaden my network.

    In 2020, I transitioned to OneWealth Ltd, assuming the position of Executive Assistant. Through steadfast commitment and diligence, I progressed to the role of Head of Operations, contributing to the organisation's strategic initiatives and operational efficiency.

    Beyond the professional sphere, I find solace in yoga, which I practice maintaining balance and mindfulness amidst demanding schedules. Additionally, I prioritise spending quality time with friends and embarking on enriching travel experiences.

    My journey underscores the importance of resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning in navigating diverse professional landscapes. As an advocate for women's leadership, I am committed to fostering inclusive environments and empowering individuals to realise their full potential.

The Social Impact Award

Sponsored by OneWealth Ltd

  • Chief Information Officer, Buckles Solicitors

    With over 15 years of experience, I am a Master's-qualified Chief Information Officer specialising in legal tech, skilled in leading transformative IT initiatives to boost business growth and efficiency. My expertise spans IT strategy, digital transformation, project management, and team leadership. Known for innovation, I've driven projects enhancing cybersecurity, automating processes, and digitising operations, achieving notable cost savings and staying abreast of key technologies like cloud services and security. At Buckles, I contribute to strategy and innovation across various boards and committees, including serving as Chair of the Innovation Committee. I am a Chartered Professional Member at BCS and a certified Mental Health First Aider, demonstrating my commitment to professional excellence and workplace wellbeing.

  • Corporate Strategic Planning Director at Diageo Plc

    Victoria is the Strategic Planning Director for Diageo Plc, and a passionate advocate for women in business. As a Chartered Management Accountant, Victoria has a broad background in finance and strategic transformation. Over the past 13 years with Diageo Plc, Victoria has worked across multiple different countries, and delivered extensive change as part of M&A Finance Director roles.

    Victoria has pursued her passion for developing female talent, and in particular finance leaders of the future. As a co-chair of the Spirited Women Employer Resource Group (ERG) at Diageo, Victoria has worked as part of a committee with over 850 members dedicated to inspiring, retaining, and attracting female talent. The Spirited Women Group work to ensure women have a platform to thrive and an environment to flourish. Their efforts are centered around four key pillars: hosting original events, facilitating inspiring conversations, strengthening community connections, and promoting open and inclusive culture. Through knowledge sharing, career development support, health awareness initiatives, and powerful communication, the team strive to empower individuals, encourage diversity, and drive positive change within the organisation.

The Best Change Programme Award

Sponsored by Tessiant

  • Founder & Managing Partner at Tessiant

    Anna is one of the UK’s award-winning CIOs, being the first ever female to be ranked number one in the CIO100, as well as winning ‘CIO of the year’. A people-centered and transformation leader, with core strengths in strategy leadership and digital transformation, alongside a wealth of experience in delivering large-scale change across multiple industries, particularly retail. Previously the CIO at Asda, Halfords and Morrisons, she has significantly improved technology capabilities in organisations and has an outstanding track record of driving major growth for FTSE100, FTSE250 and regulatory organisations at the senior level. Anna is also incredibly passionate about breaking down barriers in tackling gender equality by carving the way for Women in Consulting, IT and Technology.

    Now turned female entrepreneur, being in the handful of women to found and run a management consultancy, Tessiant (alongside partners), who are enjoying phenomenal growth as a 4-year-old startup. Anna brings her 25 years’ worth of experience to consulting clients in major organisations, as well as with the next generation of business leaders as a mentor.

  • Founder and CEO at Change Management Library

    Maribeth Olafioye is the Founder and CEO at Change Management Library, known for her expertise in Change Management and IT Change & digital transformation across public and private sectors. With over a decade of experience, especially in leading global change initiatives in the EMEA region, Maribeth has a passion for embedding social mobility into change processes.

    At the helm of Change Management Library, she delivers high-quality training to global participants and consultancy services. As a Qualified Education Provider, Maribeth plays a pivotal role in developing Certified Change Delivery Professionals (CCDPs), aligning with the standards of the ACMP. Her consultancy work is distinguished by its focus on delivering tangible results while promoting social mobility.

  • Director - C-Level Technology & Digital Transformation Leader at JP Delderfield Ltd

    Jo is a seasoned transformation and technology leader with over 20 years of experience in business integration, digital transformation and technology enabled change.

    She has held numerous successful leadership roles including CIO and Executive Board level, creating business value through technology enabled change across a broad range of sectors, including FSTE100 and high growth organisations.

    Her recent roles include CIO at Xeinadin Group a top 20 accountancy and business advisory firm and IT Director at Marshall Motors, a £2bn automotive retailing group. Jo is passionate about championing women in leadership and technology, always striving to ensure that women have a seat at the decision-making table.

The Best Female-Led Disruptive Technology Award

Sponsored by Capgemini

  • Vice President, Head of Programme and Change at Capgemini Invent

    Claire is a passionate and dedicated change management professional with extensive experience of delivering change programmes globally, locally and across many different clients. Delivery highlights include working with field engineers for a global utility company to deploy a new customer management system across five continents to enable better sales management and helping one of our largest government departments, change their behaviours, culture and capability around management information to enable one version of the truth and better decision-making.

    The head of the Programme and Change capability function at Capgemini Invent, she partners with clients every day to take a collaborative, human centric approach to change; guiding organisations through complex transitions and helping change leaders navigate change effectively to achieve the desired outcome in a sustainable way.

    As a PROSCI and CIPD qualified practitioner Claire is committed to continuous learning, driving innovation, exploring new ideas to best address the unique challenges we face in an ever change environment- passionate about people development and growth, Claire takes pride in establishing and leading high performing teams, which foster a culture of success, creativity and innovation leaving a legacy of sustainable change.

    Outside of work, Claire spends her time raising two children, enjoying the outdoor life that South Wales has to offer and volunteering with the British Red Cross.

  • Global People, Culture & Change Lead at Gate One

    Caro blends large-scale programmatic discipline with a focus on individual coaching and leadership development, bringing teams together to create new possibilities, and ultimately deliver meaningful change.

  • Managing Director at Thrive Consulting Collaborative

    Sarah David has been working with executive leaders for 25 years to clarify strategy, accelerate leadership impact and nurture positive culture.

    She is Board Chair of D&F Creative, who work with global brands on multi-generational engagement; NED of Bates Wells, the first B Corp law firm; and is the outgoing Board Chair of Voice 21, who work with over 1000 schools in the UK to develop talking skills.

    Sarah started her career as a lawyer, before moving into executive roles with Linklaters and Korn Ferry, and then running an autism centre in Denver, Colorado. She has been an executive coach for nearly 20 years, is an Ambassador for Queen Bee Coaching and a standing judge for the UK Social Mobility Awards.

The Change Consultant of the Year Award

Sponsored by Prospect Change

  • Co-founder of Prospect Change

    In 2022 I co-founded Prospect Change with my business partner and friend, Jen Anderton. Prospect Change is a consultancy that provides PMO (Project, Programme and Portfolio Management Office) expertise, advice and guidance. In 2023 Prospect Change was voted Bradford’s New Business of the Year.

    Parallel to our consultancy work, we are extremely proud of our partnership with our local college and the work we are doing in our Prospect Change Academy. It is our mission to stand up the future generation of PMO professionals, to inspire young minds to consider career paths in PMO and to put PMO firmly on the further education map.

    I am a huge advocate for the wider body of change and have always championed the bringing together of the varying specialisms and expertise needed for organisational growth and development, from defining a strategy, through to ensuring the successful embedding of change post project or programme delivery.

    When I put away the laptop, I am a mum to two little girls, which means that most weekends I can be found at the park, a soft play or covered in glitter, paint and glue from another crafting session. As a mother of daughters, I find myself even more motivated to empower women within the industry of change and continue to lift the ceilings that are above us.

  • Co-Founder of Behaviour-Lab Consulting

    Sam is an accomplished Organisational Psychologist and Organisational Development Practitioner with 18 years of experience.

    Before co-founding Behaviour Lab, Sam brought her expertise to Arup, where she served as the Global Director of People & Organisations. There, she led a fantastic team of consultants, working on everything from large-scale change projects to uplifting wellbeing initiatives. Sam’s journey has taken her through diverse industries, collaborating with giants like Dubai Airports and Heathrow Airport, contributing to Major Projects such as High Speed 2 and Crossrail, and supporting charitable organizations like the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Ramblers Association. Her passion shines through as she tackles a wide array of challenges, from designing and implementing new Operating Models to leading Leadership Development programs and supporting organisations in meeting Net Zero targets. Sam is not just about experience; she’s about creating positive, impactful change!

  • Head of Change Practice, Altum Consulting

    For over 20 years I worked as a change and transformation expert for global blue-chip organisations on a variety of culture, workplace and business strategy change programmes. Now I’m focused on recruitment and leading Altum Consulting’s Change practice.

    I have extensive experience and expertise in designing and delivering people change, senior stakeholder engagement, and organisational design and development across a wide range of global industry sectors and assignments. Having worked as both an independent contractor and consultant for the Big 4 over many years, I have built and continue to nurture a strong network of change and transformation associates and a healthy client base.

    I’m passionate about helping businesses understand and navigate change successfully and I know how hard it is to find great change and transformation practitioners, which prompted me to move into recruitment. My first-hand knowledge and experience of delivering change, and my wide associate network helps businesses who are embarking on or struggling with change to find the right talent to deliver great outcomes. Experts who can define the new world, navigate complexity, and create and deliver practical change that takes people with them. I'm your trusted, expert, long-term partner who you can rely on to find the right talent.

    Outside work, I’m an avid side-line supporter of my sporty children (and taxi driver!). I also help young people and choirs with their fledgling singing careers and touring schedules.

The Inspiring Change Leader of the Year Award

Sponsored by Behaviour-Lab Consulting

  • Co-Founder of Behaviour-Lab Consulting

    Laura is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist whose career spans consulting and internal HR Leadership positions up to Chief People Officer. She has worked across multiple industries, including infrastructure, automotive, telecommunications, digital and healthcare, and has learned many of the challenges facing businesses today are often similar, regardless of sector. Designing organisations to create a talent winning place to work, building an environment for performance and helping organisations to navigate and lead change to give them the competitive edge, are challenges that transcend industries. Laura has supported businesses, including Jaguar Land Rover, Virgin Media, Heathrow Airport and Purplebricks to transform as both a Consultant and HR Leader. She draws on her expertise of psychology, leadership, teams and whole system design to create interventions that deliver results for the business and create an engaging human experience.

  • Founder & Director of &Culture

    “My passion is advocating for change that is not only strategic but sustainable, ensuring the well-being and growth of my clients’ most valuable asset—their people.”

    A seasoned Business Psychologist with over 15 years of experience across EY, Jaguar Land Rover and Greene King, Clare is passionate about leveraging psychological insights to foster transformative change.

    With a career spanning a spectrum of HR and consulting roles, Clare has worked as a strategic partner to executive boards and organisations of all shapes and sizes around the globe as they look to bring about real and lasting change for their people.

  • Chief of Staff and Director of Organisational Change at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Trust

    Tendai is currently Chief of Staff and Director of Organisational Change at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Trust, one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country. In her role she oversees corporate governance, organisational design and the operating model and works closely with the CEO to deliver on priority programmes.

    Tendai has worked in healthcare for nearly 20 years in various corporate and operational roles, with the last 10 years spent leading large scale change within and across functional and organisational boundaries. She is interested what the private and public sectors can learn from each other in order to address shared challenges, deliver systemic and sustainable change and drive innovation and transformation at scale. Tendai is passionate about diversity and inclusion, believing strongly that ‘that which unites us all is greater than that which separates us’.

The Sustainability Change Leader of the Year Award

Sponsored by Terumo Aortic

  • Global VP of HR at Terumo Aortic

    I joined Terumo Aortic in 2011 and was promoted in 2019 to Global VP of HR. As part of the Senior Leadership team, my responsibilities include leadership of HR, Compensation and Benefits, Talent and Development, and Internal Communications teams.

    With over 25 years’ experience working in various financial, telecommunications and manufacturing sectors, my focus is on the development and implementation of key strategic decisions that support long-term growth within a highly regulated medical device industry, whilst providing insight into the impacts on our people, culture, talent development and associate engagement.

    Originally from Northern Ireland, I graduated in Business Studies from the University of Ulster, furthered my studies with a postgraduate in Human Resources and achieved Chartered member status of the Institute of Personnel Development.

    In my spare time, I enjoy walking, spinning classes at the gym and spending time with family and friends.

  • Head of Operations at OneWealth Ltd

    Born and raised in Australia, my professional journey commenced in the dynamic realm of retail, where I dedicated eight years to understanding consumer behaviour and operational intricacies. Five of those years were spent in management roles, nurturing leadership skills and fostering team cohesion.

    At 26, I relocated to the United Kingdom with my husband, seeking new professional horizons and cultural experiences. To integrate into the community, I commenced work as a receptionist, leveraging the role to establish valuable connections and broaden my network.

    In 2020, I transitioned to OneWealth Ltd, assuming the position of Executive Assistant. Through steadfast commitment and diligence, I progressed to the role of Head of Operations, contributing to the organisation's strategic initiatives and operational efficiency.

    Beyond the professional sphere, I find solace in yoga, which I practice maintaining balance and mindfulness amidst demanding schedules. Additionally, I prioritise spending quality time with friends and embarking on enriching travel experiences.

    My journey underscores the importance of resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning in navigating diverse professional landscapes. As an advocate for women's leadership, I am committed to fostering inclusive environments and empowering individuals to realise their full potential.

  • Head of the Family Team at Buckles Law

    I have been a Family Lawyer for 30 years. I am a qualified collaborative lawyer and accredited mediator, and specialise in assisting clients when relationships breakdown. In my view, this is a more sympathetic and realistic description of being a “Divorce Lawyer” that otherwise carries some emotional dread. I am Head of the Family Team at Buckles Law, and have recently stepped down from being on the Operations, Finance, and Compliance Boards. Without any formal change management qualifications, my day job also includes landing projects, managing expectations and maintaining a supportive and vibrant culture within the law firm. Like most professional services work, being a lawyer is centred around people, and that is where my motivation to achieve lies.

The Best HR Changemaker Award

Sponsored by The Change Management Institute

  • UK Co-Lead at The Change Management Institute

    Soraya Robertson is a senior leader who has built change and leadership capability at company, team and individual levels in part privatised and global corporates in the aviation and IT sectors in the UK and EMEA. She is currently Head of Change and Benefits Management for NATS and Country Co-Lead for the Change Management Institute.

    Soraya’s experience is built up from more than 20 years of managing internal communication functions, leading, designing, and delivering leadership and team development and establishing change and benefits management teams setting the standards, providing tools and expertise. She is passionate about creating healthy and high performing human systems and over the last three years has worked to support the shift in organisational consciousness and action around equity, diversity and inclusion through volunteer ERG and coach-mentoring work with women and ethnic minorities.

    Soraya gained her Certificate in Organisational Development from the NTL Institute for Applied Behavioural Science, holds an EMCC accredited Coach-Mentoring qualification and is an advanced practitioner in People Centred Implementation.

  • Managing Director at Thrive Consulting Collaborative

    Sarah David has been working with executive leaders for 25 years to clarify strategy, accelerate leadership impact and nurture positive culture.

    She is Board Chair of D&F Creative, who work with global brands on multi-generational engagement; NED of Bates Wells, the first B Corp law firm; and is the outgoing Board Chair of Voice 21, who work with over 1000 schools in the UK to develop talking skills.

    Sarah started her career as a lawyer, before moving into executive roles with Linklaters and Korn Ferry, and then running an autism centre in Denver, Colorado. She has been an executive coach for nearly 20 years, is an Ambassador for Queen Bee Coaching and a standing judge for the UK Social Mobility Awards.

  • Change Management Manager at Anglo American

    Nicola is a highly experienced change management leader and practitioner. She has developed and led change programmes for leading national, FTSE 100, and global companies across a variety of industries. These include Shell, BUPA, British Telecom, UBS and, Anglo American.

    Nicola has a master’s degree in organisational behaviour from the London School of Economics and Political Science, is a Prosci certified change practitioner and trainer, certified agile project manager with post-graduate diplomas in internal communications and marketing, and is currently working towards accreditation as an executive coach.