We are delighted to be working with an experienced and knowledgeable panel of judges from many different industry sectors, who will bring wisdom and impartiality to the judging process. Judges will not be given categories where there is any potential conflict of interest.
Sarah Honeywell - Client Lead Channel 4
Sarah has over 25 years’ experience in the media industry, & has worked across a variety of client facing roles including media sales, planning, buying, partnerships, sponsorship, strategic & content teams. She is now part of the client team at Channel 4 working closely with brands & agencies , helping start conversations, drive revenue & building client relationships particularly across the independent agencies & new business.
Sarah is co-chair of C4’s Employee Reps & a Trustee of C4’s pension scheme, with a keen interest in the industry, and completed the Mark Ritson’s mini MBA in lockdown . She lives in Hampton Court & is social secretary of the local tennis club.
Louise Robinson – Editorial Director, Saga Magazine
Louise started her career on the Express and Echo in Exeter and then moved to Fleet Street working on the news and features desks of The Daily and Sunday Express, before being appointed Editor of S Magazine, the Sunday Express colour supplement.
She took the helm of Saga Magazine, and the interaction she enjoys with her wonderfully engaged readers, who are all over 50, has made it the most enjoyable role of her career so far.
Jo McCrostie - Creative Director, Global
A graduate of art and drama school, for over two decades Jo has specialised in audio as a creative platform; writing and producing audio commercials. She started out at Capital Radio in London as a production assistant, had her first ad on-air within a week, and now is Creative Director at Global, the Media & Entertainment Group. She heads up an award-winning creative team of audio specialists and commercial copywriters. She is heavily influenced by the potent effects of sound, voice and music on human behaviour and has the rare talent of drawing insight from both the ‘art and science’ of sound.
She has presented at creative conferences around the world and her point of view on radio creativity is often sought out by national and trade media.
Jo has served on many international audio juries, including D&AD, Clio’s and the LIAs and Cannes Lions where she has also chaired the radio and audio jury.
Rachel Pease - Head of Marketing, Pure Retirement
With 15 years’ marketing across financial services, education, telecoms and scientific research, Rachel has built the Pure Retirement brand from the ground up since joining the business in 2015.
Jacqueline Jeynes - author & lecturer
A published non-fiction author since 2000, Dr Jeynes is a member of British Guild of Travel Writers, a Distance Learning course writer and tutor, an expert on Small Business Risk Management, and a Guest Blogger on many sites worldwide.
Gary Hall - Gary Hall Coaching
Gary has worked in the area of personal development for over twenty-five years and has learnt his craft well. He is an Inspirational, motivational coach helping over 50s find purpose and meaning in their lives.
Robyn Griffith-Jones - Senior Marketing Lecturer
Robyn has worked in marketing in travel and tourism for 30 years, and is a Senior Lecturer in Tourism Marketing at London South Bank University Business School, as well as a trustee of Tourism for All and a consultant in accessibility.
Graeme McKenzie – Director, Let’s Talk Ageing
Graeme has spent his entire career, (fast approaching 40 years), working as a marketing communications specialist, gaining extensive experience and insight into how to successfully market a wide range of products and services to the older and elderly UK consumer.
John McEwan - Chairman & Non-Executive Director
John has enjoyed a lifetime career in travel, starting as a trainee and then reaching senior positions in the UK and globally. He was the 1st elected chairman of ABTA and now sits on the board of a variety of travel businesses.
Carole Tidball - Social Media Manager
Carole is very experienced in social media, particularly from the perspective of older consumers. After taking early retirement to care for her disabled husband, she honed her writing and photography skills and embarked upon a second career in travel and lifestyle writing.
Mike Higgins - Director, Precision Creative & Media
Always looking to drive results and having a keen eye for detail, Mike has perhaps an over enthusiastic interest in data, and how it can be used to improve results and better target the clients audience.
With almost 30 years of media planning and buying experience Mike started his career as a TV and Radio planner buyer with Zenith Media, before moving back to his native south coast. Mike is now a board director at Precision Creative and Media who have a long and rich history is direct response marketing to older audiences.
Derek Jones - Chairman & Non-Executive Director
Board Director at Thomson Holidays, then Managing Director of Lunn Poly (and later, Thomson Retail) overseeing a network of over 1,000 stores join the Kuoni Group, later taking the new position as CEO of Der Touristik UK, with responsibility for specialist UK travel brands . Derek stepped down as CEO in 2022, but is still active in the travel sector as a non-executive Director at Abta and Chair of Abta Lifeline.
James Gambling - Marketing Director, JG Travel Group
James’ career was founded at Saga Travel where he spent his latter years as Marketing Director for Saga Cruise through the redevelopment of the brand and new ship launches. He then led the marketing team for Travelopia’s Tailormade brands, followed by Fleetway Travel as Chief Marketing Officer & Director of Customer Experience. He joined Real Response Media in May 2020 leading the business transformation and creation of a digital strategy. In May 2023, he has taken on a new role as Marketing Director of JG Travel Group.