The Judges
Our judges are senior leaders, strategists and creatives from some of the UK's most respected agencies and brands, NOT Wieden+Kennedy, Wolff Olins, WPP, Pentagram and more. They've shaped brands for Nike, Unilever, Estée Lauder, Disney and beyond. They've judged for D&AD and the RSA. They know what brilliant work looks like.
And they're giving their time to Gather because they believe in what's happening here.
People who care about creativity, community and craft, coming together to recognise the best work happening right here in Norwich.
Brand Story
Sponsored by
Anika Ramani
Anika joined W+K London in 2022 to head up NOT W+K, the Branding and Design part of W+K London. Bringing with her 12 years experience of working at leading brand strategy and design agencies plus a MSc in Brand Leadership
At W+K she helped to launch NOT W+K and has led projects for Malibu, Kahlua, Upwork, Re:Chemistry and Eurovision.
Head of NOT Wieden + Kennedy
Nick Parker
Nick Parker spends more time thinking about brand voice than is probably healthy. He runs the language strategy studio ‘That Explains Things’, he created Voicebox, the method that’s now used by thousands of brands, agencies and copywriters all over the world.
And he writes the Substack ‘Tone Knob’, where he takes a nerd’s eye view of brands doing interesting things with their language. His most recent book is Wat Am Corgi. It is very stupid.
Founder, That Explains Things
Tait is the founder and CEO of Pivotal, a Norwich-based creative agency helping ambitious brands grow through bold strategy and brilliant execution. With two decades of experience across brand, digital and commerce, Tait has a sharp eye for ideas that cut through.
Alongside running Pivotal, he’s a serial entrepreneur, advisor and investor.
Founder & CEO, PivotalTait Pollack
Rob is Head of Creative Strategy at Yawn Marketing, where he crafts strategic and creative work that helps clients stand out by putting curiosity and insight first. He also leads the agency's own strategy and marketing efforts, growing its visibility and positioning in the market.
Before this, Rob spent over seven years at Foolproof, where he managed marketing across four geographies, shaped the agency's positioning, brought its work and ideas to life, and sat on the leadership team.
Head of Creative Strategy, YawnRob Hall
Brand Identity
Sponsored by
Christian Schroeder
Christian has worked in the agency world for 35 years, including 25 years at WPP before retiring at the end of June. During his time at WPP, he held a series of senior leadership roles: Managing Director of Landor in Central Europe, CEO of Lambie-Nairn, Global Client Leader for Telefonica across WPP, Global Client Leader for BAT across WPP, and finally Global President at Landor.
He has worked across all disciplines of marketing and communications and has led teams in more than fifty countries around the world.
Luke Taylor
Luke is the co-founder of the award-winning branding agency UnitedUs, where he’s led the team for over 13 years, building standout brands with clients including LEGO, Google, Goodwood and Wagamama. UnitedUs champions the space where creativity meets commerce, working with clients to build brands that change the game.
Alongside the agency, Luke and his co-founders are creative entrepreneurs and investors.
Co-Founder, UnitedUs
Hazel has spent her career at the intersection of brand strategy and design excellence. After shaping iconic brands at London’s top agencies - Newell & Sorrell, Pentagram and Wolff Olins for clients including Selfridges, Royal Mail, Lloyds Banking Group, Linklaters and Historic Royal Palaces.
Since founding her consultancy Hazel Brands, she has created global identities for tech innovators worldwide. Hazel has judged design awards for D&AD amongst others and has been a visiting tutor on branding for innovation at the Royal College of Art.
Founder, Hazel BrandsHazel Macmillan
Over a forty-year career, Jim has worked with many of the world’s greatest brands as an executive leader, CEO, brand consultant and trusted external advisor. Jim has held roles at Pepe Jeans, Levi Strauss & Co., Converse, and WPP agencies including The Partners, Lambie-Nairn, Superunion and Design Bridge and Partners.
In 2023 he set up A Priori Projects to provide non-executive advice to fast-growing businesses in the media, marketing and creative industries.
Founder & Non-ExecutiveJim Prior
Brand Communication:
Sponsored by
Mimi Okorie is a Communications Planning Director at Craft Media London, helping brands deliver insight-led communications that drive cut-through and impact. She has worked across beauty, FMCG, utilities, toys, alcohol and finance, including LEGO, Sainsbury’s Group and JLR, and was named a 2023 Campaign Media Week's Rising Star.
Mimi is a University of East Anglia graduate, with a BA in Media Studies and a Master’s in Media, Society and Culture.
Communications Planning Director, Craft Media LondonMimi Okorie
Craig is the Founding Partner of craig+bridget a creative strategy consultancy. Prior to this he spent decades in some of the world’s best ad agencies, working on brand strategy for clients including Sainsbury’s, The National Lottery, Cancer Research UK, Guinness and many others. He has won many awards for his work including Grand Prix at the Marketing Society and APG.
Founding Partner, craig+bridgetCraig Mawdsley
Izzi Blackman is Relationship Manager at UEA, for Business, Creative and Digital industries. A former Head of Marketing, Izzi has over 10 years' experience in brand communication, with a particular focus on public engagement and placemaking.
Relationship Manager, UEAIsabel Blackman
Simon has enjoyed a creative career that went from theater, to TV, to music, to corporate. As Director of Creative within Production bureau, Simon has now built Pb Studio, a creative entity that encompasses design, motion, spatial, digital and streaming - partnering with global clients to deliver brand experiences.
Director of Creative, Production Bureau LtdSimon Price
Brand Growth
Sponsored by
Jo Juber
Jo spent the first part of her career as a planner at agencies in London and Singapore including J Walter Thompson, TMW and Mindshare leading strategy for clients including Virgin Atlantic, Jaguar Land Rover, and Unilever.
Jo then moved client side to lead brand and marketing for Macmillan Cancer Support, Lloyds Banking Group and Poppy's, before coming full circle as an independent consultant helping select clients wrestle with big brand challenges.
Independent Brand Strategist
Paul Hutton
A seasoned marketeer with over 25 years of experience, Paul has worked with global brands like Nike, Airbus, Renault, and Johnson & Johnson. His expertise spans 'through the line' marketing, PR, and advertising. Passionate about transformative strategies and engaging technologies, Paul has been a driving force across healthcare, brands and sustainability startups and scale-ups.
As the CEO of FOUR agency, Paul is instrumental in overseeing key strategic moments for clients – as well as making a decent cuppa!
CEO, Four Agency
Independent Strategy DirectorChris Bosher
Chris is a Strategy Director with a background in advertising. Past clients include adidas, Stella Artois, the UN, Oxfam, Diageo and Vivobarefoot - and agencies TBWA, Mother, Borne, SmallWorld, and Thingy & Thingy.
Alex Ayin
Alex is the founder of True Potential, a scale-up studio that helps high-growth companies gain competitive traction, optimise their GTM channels, build scalable systems, and assemble the teams needed to move from startup to market leader.
A former operator and executive, he helped scale Social Chain alongside Steven Bartlett & Dominic McGregor, served on THG's executive team during the UK's largest-ever tech IPO, and led the UK arm of Wiser with partners including Nike and the BBC. His approach is shaped by two decades of scaling businesses and research with elite performance cultures including Red Bull Racing, the All Blacks, and special forces units.
Independent Brand StrategistYoung Blood
Sponsored by
Will Good
Will started his career in Russia working on events and raves, moved into the agency world working with the likes of Burger King, Disney, Unilever, Diageo, Coca-Cola, across PR, retail, experiential shopper, CX, commerce and brand activation with Exposure, Draft, Ogilvy, Geometry, VML and WPP.
Now Global CEO of Prominate Group, where Merch is Magic! All about to helping those around him aim higher and go further.
Global CEO, Prominate
A strategically minded creative leader with 17+ years’ experience delivering standout brand communications across advertising, digital and integrated campaigns. From M&C Saatchi to leading a regional creative agency - she’s built a career partnering with ambitious brands and creative teams to produce work that’s both commercially effective and creatively brave.
In her current role as Head of Marketing at Norwich BID, Holly is passionate about celebrating the creativity and talent in our glorious city.
Head of Marketing, Norwich BIDHolly Bamford
Robert Jones is a brand consultant with over thirty years' experience, having worked with more than a hundred companies across every field — from banks to business parks, professions to palaces, climate change to crisps.
Based in north Norfolk, Robert leads three parallel lives: working as an independent brand strategist for clients across the UK, teaching as Professor of Brand Leadership at the University of East Anglia, and founding Brandland.
Founder, BrandlandRobert Jones
Johanna Alu
Johanna brings a fresh, young perspective to branding, with a strong awareness of current trends and emerging creative styles. As the connective force behind projects, she is passionate about creative packaging and consumer brands, and enjoys spotting the small details that make ideas feel relevant, exciting, and memorable.Special Prize: Brand for Change
Sponsored by
Elma Glasgow
Elma is an inclusive engagement specialist working with organisations to connect in more equitable ways with culturally underserved communities.
With 30 years' experience in journalism, PR and communications, Elma brings a wealth of knowledge including how to integrate the opinions of and create content that resonates with a diversity of audiences.
Founder, Elma Glasgow Consulting
Leo Rayman
Founder & CEO, Eden LabsLeo helps leaders see what's coming and redesign growth before disruption forces their hand. He brings cross-sector pattern recognition from energy transition to food systems to transport electrification, connecting the dots that most leaders treat as separate conversations.
Previously CEO of Grey London (WPP) where he launched Grey Consulting. Leo holds a Distinction in Business Sustainability Management from Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership, advises Carbon13 venture builder, and lectures at LSE, UCL, and Oxford Saïd Business School
Charlotte Earl
Head of Product & Partnerships, QuadmarkCharlotte is Head of Product & Partnerships at Quadmark, where she builds innovative learning experiences that drive real behaviour change. She partners with fast-moving tech brands, including Google and OpenAI to help their people sell smarter, lead with confidence and perform at their best.
Passionate about the intersection of learning, technology, and culture, Charlotte believes great brands don’t just grow, they grow people.
John Gordon-Saker
Executive Director, History of Advertising TrustJohn is Executive Director of the History of Advertising Trust and has enjoyed an eclectic career in banking and brand communication, having commissioned event and video work for HSBC, run the business media division of World Productions and the brand communication agency within WPP.
As Chair of the event and video industry’s trade association, IVCA, as Regional Director (Europe) of the ITVA and Chair of Norwich Film Festival, he has overseen many UK and international awards festivals.