Judging Panel

Chief Revenue Officer – Channel 4

Veriça joined Channel 4 as Chief Revenue Officer in November 2020, after spending over 20 years in media planning and buying agencies. Starting her career at MediaVest in 1998 before moving to MEC in 2002, Veriça joined PHD UK in 2009 to run the Sainsbury’s business. She became MD in 2013, before being promoted to CEO in April 2017. Veriça has always had a great love of television and was thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Channel 4’s commercial team.

UK Editor, Campaign

Maisie McCabe is UK editor at Campaign. Prior to this she has held the posts of deputy editor as well as was news editor across Campaign and Media Week. Maisie has been shortlisted for Writer of the Year and Columnist of the Year at the PPA Awards”

Award-Winning Asexual Activist, Model, Writer & Speaker

Yasmin Benoit is a British model, asexual activist, writer, speaker and researcher. Described as the “unlikely face of asexuality” by Cosmopolitan Magazine, she quickly became a leading voice for the community after publicly coming out in 2017. She started the #ThisIsWhatAsexualLooksLike movement for diverse asexual visibility and representation and co-founded International Asexuality Day (April 6). Her unconventional approach to activism has been covered throughout British and international press, including Vogue, MTV, Sky News, Paper Magazine, Attitude Magazine and the BBC. In 2022, she launched the UK’s first asexual rights initiative – the Stonewall x Yasmin Benoit Ace Project – in partnership with Stonewall and later won ‘Campaigner of the Year’ at the Rainbow Honours Awards.

Commercial Director and Inclusion Lead – The Advertising Association

Sharon Lloyd Barnes is the Commercial Director and Inclusion Lead for the Advertising Association. Previously, she ran magazine ad sales teams in London and New York before co-founding The Drive Partnership, a consultancy working with businesses across a range of sectors to build profitable growth. In addition to her commercial role at the Ad Association, Sharon leads on the All In campaign – an initiative to ensure that everyone in the UK advertising workforce feels they belong.

Co-Chair, 4Pride

Luke has more than five years of experience in television, working in a variety of roles within commissioning, production, and compliance. He is currently a Compliance Editor in Channel 4’s Legal & Compliance department, handling a slate of acquired shows ranging from true crime to reality entertainment. He’s also Co-Chair of 4Pride, Channel 4’s LGBTQIA+ resource group, where he played a key role in introducing gender-affirming healthcare, organising informative events for staff and coordinating 4Pride’s involvement in Leeds and London Pride.

Co-Chair – 4Pride

Lucifer (They/Them) joined Channel 4 in 2019 as part of the Paralympics Production Training Scheme, and is currently a Social Video Editor in 4Studio, as well as one of the Co-Chairs of 4Pride. Lucifer passionately advocates for LGBTQ+ visibility and rights within the media industry, is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace, and was one of the people who successfully pushed to get gender affirmation included on Channel 4’s BUPA healthcare policy.

Associate Director, Diversity – The IPA

Leila leads the IPA’s diversity strategy; at the forefront of innovation and change for the UK’s advertising industry by galvanising a stellar line up of passionate individuals from within the top advertising agencies, brands and clients, trade associations and experts with the mission to achieve diversity, equal rights and inclusivity in Advertising. She runs the IPA Talent Leadership Group and leads on The IPA’s Stepping into the Spotlight series, partnership with the Unstereotype Alliance and the iList.

Head of Media and Diversity Lead – ISBA

Bobi leads ISBA’s TV & Video strategy, helping to drive industry change on key advertiser issues within the TV, video and wider media landscape. Previously to ISBA, Bobi led the AV and partnerships teams at the7stars driving forward innovation and growth. She also served as the UK Commercial Director of The Walt Disney Company from 2010 to 2017, following senior positions at Viacom and Sky Media.

CEO Thinkbox

Following a successful career in advertising , Lindsey’s love of telly drew her to Thinkbox, the UK marketing body for commercial TV, where she now leads the brilliant team who make it their mission to help brands get the best out of today’s TV. She is a member and former President of WACL, a member and former President of the Global TV Group, a Fellow of the Marketing Society, an Honorary Fellow of the IPA and a member of the Marketing Group of Great Britain.

Managing Director, 4Creative

Katie is Managing Director of Channel 4’s multi-award-winning in-house agency, 4creative, with a brief to produce risky, innovative and culturally potent work across Channel 4 brands. Prior to Channel 4, Katie was Chief Operating Officer at TBWA\London. Previously she worked at Grey London, Brothers & Sisters and at luxury womenswear brand ME+EM Ltd. Katie has produced award-winning work for some of the UK’s best loved brands including M&S, McVitie’s and Center Parcs.

Chief Executive at Not A Phase

Danielle St James is an influential figure in the LGBTQ+ community in the UK and Chief Executive of Not A Phase, a trans-led, grassroots charity dedicated to awareness campaigning. She has a large following across multiple platforms and was recognised in this year’s Attitude Magazine 101 most influential list. She is a sought after speaker, activist, model and designer having been involved with numerous campaigns throughout her career including most recently for Nike, Orient Express and Playful Promises. Danielle is also the owner of a leading underwear and swimwear brand specialising in products for trans+ women, Zoah, recognised for it’s innovative products and celebration of body positivity, you can find more information about Zoah at www.zoah.shop

VP – Head of Media , Beam Suntory

Jerry Daykin is a London based, global marketing leader who has helped champion media and digital at a number of global brands including his current role as VP, Head of Media at premium spirits company Beam Suntory. Previously he has led global or regional teams at GSK (now Haleon), Diageo and Mondelez He is passionate about effectiveness, creativity, conscious approaches to media and bringing digital sense to the increasingly confusing world of modern marketing. Alongside this he is outspoken around the importance of diversity & inclusion in our industry and the power of representation in marketing to positively impact society – Jerry is a World Federation of Advertisers WFA Diversity Ambassador and is a voluntary director at the Conscious Advertising Network and Outvertising. He helped produce the WFA’s guide to D&I in marketing & media and then went on to literally write the book on “Inclusive Marketing”. Jerry has been a regular writer & contributor to the industry including writing for The Guardian, The Drum, Marketing Week and Adweek. He’s spoken at many of the industry’s leading events including Cannes Lions, DMEXCO, Advertising Week Europe and Festival of Marketing. He has previously been published as one of the contributing authors to the marketing strategy book “Eat Your Greens”.

Head of Growth & DEI, Across the Pond

Anna Brent is the Head of Growth & DEI at the independent creative agency Across the Pond and the Co-Director of Community and Culture at Outvertising, the nonprofit organisation that works to make UK advertising and marketing completely LGBTQ+ inclusive. She also volunteers at the Diversity Role Models charity where she talks with students and staff to help schools be more LGBQT+ friendly. At Across the Pond she has led the creation of global campaigns from end to end for clients including Google, Xiaomi, Facebook, Expedia and many more. Along with a decade-long track record for creative excellence in her work, Anna works to constantly drive forward positive changes in the industry, output and the wider community by communicating inclusive values at every opportunity. She is a clear and leading voice on diversity that can be found in the pages of Campaign, Little Black Book and The Metro. Before she came to Across the Pond, Anna worked for many years in television with all of the major broadcasters and on household names in entertainment such as Come Dine with Me, The Secret Millionaire and Big Brother. Anna lives in South London with her wife and two kids.