Meet the Judges

Clare is a Company Founder / Director and Consultant Event Operations Manager with over 15 years delivering event experiences across outdoor mass gathering and brand sectors. Clare is a TechIOSH safety manager, contributor to the Purple Guide, and was one of the first UK cohort to undertake an MSc in Crowded Places & Public Safety Management. Working predominately alongside independent and grassroots festivals, Clare has developed her company to be an award-winning organisation driven by values that include collaboration, belonging, clarity and thought leadership.

Clare specialisies in event operational delivery and project management, including health & safety, crowd management, policy development, licencing, budgets, team leadership, and communications.

SVP of UK Boutique Events & Festivals at Live Nation and CEO of Dreamland, Margate, Eddie is a specialist in vision creation, change management, business strategy, turnaround, driving value, increasing profits and creating teams delivering great customer experience. Eddie is a leading visionary of the leisure and entertainment sector.

Steve has over 20 years’ experience in delivering world-class events. Starting his career in Crowd Management, he spent 15 years leading projects for Showsec before moving to ACC Liverpool as Operations Manager. Since joining LS Events in 2016, he has overseen some of the UK’s biggest events, including BST Hyde Park, All Points East, Formula E and Sail GP.

As Project Director, Steve led delivery of the UEFA Champions League Final 2024 across seven London sites, welcoming 500,000 visitors. He also played a central role in Operation LONDON Bridge in 2022, managing the overarching event plan for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s lying-in-state. Today, Steve continues to co-lead LS Events with a focus on excellence and innovation.

Cat Kevern is a stalwart in the events industry, a marketing expert, a champion of women, and an entrepreneur. With a decade of events experience behind her, Cat is the Founder of Electric Cat, a B2B Marketing and PR agency serving event suppliers and agencies. She is also the Managing Director of NOWIE (The Network of Women in Events CIC).

She’s a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the events industry, with a particular focus on women’s experiences. Cat is a seasoned keynote and panel speaker on a vast range of topics, including DEI, entrepreneurship, marketing, building a brand, and the power of networking.

Saoirse Holland is the Director of Raver Tots, the UK’s biggest family-friendly rave brand. With a passion for music, events, and creating unforgettable experiences, Saoirse leads the vision of bringing people of all ages together on the dance floor.

She oversees the growth and development of Raver Tots, ensuring every event is safe, inclusive and fun. Dedicated to celebrating music and family life, Saoirse has helped establish Raver Tots as a unique space where parents and kids can connect through the joy of dance music.

Sheena graduated from MMU with a degree in Events Management and joined Engine No.4 in 2019.

As their Senior Operations Manager, she leads the operations teams on key projects including Snowbombing, Parklife, Lost Village and Warehouse Project.

Paul Bush OBE was VisitScotland’s Director of Events for 20 years, instrumental in attracting major global sporting spectacles to Scotland, including the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup.

He became Chief Executive of Scottish Swimming in 1998, working with the University of Stirling to develop the National Swimming Academy and building a professional coaching and performance structure that delivered sustained international success. He served as General Team Manager in 2002 and Chef de Mission in 2006, when Scotland achieved its then-best medal haul. Awarded an OBE in 2007, he also played a key role in securing the 2014 Games.

Paul has since chaired Commonwealth Games Scotland and British Curling, and now consults across sport and events, recently leading the UK’s successful 2027 Tour de France bid.

Laura Armstrong is a highly accomplished Projects Director at LS Events, and a passionate events leader with unparalleled experience in live entertainment and complex major events working with varied and high level stakeholders. With a strong technical background, Laura has been instrumental in delivering world-class projects, notably for the award-winning BST Hyde Park, one of London's most iconic music festivals.

Beyond her exceptional project delivery for clients like NFL and NBA, Laura is deeply committed tonurturing new talent, actively mentoring young people entering the industry through initiatives like NOWIE (The Network of Women in Events) and City Lions. Laura holds both IOSH Safe Management at Live Events and Nebosh General Certificate qualifications.

Gill began her career at Capital Radio, rising to Head of Entertainment and producing the first-ever 100,000-capacity Party in the Park at Hyde Park. She later founded entertee productions, delivering major events such as the Hop Farm Festival, headlined by Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Prince’s only UK festival appearance. Alongside her son Reece, she also launched the award-winning entertee Hire, supplying fencing and ground protection to many leading UK festivals.

In 2018, driven by her love of Americana, Gill co-founded the multi award-winning Black Deer Festival, which has since expanded into Black Deer Radio, Black Deer Live and the upcoming Black Deer in the City. Recognised with multiple industry honours, she most recently received the Outstanding Contribution to Festivals award in 2024.

Dennis founded Major Events International (MEI) in 2007 after senior roles at Thales and Atos, bringing 20+ years’ global event experience. MEI supports corporates, SMEs, federations, and host cities through strategy, market entry, and summits.

Dennis, an MSc graduate, drives international growth and speaks widely on event mobilisation and legacy.

Sam has over 18 years experience in Live Music, starting his journey working in bars and venues in Melbourne.

As the Head of Production at DHP Family, he oversees the planning, delivery, and execution of live events across the UK, working with a diverse range of artists, venues, and partners. He currently works on DHP Family’s festivals including Bearded Theory and Splendour as well as heading up their venue teams of production and technical staff.

Laura is a strategic, experienced and effective leader with a strong track record in collaboration and partnerships. Laura leads London's major sports events team, strategically planning and overseeing delivery of the city's extensive portfolio of global major sports events, and building impactful partnerships with national and international stakeholders.

Josh began working in live events following a stint playing in a ‘dreadful indie band’ as a teenager (his words, not ours). This exposure to the industry inspired him to pursue a career in live events.

Since then, he has worked in a variety of roles across tours, venues and greenfield sites, which has led him to his current role as an event manager at the First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds.

Liz Madden is co-founder of innovative, award winning staging and temporary structures company NoNonsense Group. A well-known figure in the live events industry who has more than 30 years’ experience developing relationships with clients and brands whilst ensuring the smooth delivery of projects from the initial concept discussions, tenders, bids and contract negotiations through delivery and to the final sign off of the project.

Her hands-on approach has ensured a good working knowledge of many aspects of the industry. Her attention to detail has proved invaluable when working on complex projects including festivals, global roadshows, international product launches, high profile shows and bespoke structure builds. Liz is Co-Chair of the Production Services Association.

Ben is the Founder & Director of Wild Paths, an award winning events team that organises and programmes a number of festivals, events and venues in and around Norwich. The team are most well known for their annual multi-venue music festival Wild Paths, spread across 20+ venues and pop-up stages, championing local acts, hosting two days of music industry conferences and inviting national and international talent and delegates into the city.

Ben also co-founded and now manages and runs the eclectic program of music events at Voodoo Daddy's a grassroots music venue at the heart of the local and regional music scene. In 2024 Ben launched Wild Fields, a two-day, 5,000 capacity outdoor music festival that featured Mercury Music Prize award winners Ezra Collective and Brit Award Nominee Kae Tempest.

Michael Kill is a leading advocate for the UK’s night-time economy, with decades of hands-on industry experience. As CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), he works with local and national government, frequently giving evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees, while championing safety, workforce support, and economic sustainability.

Alongside his NTIA role, Michael is Chair of the UK Door Security Association and Vice President of the International Nightlife Association (INA), where he promotes high standards in security, operations, and innovation worldwide.

In 2025, the INA joined the UN Global Compact Network, with Michael appointed European representative to the UN initiative—strengthening his commitment to international collaboration and a sustainable, secure future for nightlife industries.

Siân has spent the last 20+ years working in venues around the UK & the USA with a focus on sporting and entertainment spaces. Currently employed by Live Nation at the Utilita Arena Cardiff as Sales & Marketing Manager, with a focus on marketing and corporate & hospitality sales, her work has included major sporting events & concerts, large corporate events of 1,000+ guests plus mini festivals, exhibitions, feature films and more.

Siân is also on the Board of Advisors for NOWIE – The Network of Women in Events and is also co-founder of the Hospitality & Events Network Wales, a group formed to bring the industry closer together across Wales.

Rupert balances three roles across the events industry: leading Ops People, system-focused event production experts; running Event Site Design, specialists in surveying, site planning and accurate mark-outs; and teaching through an online course that helps event professionals create their own site plans.

Having literally juggled his way out of the circus, Rupert has spent his career back in the fields, designing, planning and managing festivals and outdoor events. Since starting professionally in 2006, he has held safety, site and production management roles across food festivals, exhibitions, trade shows and outdoor shows. A long-time supporter of his career, WOMAD Festival remains a key client—where Ops People oversees production and operations, and Event Site Design delivers the site planning.