Meet the Judges

Laura is a seasoned event professional with 15 years experience with a varied background across agency and large scale outdoor events.

Laura is currently Operations Director at BST Hyde Park for the last three years. She has also worked as the Senior Project lead for Winter Wonderland prior to this and has experience working on large capacity green field event sites such as Big Weekend for BBC Radio 1 and All Points East in Victoria Park.

In agency world Laura delivered the NFL International Series at Wembley, New Years Eve Fireworks with Vodafone and the Barclays Premier League Tour.

Clare is the Founder/Director of We Organise Chaos and a Consultant Event Operations Manager with over 15 years of experience in outdoor mass gatherings and live events. A TechIOSH safety manager and MSc graduate in Crowded Places & Public Safety Management, Clare contributed to the Purple Guide (2021 reopening guidance). She excels in operational delivery, project management, crowd management, health & safety, licensing, budgets, team leadership, and stakeholder communication.

Clare has led large teams, is a qualified trainer, and manages relationships with stakeholders ranging from volunteers to local authorities. Passionate about safe events and continuous learning, she actively contributes to the industry as an educator, guest speaker, panellist, mentor, and advocate for accessible career paths in events.

Rik began his journey in live music as a teenager, organising concerts with his band in South Wales. In 2002, he moved to Plymouth, working with a local promoter booking shows across the South West before touring Europe as a tour manager for acts like Bonobo, Quantic, and The Martin Harley Band.

As a freelancer, Rik held senior production roles at Green Man Festival and stage-managed at Glastonbury and other major UK festivals. He joined Live Nation as a freelance promoter rep in 2012, becoming a full-time employee in 2018.

Rik has delivered UK and Ireland tours for global superstars such as Beyoncé, Madonna, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, U2, Dua Lipa, Bruce Springsteen, and Eminem, as well as European tours with Harry Styles, Jeff Lynne’s ELO, and Neil Diamond.

Sarah is Vice President of Music and Festivals at Ticketmaster UK. She oversees the company’s strategy and client relationships for both the music and festival genres. Sarah’s clients include the UK’s largest festivals and promoters such as Live Nation and SJM, Reading and Leeds, Creamfields, and Parklife Festivals.

John Rostron is the Chief Executive of the Association of Independent Festivals, the UK's festival representative body. AIF membership has grown rapidly in recent years and now supports 145 of the leading independent music festivals in the UK. Amongst other things John also Chairs the LIVE Expert Group for festivals and sits on the Advisory Board for Vision:2025 supporting a more sustainable outdoor events sector. 

In 2023 John was appointed to the Board of Creative Wales - the Welsh Govt department for the Creative Industries. He advises on the Music Sector in Wales.

Chris Macmeikan MBE, also known as DJ Chris Tofu, has dedicated over 35 years to the world of festivals, bringing extensive experience in programming and producing events across all formats.

Driven by a deep passion for festivals and an understanding of what it takes to make them successful, Chris has worked both globally and within the UK, celebrating its rich and diverse cultural landscape.

As part of the team behind Glastonbury's iconic Shangri-La area and a programmer for numerous other events, Chris continues to play a pivotal role in shaping unforgettable festival experiences.

Sam has over 17 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.

Sam 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.

Sian is Strategy Director and Partner of Mustard Media, Europe’s leading marketing agency for festivals & events. Sian's role is to drive forward the brand's direction while focusing on developing innovative strategies, technologies, thought leadership, and inspiring outstanding client results.

Sian and her team have strategised marketing campaigns for sell-out events worldwide, including Afro Nation, Ibiza Rocks, Hideout Festival, Aston Villa Women and Visit Liverpool. In 2024 alone, Mustard Media drove 2 million tickets for festivals and events, helping to drive £108 million in ticket revenue.

Zoe is an executive producer with extensive experience in international events, ceremonies, theatre, and broadcast. She is a partner at Gary Beestone Associates.

Career highlights include executive producing the Eurovision Song Contest for BBC Studios in 2023, producing the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Ceremonies, and the Great North Run One Million Opening Ceremony. Zoe has also led international openings for Secret Cinema (London, L.A., Shanghai) and produced events for Waltham Forest’s Borough of Culture and Hull’s City of Culture.

Her experience includes Victory Ceremonies for London 2012, British House for Team GB in Rio 2016, Rugby World Cup entertainment, and campaigns for agencies like Imagination. Zoe is currently producing The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in the West End and developing a new musical.

Jack Neville is the Managing Director at Tickets for Good, a platform dedicated to providing access to live events for individuals who spend their time giving back to our society.

With a passion for leveraging live events to create positive change, Jack oversees the successful delivery of Tickets for Good's mission to make incredible experiences accessible to NHS staff, Teachers, Charity Workers, Volunteers, and low-income families. 

Over 25 years’ experience working within the events industry. Commercial Director at Alexandra Palace, part of the Executive team overseeing programming, client sales, ticketing, catering, partnerships & marketing.

For 18 Years Lucy has played a pivotal role in the commercial growth of Ally Pally,  one of London’s most iconic independent venues, while also ensuring the delivery of the Charity’s objectives.

Rob is Head of Commercial Operations at LS Events, a role that developed following his position as Commercial Director for the UEFA Champions League Final Fan Zones and the Champions League Festival which took place in London in 2024.

This builds on more than 15 years experience in the live events industry, where he has held various positions including Festival Director at MAMA Festivals, leading festival teams on flagship shows including Lovebox, Wilderness, The Great Escape and Citadel. Rob was also CFO at Vision Nine Group, encompassing  Boardmasters and Nass Festivals.

Before moving into the live event sector, Rob qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in London and spent 7 years at Tesco PLC in various Finance related positions.

Rupert Bassadone was born into the events world, growing up in his family’s circus, which sparked his love for order and his ability to juggle multiple roles.

His professional career began in 2006, transitioning from exhibitions and food festivals to major outdoor events.

Rupert is now managing director of Ops People, specialising in system-centric event production for events like WOMAD Festival, Red Bull Soapbox Race, and Kilimanjaro concerts.

He is also the founder of Event Site Design, leading event surveying and site mapping for events such as the King’s Coronation, London Bridge, and Sail GP.

Additionally, Rupert is an educator, offering an online course for event professionals to create site plans, with a focus on mental health and personal development.

Rebecca is a consultant and strategist in the events and creative industries with over a decade of experience in sustainability and event management. With an MSc in Sustainable Development, she combines academic expertise with hands-on knowledge to deliver impactful solutions.

Rebecca designs and implements sustainability strategies, supporting certification processes like ISO 20121:2024 (Sustainable Event Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems), and B Corp accreditation.

As a freelancer, Rebecca manages major accounts for The Bulb (part of Trivandi Group), an award-winning sustainability consultancy. Recent highlights include leading the global sustainability strategy for Jack Morton and providing technical sustainability assurance for COP28 UAE, helping the event achieve ISO 20121 certification.

Rob has 20 years of experience in sports and events, having worked extensively with rights holders, brands, host venues, governing bodies and agencies. He has a proven track record of implementing transformational change, developing successful marketing and commercial strategies, results-based innovation, and strategic alliances. He has worked extensively with international cities to develop and execute long-term sport and major event strategies, delivering projects in 25 countries.

Prior to joining P&J Live as MD, Rob was Commercial Director for Aberdeen FC and previously worked in international powerboat and motorcycle racing. He speaks three languages and has written six books on his two passions – aviation and adventure motorcycling. He also enjoys trying to keep to a single figure handicap on the golf course.

Tim is the CTO at Showpower Global, designing and managing Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres touring battery system, a world-first 100% battery-powered system for a major stadium tour.

As Technical Director at ZAP Concepts UK & Ireland, Tim provides sustainable energy solutions for festivals, sports events, and international tours, with clients like the BBC, Sony Pictures, and Coldplay.

Tim is also Founder and Production Director of SMART Power Ltd, delivering low-impact power solutions, including hybrid systems, solar, and biofuel generators.

He chairs Powerful Thinking, the UK outdoor events sustainability working group, and sits on the LIVE Green working group and Vision2025 board. Tim is a regular speaker, panelist, and contributor to industry publications, as well as a guest lecturer at UK universities.

Josh is an experienced Event Manager working predominantly within the live music space across arenas and open-air events in the UK.

With over 10 years' experience delivering world-class experiences for audiences and clients alike, he brings a wealth of knowledge and an undeniable passion for the industry. Josh is thrilled to join the judging panel to celebrate excellence in all things event production—the louder, bigger, and brighter, the better!