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Meet the Judges

Caroline Norbury, OBE

CEO - Creative UK

Caroline Norbury, OBE

CEO - Creative UK

Caroline Norbury, the founder and CEO of Creative UK, is a creative and strategic leader with a remarkable track record. She established Creative England, a not-for-profit organization that invests in and supports creative practitioners and businesses across film, TV, gaming, and digital media. Caroline’s persuasive advocacy extends nationally and internationally, influencing policy and strategy at the highest levels. Her extensive experience in cultural, social, and economic agendas has delivered both public value and commercial success. As a speaker and writer, she continues to champion brilliance and foster creativity in the UK and beyond .

Neil Rami

Chief Executive, West Midlands Growth Company

Neil Rami

Chief Executive, West Midlands Growth Company

Neil is the Chief Executive of the West Midlands Growth Company. Supported by local authorities, universities and a wide range of regional businesses, the Growth Company was established in 2017 to create new jobs, expand existing businesses and attract new inward investment and visitors to the region. Its plans are aligned with the ambitions set out in the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Strategic Economic Plan. Previously, Neil held similar economic development roles in Liverpool and Newcastle upon Tyne. He is currently Chairman of the Midlands Trade and Investment Group, a member of the British Tourism Industry Group and sits on the LandAid Midlands Board. He is also a non-executive director of Creative England.

Kate Knowles

Founding editor of The Dispatch.

Kate Knowles

Founding editor of The Dispatch.

Kate Knowles, a journalist and the founder of Birmingham Dispatch, has taken a fresh approach to local news in Birmingham and the West Midlands. Before launching this independent publication, Kate worked as a Local Democracy Reporter at the Birmingham Mail, where she covered local politics. Her frustration with the direction of local news—where online “traffic” often takes precedence over telling interesting stories—led her to create The Dispatch. This quality newspaper delivers thoughtful, rigorous, and independent journalism straight to subscribers’ email inboxes. It focuses on context, quality, and in-depth pieces that truly matter to the community, without the distractions of pop-up ads or mindless celebrity articles. Kate’s commitment to untold stories and meaningful reporting makes The Dispatch a valuable addition to Birmingham’s media landscape.

Rob Macpherson FRSA FCIM

Managing Director at Impakt

Rob Macpherson FRSA FCIM

Managing Director at Impakt

Rob Macpherson is a creative, audience-focused arts professional with extensive experience in brand development, marketing, communications, sales, and fundraising. His career spans senior management and board-level roles across both subsidized and commercial fields. Notable achievements include award-winning brand development, major event marketing campaigns, and successful fundraising efforts. Rob has held positions at Birmingham Hippodrome, Warwick Arts Centre, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2019, he co-founded Impakt Ltd to address the need for strategic brand planning in arts, education, entertainment, and heritage organizations. Impakt’s clients include Coventry City of Culture 2021, CORE Education Trust, and Birmingham Ormiston Academy. Rob’s collaborative projects encompass brand reviews, PR planning, fundraising, and team seminars. Impakt collaborates with Substrakt, a digital agency supporting cultural clients worldwide.

Skinder Hundal MBE

Director of Arts - British Council

Skinder Hundal MBE

Director of Arts - British Council

Skinder Hundal is the global director of arts at the British Council, where he oversees major cultural programs. His impressive career includes serving as the Commissioner for the British Pavilion at La Biennale de Venezia, 2024 edition #60, and chairing the Culture Leadership Board for the West Midlands Combined Authority. Skinder’s international experience spans projects for La Biennale di Venezia, TED Global, and the UK’s official arts program for the First World War Centenary. He was also awarded an MBE in 2019 for his significant contributions to visual arts. His passion for connecting artists and organisations worldwide continues to shape the cultural landscape,

Ammo Talwar MBE

CEO and Founder of Punch Records

Ammo Talwar MBE

CEO and Founder of Punch Records

Ammo Talwar MBE is the Director of Punch Records, a creative agency based in Digbeth. He has helped to advocate the UK’s cultural offer at the highest level, sat on numerous boards including Sound City (Liverpool) & Arts Council England, and has advised nationally on diversity issues, advocated for stronger representation across music, arts and education & voted the 26th most influential Brummie. He received an MBE for his contributions to music and young people and was commended by the Institute of Directors (IoD) for leadership in corporate social responsibility. Talwar was chairman of Multi-Academy trust CORE Education for over 5 years working with over 400 teachers and 4500 diverse students. They currently chair The UK Music Diversity Taskforce and lead the innovative industry-focused 10 Point-Plan. He is also a NED for the BPI and currently helping to shape some interesting philanthropic work with the new Koko Foundation launching in mid-2023

Sara Wajid

Co-CEO at Birmingham Museums Trust

Sara Wajid

Co-CEO at Birmingham Museums Trust

Sara is Co-CEO alongside Zak Mensah – this job-share CEO partnership is a first in the museum sector and signals Birmingham Museums Trust’s commitment to inclusive working practices. Before working in museums Sara was a cultural commentator, journalist and editor. Sara is a founder member of the Museum Detox network for people of colour in museums and an active advocate for diversity and equality issues in the arts. Sara is also a judge for the Museum and Heritage awards, and a member of ITV’s Cultural Advisory Council. Sara has recently been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from University of York.

Luke Tonge

Director - Birmingham Design

Luke Tonge

Director - Birmingham Design

Luke Tonge is an independent graphic designer based in Birmingham. His expertise lies in brand identity and editorial work, and he is passionate about inspiring, equipping, and connecting people. After graduating from Falmouth, Luke spent a decade in large agencies before realizing that sometimes you need to prioritize what truly matters. Now, he balances client work (with a focus on the third sector and the arts), guest lecturing at BCU, and organizing events in Birmingham, including the Birmingham Design Festival and BDF Gather. Luke has art-directed publications such as Boat Mag, Alpha Life, the Monotype Recorder, and 99% Lifestyle. He also mentors both remotely and locally, serves as a trustee on various boards, and runs the CRTD community. As a Brum-based, shorts-wearing, type-nerding, and ice-cream-loving designer, Luke specializes in creating bold brand identities and impactful editorial work through his studio, Luke Tonge Studio .

Hayley Pepler

Head of Culture, Creative Industries and Digital Roadmap

Hayley Pepler

Head of Culture, Creative Industries and Digital Roadmap

Hayley Pepler is a dynamic leader in the creative industries, currently serving as Head of Culture, Creative Industries, and Digital Roadmap at the West Midlands Combined Authority. With a wealth of experience as an Executive Producer and Director, Hayley has been at the forefront of major cultural and digital projects, including leading the digital strategy for Manchester International Festival and producing arts captures featuring Maxine Peake and Danny Boyle. She has worked with prestigious institutions such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, nurturing new talent and creating high-impact, audience-focused content across multiple platforms.

Heather Peak

Artist/CEO/Artistic Director of DASH

Heather Peak

Artist/CEO/Artistic Director of DASH

Heather Peak is Artist/CEO/Artistic Director of DASH. DASH is a Disability Visual Arts organisation whose mission is to cultivate spaces for extraordinary artists. They work with artists, audiences, communities and organisations to challenge inequality and implement change. Heather is also known for her work as one half of artist duo Heather Peak and Ivan Morison and is Visiting Professor of fine art at UniArts, Helsinki. She has exhibited widely across UK, Europe, Australasia, North and South America and Asia. Her work has been commissioned by Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wysing Arts Centre, Whitechapel Art Gallery, Tate Modern, National Theatre of Wales, Vancouver Art Gallery, The Hepworth Wakefield, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney and London’s Southbank Centre among many other. She also represented Wales at the 52nd Venice Biennial.

Fiona Latter

Business Programme Specialist Creative, Culture and Heritage at WMCA

Fiona Latter

Business Programme Specialist Creative, Culture and Heritage at WMCA

Fiona Latter is an ILM Qualified Business Coach and Mentor who has been working with freelancers and businesses within the creative sector for over 15 years. She first worked within the creative economy in East London, helping to transform sector businesses there through a series of London 2012 Olympic Legacy Programmes including Fit for Legacy and Supplier Readiness Programmes. The concentration of design, fashion and digital businesses resulted in this area becoming a major hub for creative businesses within the wider economy and Fiona was then asked to deliver the first ever £1.3 million DCMS funded Scale Up Programme for creative businesses here in the West Midlands, with the region also being identified as a key regional creative hub. To date, Fiona has supported over 250 creative businesses and freelance practitioners in the region resulting in contract wins of over £3million for the West Midlands creative economy. She regularly advises and supports creative businesses in the region, and has also represented the creative sector both nationally and internationally in Malta, Brussels and Germany.

Erica Love

Chief Executive at Culture Central

Erica Love

Chief Executive at Culture Central

Erica Love is the CEO of Culture Central. Erica has over 18 years of experience in the cultural sector. She has led transformative programs such as Creative Partnerships and Creative People and Places in Stoke-on-Trent. Erica is passionate about the power of creativity and culture to transform communities and has been instrumental in making cultural experiences accessible to all. Her leadership during the pandemic has been pivotal in ensuring the visibility and viability of the region's cultural ecology.

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