Judges
Once again, we have assembled a top-quality judging panel for the 2023 Comms National Awards who have in depth knowledge of the ICT industry and broad experience across the channel spectrum.
Kate Brunning
Simon Burckhardt
John Chapman
Steve Smith
David Hanson
Julie Mills
Nigel Sergent
Rob Sims
Kate Wood
Kate Brunning
Kate is a HR performance and engagement specialist in the high growth tech sector with over 10 years' experience in the channel. As the former People Director of Virtual1, she drove the company to be an award winning and best place to work. Now, the Founder and CEO of People Station - a place where you can subscribe to a People Director negating the need to employ one. She and her team work with ambitious companies to help leaders create award winning and high-performing cultures.
Simon Burckhardt
Simon has more than 30 years' experience in senior leadership roles in the Fibre, Telecoms and Tech sector, most recently serving as CEO of Kelly Communications, installing fibre for Openreach, Virgin Media, CityFibre and Community Fibre. He has also held MD roles at Connexin, and Vonage. His previous career included “C” level positions in international telecoms companies including Telefónica O2, BT, Ooredoo and MTS. Simon founded a consultancy with BT colleagues where he undertook consultancy work for the likes of Community Fibre, Zzoomm, and Gamma. He is now working as a Non-Exec and board advisor to a number of businesses in the telecoms and related sectors.
John Chapman
Though officially retired now after 46 years in the IT and Communications industry, John still moderates panels and leads discussions at major events including the prestigious Comms Vision Convention at Gleneagles and IT Europa’s Managed Services and Hosting Summit
Steve Smith
Steve has enjoyed 50 years in telecoms and IT since starting his apprenticeship in August 1973 through to his current role as CTO of Astro Technology Group, a company he co-founded in 1984. Steve is a Liveryman in the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists where he is actively involved in supporting charities with their IT needs and helping young people - mostly from tough backgrounds - with their IT career aspirations. Steve is also a trustee of the Charity IT Association, a charity he helped to launch in 2016. In 2018 Steve was made an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals.”
David Hanson
David Hanson has accrued almost 25 years comms industry experience in a sector career that began in 1999 when he headed up the RSL Com channel for four years. He then joined carrier Thus which was acquired by Cable&Wireless, which itself was acquired by Vodafone in 2012. David went on to lead a number of channel teams through growth and transformation programmes and in 2015 founded the Hanson Executive Partnership which helps UK-based telecoms and IT resellers optimise their margin potential. David is currently contracted with 30-plus resellers and has helped five to exit successfully.
Julie Mills
Julie's 25 years of industry experience give her a comprehensive understand the needs of the UK comms channel. She is currently CEO of Support to Win & Train to Win and has held senior sales and service management roles at large carrier and reseller companies. A go-to expert on comms industry skills and operational excellence, Julie remains passionate about responding to the rapidly evolving needs of channel players through innovative managed services and strategic personal development. She regularly consults with UK channel leaders to strengthening culture and skills, and foster sustainable, profitable technical operations.
Nigel Sergent
As chair of judges, Nigel supervises the Comms National Awards judging process and ensures each judge is provided with selected categories where their experience and impartiality can be best deployed and there is absolutely no conflict of interest.
Rob Sims
Rob's 25 + year career in ICT spans carrier, channel and direct across a variety of Industry verticals and technologies. Building on his industry knowledge and expertise, Rob has recently founded Sum Vivas, an AI powered Digital Human business providing Service Agents for contact centres and business applications.
Kate Wood
An accomplished People and Culture Director in the IT /Comms Channel over the past decade (Chess and inTEC Group) Kate now works with organisations to drive employee engagement, ensuring teams feel valued whilst focused on performance. A lively keynote speaker who has enjoyed speaking at many conferences across the world. Continually driving the Women in Tech agenda, Kate heads up WIT North and is Non-Exec Director at Unlimited Potential, a social enterprise that enriches people’s lives in Greater Manchester.
ADAM ZOLDAN
Adam is a co-founder of Knight Corporate Finance, a corporate finance boutique that advises business owners on strategy, funding, acquisitions, and exit. Knight has grown to become the leading advisor for entrepreneurs in the TMT sector having advised on nearly 160 TMT transactions since its inception in 2008.
ADRIAN BARNARD
Adrian founded ICT company, Modern Communications, which he sold in 2014 to embark on his next venture Prime Networks, which he helped re-value before exiting with its future guaranteed. As a media commentator for the TMT sector Adrian regularly provides market insight on TV and Radio and in the Press.
AIDAN PIPER
An inspirational business leader and CEO with over 25 years of commercial sales and marketing experience, ultimately responsible for providing the vision and direction of Welcomm Group Businesses. Aidan’s specialties include strategy formation and execution in SME markets, new business, product and service creation which deliver revenue, profit and margin growth.
CLAIRE MADDOX
Having worked in the comms industry for the past 20 years, Claire is the Managing Director of Eurolink Connect and has been instrumental in leading the business from a traditional voice provider to a successful MSP delivering holistic cloud solutions to their customers.
IAN FISHWICK
Ian is Chairman and Founder of AdEPT Technology Group. He had the honour of reporting increased EBITDA for 29 consecutive years. Ian represents the Telecoms industry at Cabinet Office level on the SME Panel. He is currently Chair of the Cabinet Office Industry Working Group on Carbon Net Zero for public sector suppliers.
JOHN CHAPMAN
Though officially retired now after 46 years in the IT and Communications industry, John still moderates panels and leads discussions at major events including the prestigious Comms Vision Convention at Gleneagles and IT Europa’s Managed Services and Hosting Summit
JONATHAN SHARP
Jonathan is Sales & Marketing Director at Britannic Technologies. He is a communications visionary and established technology business leader with over 25 years’ proven excellence in driving business innovation and transformation. He puts enthusiasm into technology adoption, helping businesses to connect with their customers and staff in the most efficient and intuitive ways.
KATE BRUNNING
Kate Brunning is the People Director of Virtual1. She joined the organisation in 2013 having previously ran her own HR consultancy. Her passion and enthusiasm for people engagement led Virtual1 to be a multi-award-winning organisation. She played a significant role in the growth journey hiring over 400 people into the organisation.
LEE SHORTEN
Lee Shorten is a non-executive, part-time/interim board member and freelance consultant working with a broad range of different companies. He delivers coaching and training to business leaders for some of the world’s largest brands and their channel partners; he has steered numerous companies through varying stages of growth, turnaround, merger, acquisition, and sale.
MARK SAUNDERS
Mark has enjoyed a thirty-year career in the telecoms industry, working in sales director roles with Telia and Gamma, before joining 9 Group in 2009, where he was Marketing Director until his retirement in 2021. Mark retains a part time consultancy role with FTP Group and is involved in various copywriting projects.
PAM BLANCHARD
Pam Blanchard is director of North West based ICA, which she founded in 1995 to provide engineering support to Alcatel Lucent, after she qualified as the first female field engineer for the vendor’s PBX’s. Over the last 27 years, Pam has grown the business and its team to specialise in UCaaS and CCaaS working with all leading vendors.
ROGER WHITTLE
Jigsaw24 founder and CEO Roger Whittle has seen his company grow over the last 30 years into one of the UK's most respected Apple B2B IT service and solutions providers. He is often called upon to speak at technology events and is regularly involved with environmental and sustainability discussions in the IT channel.
SHAHRAM BAGHERZADEH
Shahram, MD of Colchester based MSP Loop Voice & Data, has been in telecommunications since 2000, starting out as an agent and becoming a telecom reseller in 2003. He is keen to supply his customers with the latest technology and has always focused on partner companies which offer the best products, services, and support.
STEVE SMITH
Steve’s comms career spans 50 years. In 1984, he co-founded Astro Communications supporting customers around the world. Steve now spends much of his time giving back as a Liveryman in the IT Livery Company and as a trustee of CITA. In 2018, Steve received an Honorary Fellowship of the Institute of Telecoms Professionals
TONY COOK
Tony Cook has been in the telecoms channel for over 30 years and is best known for being the founder and former MD of Union Street, the UK’s leading developer of billing solutions for the channel, winning multiple awards and enjoying year on year business growth. In 2020 Cook retired from, the business following a trade sale.
Kate Brunning
As chair of judges, Nigel supervises the Comms National Awards judging process and ensures each judge is provided with selected categories where their experience and impartiality can be best deployed and there is absolutely no conflict of interest.