We are proud to present our judging panel for the 20th anniversary of the Business Travel Journalism awards.
Judging panel 2023
Kate Aldridge
Kate is SVP, Corporate Comms and Content for Paysafe and has global responsibility for Paysafe’s PR, content/blog strategy, internal communications and corporate responsibility programme.
Kate is a corporate communications leader with over 25 years’ international communications experience; she has worked in a range of industry sectors including technology, travel, financial services and sports marketing. Kate is passionate about driving impactful communication strategies to achieve commercial and business goals and is experienced across multiple communication disciplines including corporate affairs, investor relations, PR & media relations, internal communications, event management, social media strategy, content marketing and CSR.
Kate studied French and Spanish at Leeds University before completing a post-graduate degree in international marketing. Based in the UK, she has also spent time working in Spain and France.
Chris Atkinson
Chris Atkinson is Trainline’s Head of Corporate Communications in the UK, leading the ticket retailer’s media engagement and corporate reputation for financial PR, UK rail and for Trainline Partner Solutions, the company’s business travel arm. Prior to joining Trainline in February 2022, Chris spent a decade working in the rail industry, leading communications for both train operators and owning groups. Chris has also worked in media relations for the NHS, the UK civil service, and for the BBC.
Sally Brown
Sally is an experienced and knowledgeable travel industry corporate communications practitioner. She has created and directed global travel and corporate card communications programmes for American Express and as a freelance consultant has provided communications support and guidance to companies such as Choice Hotels Europe, Sabre, lastminute.com, Travelport, Conferma and CWT.
Cristina Chimenti
Cristina Chimenti is Head of Travel at Sky, and covers Sky UK, Sky Italy, and Sky Germany, including Sky News and Sky Sport specific programmes.
In 2022 Cristina won the People Awards “Travel Buyer of the Year” and was highly commended as “Travel Manager” at the BTA. She has also won the ITM “Rising Star Travel Manager” in 2020. Previously, she was shortlisted as “CFO of the year” at the 2018 British Accountancy Awards.
Since 2020, Cristina has also been involved with ITM as a Board Director, Buyer and more recently joined 2 GBTA committees on Payments and DE&I.
Cristina is also a former board member at Women in Banking and Finance (WIBF), Glasgow Print Studio and a former chair of children’s arts charity Giant.
Gehan Colliander
Gehan Colliander is Global Head of Travel at BCG. Her responsibility is to set the vision and overall strategic direction of the BCG global travel program, deliver the latest thinking in the areas of indirect procurement, service operations & digitization while leading the change required to minimize travel cost and its associated infrastructure.
Gehan has over 20 years' experience in the travel industry including airline Pricing & Revenue management at major global airlines. Gehan holds a BSc. in Business and MBA from Edinburgh Business School.
Mark Corbett
After more than a decade of travel tech, innovation, and startup experience, Mark founded Thrust Carbon with the vision of a net zero travel industry.
The past three years have seen a whirlwind of activity; of building connections, attending events and solving challenges – because, for Mark, his mission to make travel effortlessly green has always been about working in partnership with the industry’s best and brightest to achieve the most crucial of shared goals.
Today, with a global client base of travel buyers, government, TMCs, and multinational enterprises, Thrust Carbon has become the leading emissions intelligence platform for travel.
Among numerous other accolades, his role of driving systemic, sustainable change across travel recently led Mark to be named as one of BTN’s 25 most influential persons of 2022.
Jim Donaldson
Jim has more than 25 years of experience working in the communications industry working across the world in different roles for a number of global PR agencies. He currently leads the London office of Fleishman Hillard as CEO, overseeing offices in London and Bristol. Jim was named PR Leader of the Year at the ICCO Awards and Agency Head of the Year at the PRCA National Awards in 2020.
Nick Easen
Nick is an award-winning journalist, writer and broadcaster covering business travel science, technology, and economics with over 20 years experience. He wrote this year’s CWT GBTA Travel Price Forecast 2024 and currently produces content for the Times and Sunday Times Special Reports. Nick has also produced content for Business Travel Magazine, BTN Europe, BBC World News, CNN and Time magazine, as well as for the World Economic Forum.
Chris Ely
Chris Ely directs the research division at GBTA. Chris has over 15 years of professional experience conducting both qualitative and quantitative research. Prior to joining GBTA, Chris was the research director at BDS Marketing where he conducted quantitative research studies for clients seeking to increase their market share and sales. He also worked at the Consumer Technology Association for ten years where he conducted qualitative and quantitative research studies on a host of technology topics. Chris is a seasoned speaker having presented research findings and trends at numerous industry events across the country.
Chris received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Earlham College and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Denver.
Inge Huijbrechts
Inge Huijbrechts is Global Senior Vice President Sustainability, Security and Corporate Communications for Radisson Hotel Group (RHG)– developing the Sustainability and Safety & Security programs in the group’s 1,200 hotels in operations & development in 95 countries around the world.
Inge is Co-Chair of the ASIS Europe conference, the leading cross industry organization for security. She is a member of the ASIS Chief Security Officer Center for Leadership and Development and of the US State Department’s OSAC Hotel & Lodging Sector Committee. She is a member of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance Senior Advisory Board and sits on the GRI Club Sustainability Committee. Inge also serves on the board of Flanders Special Venues.
In 2022 and 2023, Inge was named one of the 100 Most influential people in Global Hospitality and in the global Top 100 Women in Sustainability.
Kevin Johnston
Kevin is Head of Press for Europe, Africa, Middle East and India for United Airlines. He has served United for more than 25 years and works closely with media organisations worldwide. Kevin previously managed BAA’s Heathrow Terminal 5 (T5) Press Office during its five-year public inquiry and has a background in the charity sector and the political world, having started his career in public affairs.
Charlotte Lamp Davies
Charlotte founded the management consultancy A Bright Approach in 2018 having previously worked in several executive roles in sales, marketing, PR and events management in London. She possesses an entrepreneurial mind and maintains a strong interest in new technologies. A Bright Approach provides companies with expert insight into sales, marketing, PR and events management and Charlotte utilizes her experience and industry knowledge to bring relevant parties together. Charlotte speaks fluent Danish, German, English and Swedish. She has worked globally in sectors like software technology, publishing and oil and petrochemical.
Since 2007 Charlotte has been heavily involved in the travel and hospitality industry. She joined technology company DataArt as a consultant in 2012 paving the way to establish A Bright Approach in 2008. Charlotte is a frequent speaker and moderator at industry and private events.
Nicola Lomas
Nicola Lomas is an expert in business travel. Her career includes buyer and supplier roles in Europe, APAC and N.America.
She holds a post graduate degree in Strategic Procurement Management and has worked for Airlines, TMC’s, & the world’s largest Travel Risk Management company. Nicola now uses her expertise to her clients map travel programmes from aspiration to reality with her consulting company - Nicola Lomas Consulting.
Neil Rogan
Neil is Global Director of Corporate External Communications and Digital Marketing at Amadeus. During his career he has developed and implemented communications strategies for top international brands in the travel, technology and banking industries, including Amadeus, Ulster Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).
The point between traditional, social and digital media excites Neil as offline and online behaviors evolve, blurring the lines between traditional and online PR, social media, and digital marketing. He continues to follow the latest trends, having recently completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Digital Marketing.
James Tomlinson
James is Senior Director, Corporate Communications at Avis Budget Group, a leading provider of global transportation solutions through three of the most recognized brands – Avis, Budget, and Zipcar.
James has worked across a variety of industries including logistics, energy, retail, professional services, and travel. He partners with senior leaders through to grass roots to develop clear communications strategies, content and change initiatives.
He currently oversees Avis Budget Group’s Public Relations and Employee Communications globally.
He has a passion for coaching and mentoring others, providing guidance and counsel across multiple communications disciplines including PR, employee communications, organizational change, event management and crisis communications.
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