VisitEngland Awards for Excellence: 2026 Judges
This year's judges
VisitEngland appoints industry experts across several judging panels to determine the Gold, Silver and Bronze national winners for each category.
The national judging panelists are selected each year and usually include journalists/ media experts, senior trade/ industry body representatives, sponsors, specialist consultants, VisitEngland Advisory Board Members and VisitEngland/VisitBritain Directors/ subject experts.
These are the judges for this year’s awards
Ross Calladine, Accessibility and Inclusion Lead, VisitEngland
Richard Morsley, VisitEngland Advisory Board
Anna Nelson, Chief Executive, AccessAble
Sassy Wyatt, Founder, Blind Girl Adventures
Emily Yates, Head of Accessibility and Inclusive Design, Mima
Sophie Braybrooke, Chief Executive, Stay in a Pub
Scott Davies, Hotel Manager, Titanic Hotel Liverpool
Amy Lindsay, Executive Producer, Travelzoo
Jane Pendlebury, CEO, HOSPA
Rachel Walter, VisitEngland Advisory Board
Jenny Jensen, Owner, Jenny Jensen Ltd
Paul Szomoru, Regional Development Lead – North East and Yorkshire, VisitEngland
Nadine Thomson, Advisory Board Member, VisitEngland
Jane Anderson, Travel Editor, Prima Magazine
Alistair Handyside, Executive Chair, Professional Association of Self-Caterers UK Ltd (PASC UK Ltd)
Nikki Nichol, PR and External Communications Lead, Caravan and Motorhome Club
Sadie Rowell, Head of Sales, VisitEngland Assessment Services
Sarah Bagg, Founder, ReWork Consulting
George Follett, Managing Director, Ticket Tailor
Paul Griffiths, CEO, Association for Cultural Enterprises
Paul Kelly, Chief Executive, British Association of Leisure Parks Piers and Attractions (BALPPA)
Janet Uttley, Head of Industry Development, VisitEngland
Anita Waddell, Managing Director, Agility Marketing
Osnat Borreda, Senior Training & Education Manager, VisitEngland
Peter Muttitt, Managing Director, PM Consulting
Kerry Parnell, Editor and journalist
Nigel Wilkinson, VisitEngland Advisory Board
Sophie Braybrooke, Chief Executive, Stay in a Pub
Scott Davies, Hotel Manager, Titanic Hotel Liverpool
Amy Lindsay, Executive Producer, Travelzoo
Jane Pendlebury, CEO, HOSPA
Rachel Walter, VisitEngland Advisory Board
Sarah Bagg, Founder, ReWork Consulting
George Follett, Managing Director, Ticket Tailor
Paul Griffiths, CEO, Association for Cultural Enterprises
Paul Kelly, Chief Executive, British Association of Leisure Parks Piers and Attractions (BALPPA)
Janet Uttley, Head of Industry Development, VisitEngland
Anita Waddell, Managing Director, Agility Marketing
Alex Lacey, London Tour Guide
Barrie Poulter, CEO, Inapub
Mardi Roberts, Prestige Account Director, Ridgeview/ Wine GB
Janet Uttley, Head of Industry Development, VisitEngland
Alex Lacey, London Tour Guide
Barrie Poulter, CEO, Inapub
Mardi Roberts, Prestige Account Director, Ridgeview/ Wine GB
Janet Uttley, Head of Industry Development, VisitEngland
Sarah Duncan, Co-Founder and Director, Sleeping Lion
Kat Emmett, Head of Carbon Reduction, Zero Carbon Company
Sarah Fowler, Advisory Board Member, VisitEngland
Richard Hammond, Videographer & Publishing Director, Green Traveller Media
Leanne Smith, Senior Regenerative Tourism Manager, VisitEngland
Jane Anderson, Travel Editor, Prima Magazine
Alistair Handyside, Executive Chair, Professional Association of Self-Caterers UK Ltd (PASC UK Ltd)
Nikki Nichol, PR and External Communications Lead, Caravan and Motorhome Club
Sadie Rowell, Head of Sales, VisitEngland Assessment Services
Sophie Braybrooke, Chief Executive, Stay in a Pub
Scott Davies, Hotel Manager, Titanic Hotel Liverpool
Amy Lindsay, Executive Producer, Travelzoo
Jane Pendlebury, CEO, HOSPA
Rachel Walter, VisitEngland Advisory Board
Sarah Bagg, Founder, ReWork Consulting
George Follett, Managing Director, Ticket Tailor
Paul Griffiths, CEO, Association for Cultural Enterprises
Paul Kelly, Chief Executive, British Association of Leisure Parks Piers and Attractions (BALPPA)
Janet Uttley, Head of Industry Development, VisitEngland
Anita Waddell, Managing Director, Agility Marketing
Alex Lacey, London Tour Guide
Barrie Poulter, CEO, Inapub
Mardi Roberts, Prestige Account Director, Ridgeview/ Wine GB
Janet Uttley, Head of Industry Development, VisitEngland
Jane Anderson, Travel Editor, Prima Magazine
Alistair Handyside, Executive Chair Professional Association of Self-Caterers UK Ltd (PASC UK Ltd)
Nikki Nichol, PR and External Communications Lead, Caravan and Motorhome Club
Sadie Rowell, Head of Sales, VisitEngland Assessment Services
