Judges

Entries are judged by leading figures from design commissioning businesses – from global companies, through to start-up challenger brands, they understand how design can be used to create results. Our judges are design leaders working in the environments you work in and who understand the challenges associated with meeting and exceeding the brief to create meaningful change and growth. 

Entries are assessed through a rigorous three-stage process. You can rest assured your entry is fully and properly considered before a judgement is made.

Chair of the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards judging panel
Sean Carney, Former Chief Design Officer & Business Leader Healthcare Transformation Services at Philips

Judging panel 2025

Chris Padain, VP, Global Head of Product Experience, Design and Packaging
Bayer

Nick Meikle, Executive Creative Director
BBC Studios

Munnawar Chishty, GB Marketing Director
Britvic

Will Carleysmith, Chief Design and Engineering Officer
Brompton

Tatiana Ryfer-Emberger, Global Brand Identity Director
Carrefour

Steve Kearns, Managing Director
Cawston Press

Cristiana Grether, Global Head of Design
Danone

Jeremy Lindley, Global Design Director
Diageo

Matt Walton, Head of Group Digital and Experience Design
Direct Line Group

Tanja Grubner, Global Innovation, Brand and Communications Director
Essity

Olivia Salisbury, Ex-Group VP of Digital
Ex-T. Rowe Price

Tia McPhee, Global Brand and Partnerships Director
Financial Times

Simon Ritchie, Global Head of Experience Design
Haleon

Luke Mansfield, Chief Commercial Officer
Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Mark Van Iterson, Global Design Director
Heineken International

Ginette Reshamwala, Head of Product Design for ITVX
ITV

Hilary Pulver, Global Marketing Services Director
Jacobs Douwe Egberts

Anna Burrell, Group Head of Product Design, Research and Service Design
Kingfisher

Paul Flowers, Chief Design Officer
LIXIL

Vuokko Aro, Chief Design Officer
Monzo Bank

Stephanie Verschoor, MD - User Experience Design and Digital Solutions
NatWest Group

Ximena O'Reilly, Global Head of Design
Nestlé

Rowan Williams, Creative Director
Panasonic Design London

Emma Sandberg, Design Director
Philips

Jos Harrison, Global Head, Brand Experience Design
Reckitt

Dan Sherwood, Chief Marketing Officer
Santander UK

Angelica Munson, Global Chief Digital Officer
Shiseido

Dom Dwight, Director of Strategy Insight, Innovation and Diversification
Taylors of Harrogate

Simon Threadkell, Group Marketing Director, Brand Design and Customer Experience
Tesco

Anindya Sundar Das, Senior Director and Head of Global Service Design
Uber

Alastair Curtis, Chief Design Officer
VF Corporation

Amr El Badry, Global Senior Brand Identity and Communications Manager
Vodafone

Pernilla Johansson, VP and Head of UX Design Chapter
Volvo Group