Meet the Judges
Adele McIntosh
Adele is VP of Internal Communications and Community at Arm, a global technology company. She has worked for Arm for over eight years, and is responsible for internal communications and events, and Team Arm, the company’s community engagement program. Before Arm, Adele worked in external communications in the agency world, and had a brief foray into journalism and writing for women’s magazines at the start of her career.
Alli Cary
Alli Cary is Head of Internal and External Communication at Voyage Care, a leading adult social care provider. With 15 years’ communications experience across health and social care, and nine years specialising in IC, she has built a multi‑award‑winning team who bring the voices of colleagues and those they support to life, measure what matters and deliver communications that connect people to purpose.
Known for her strategic clarity, creativity and purpose‑driven approach, Alli is a trusted adviser to senior leaders—shaping communication strategies, elevating leadership visibility and championing storytelling that strengthens culture, alignment and engagement.
Alli brings both rigour and warmth to her work as an IOIC Awards judge - always looking for entries that blend smart thinking with authenticity and impact.
Alli holds a Master’s in Internal Communications Management and is an IOIC Fellow. When she’s not championing great comms, you’ll find her on the netball court or baking!
Ann Hood
Ann has over 30 years’ experience in employee communications and PR. She has extensive experience of working with leadership teams during times of major organisational change, restructuring and crisis. Advising and delivering external and employee communications that clearly shares the business strategy and vision. Coached top teams and key leaders within the businesses in how best to deliver understandable and engaging communications.
Ann has worked with and lead both international and national based internal communication teams to deliver engaging employee communications as well as measuring employee's opinions, attitudes and understanding of the business goals, globally and locally. She has been a member of the IoIC Scotland committee for 20 years and is currently the network lead for Scotland. Ann has presented at and hosted a variety of communication conferences and with her various teams has won a number of IoIC Awards over the years.
Barbara Brown
Barbara Brown is Global Internal Communications and Change Manager at Linklaters, partnering with leaders across the Partnership and Business Teams to deliver strategic communications that align people with business priorities and performance outcomes.
A specialist in People Communications, she has significant experience in designing integrated campaigns using storytelling to strengthen culture, deepen employee engagement and support business transformation.
A Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communication (2025), Barbara has led global strategy launches, technology change programmes and cultural transformation initiatives, translating complex themes into simple, compelling narratives.
Previously at BT Group, she shaped global engagement programmes and enterprise-wide transformation communications through periods of organisational change, partnering closely with executive leaders. She is recognised for her strategic judgement, collaborative leadership and ability to deliver communications that drive measurable impact and alignment.
Binal Jani
Binal Jani is a Prosci-certified Change and Communications Consultant with 15+ years’ experience helping global organisations deliver transformation with impact. She has worked both in-house and as a consultant, leading change, communications and engagement for programmes at EY, PwC / Epion, Network Rail, NESO, Sainsbury’s Argos, Lloyds Banking Group and Britvic.
Shortlisted for multiple Institute of Internal Communications (IoIC) awards and serving as a national awards judge for over a decade, Binal is known for simplifying complexity, building trust quickly and delivering results in ambiguous environments. She has earned over 15 LinkedIn recommendations from clients and peers, reflecting not only the impact of her work but also her collaborative approach.
She works mainly on an interim or fractional basis. Outside work, she is busy with her two energetic boys and enjoys travelling, going to the gym, listening to podcasts and the occasional Netflix binge.
Claudi Schneider
Claudi Schneider, Head of Video and Animation, Sequel Group and IoIC Board Director. I have been working in IC (agency side) for over 20 years, working in partnership with clients in organisations across all industries and sectors to connect, engage and inspire their people, leaders and stakeholders - from strategy and planning to delivery of award-winning comms and impact measurement.
David Cooke CIIC
David started his career as a financial services journalist, editor and copywriter before working for seven years as a communication consultant for a large US-based pensions and benefits provider. Since joining the Civil Service in 2009, he has had stints at UK Border Agency, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Home Office, where he has headed up HR communications and led on numerous corporate internal communications campaigns. He has worked closely with several Permanent Secretaries on their internal communication and has a particular interest in the role of internal comms professionals in supporting leaders to engage effectively with their people.
Accredited by the International Association of Business Communicators, David has also been on the editorial board of the Government Communication Service’s IC Space. Outside of work, he is a keen musician and tennis player and speaks French and Spanish.
David Manning FIIC
David has been leading internal communication and employee engagement in large multi-national businesses for 20 years. His creative and inclusive approach has won him multiple industry awards and helped shape and transform employee experience in organisations including the Currys, BBC, Associated British Foods and Travis Perkins. David is a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communication.
Denise Bird-Newell FIIC, FCIPD, MCMI, CIOIC
Denise Bird-Newell FCIPD, MCMI, CIOIC – Director of People, Culture & Facilities at Clarins (UK) Ltd
Denise has over 20 years of experience in Human Resources with a long-standing focus on internal communications and employee engagement.
Career highlights:
- Led large-scale, global communications, change, and training strategies, including major technology rollouts that demonstrated how effective internal communications directly drive project success.
- Travelled extensively to implement programs and observe first-hand the impact of connected, informed teams.
Leadership & impact:
- Chairs the global DEI forum at Clarins, overseeing 24 local networks and 150 members worldwide.
- Deeply committed to ensuring frontline employees stay connected and to fostering two-way information flow as a core driver of organisational performance.
- Denise is passionate about how internal communication and employee engagement elevate overall business success and organisational performance.
Emma Turner FIIC
Emma is a freelance Internal Comms and Engagement consultant with over 20 years experience working in-house in comms leadership roles for global organisations. She is passionate about helping leaders and employees connect through creative and engaging communications that bring strategies and values to life and deliver positive outcomes for businesses and their people.
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaturner1
Fionnuala Dowie
Fionnuala ‘Fin’ Dowie is an experienced internal and external communications professional, with a background in UK and global financial services. Formerly a Head of Internal Communications at RBS/NatWest and Royal London Group, most recently Fin has helped establish a corporate communications function at Royal London, where she is now Corporate Communications Senior Manager. In this role, her focus is on developing and delivering integrated communications strategies – across internal and external – around regulatory reporting (including sustainability and stewardship), financial calendar activities, M&A plus providing reputational risk management and crisis communications support. A Fellow of the IoIC, Fin also holds an MBA from the University of Edinburgh Management School.
Frank Dias
Founder of AI training consultancy, Ai x Comms Lab. 15+ years in internal comms. 3+ years in integrating AI into workflows, and teaching and advising others how to do the same. Currently AI Adoption & Change Consultant at Quilter, leading on upskilling 3,000 employees to leverage AI in their work.
Heather Armond FIIC
A senior internal communications professional, Heather has been with Allianz for 15 years. Her main recent focus has been on transformation and change management, employee engagement and leadership and strategic communications within a global and multicultural environment.
Howard Krais FIIC
Howard Krais is co-founder of True, established in 2023, to help organisations create change with their people rather than doing it to them.
True’s work is grounded in the belief that a genuinely people-centred approach drives stronger and more sustainable business performance.
Before founding True, Howard held senior global roles in change, communications and employee engagement at organisations including NatWest, Eversheds, EY, GSK and Johnson Matthey. Across these roles, he became known for combining strategic clarity with a deep understanding of the employee experience.
In recent years, Howard has emerged as a leading voice on organisational listening. His research led to the publication of Leading the Listening Organisation (2023), the first book to examine how organisations listen and why we are now entering an Age of Listening.
A Fellow of the Institute for Internal Communications and the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence, and a former President of the IABC UK chapter, Howard is a sought-after speaker on leadership, change and communication.
Jarrod Williams FIIC
Jarrod Williams is Head of Digital Communications at St. James’s Place, one of the UK’s largest wealth management providers. He is an award-winning Chartered communications professional and Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communication, with more than 15 years’ experience across financial services, housing and the non-profit sector.
At St. James’s Place, Jarrod leads internal digital channels and content strategy across a complex, regulated organisation, connecting employees and a large self-employed partnership community. Previously, as Digital and Brand Lead at housing association Bromford, he led communications for a £65 million transformation programme and supported the organisation through a major cyber incident.
Alongside his corporate role, Jarrod is Officer Commanding of the RAF Air Cadets Volunteer Communications Team, leading volunteers to deliver national communications activity for the youth organisation.
Jo Godfrey
Jo Godfrey, Group People Communications Change Lead, Kingfisher plc
A trusted strategic internal communications and change communications adviser, ex-Head of Corporate and Internal
Communications (Schroders plc) and ex-Head of Internal Communications (Nestlé).
With over 20 years of experience gained in advising a range of blue chip companies, including Kingfisher, Compass Group, HSBC, Nomura and WHSmith.
Jody Lewis CIIC
Jody is Internal, Digital and Creative Communications Director at the energy company, Centrica. He is an elected member of the IoIC Board and has more than 20 years of experience working across internal and external communications in a range of sectors and companies.
Juliet Green FIIC
Juliet is an experienced communications leader with over 15 years’ expertise spanning internal and external communications. She has worked with UK-based and global organisations across diverse sectors, including retail, financial services, technology, and construction. She is currently Head of Internal Communications, Engagement & Culture at the RAC.
Juliet specialises in driving impactful communication strategies that support transformation and change, organisational restructures, cultural evolution, and employee engagement. Her work has included leading values design and rollout, shaping company strategy communications, managing crisis communications, and introducing or evolving communications channels such as intranets and employee engagement and experience platforms.
Passionate about the role of internal communications in building trust, enhancing employee experience, and driving culture change, Juliet is also an active mentor with the Institute of Internal Communications (IoIC), helping professionals grow their careers. As an IoIC Ambassador, she champions internal communications as a rewarding and influential profession.
Kate Waters
Kate is an internal communications specialist who has worked in the higher education, healthcare and charity sectors. She has an MA in Internal Communication Management and is a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communication.
Kirsty Bowen FIIC
Kirsty has almost 25 years’ experience in communications roles, and has built up and led the Colleague Experience function at Coventry Building Society since 2013.
Working for a mutual organisation – owned by its members – brings some great challenges, not least being creative on a modest budget. But she wouldn’t swap working for such a purpose-led organisation for the world. With her role focusing on colleague comms, engagement, wellbeing and voice, colleague experience is a top priority across the organisation.
Kirsty is an IoIC Fellow, an #IChoseIC Ambassador and regularly supports the judging of IoIC’s Awards. She also co-chairs a Financial Services Internal Comms Forum.
Lianne Moulder
Lianne Moulder is the Group Senior Risk Governance & Culture Manager at Admiral Group. An award‑winning communicator and culture advocate, she was named Best Internal Communication Newcomer 2025 for her engaging, people‑centred approach. Lianne is passionate about strengthening organisational culture and building meaningful engagement, turning complex ideas into clear, compelling messages that help colleagues feel informed, empowered and connected.
Melanie Hinds
Melanie Hinds, BA Hons, FIIC, is the Global Head of Internal Communication and Employee Engagement at Amnesty International, she is also an IoIC Board Member and Network Lead. Melanie has over 25 years' experience in professional communications with 18 of these purely dedicated to internal communications. Melanie has in-house and agency experience covering the full comms mix, with specialisms in strategy, change, crisis, digital, brand, culture & advocacy, and diversity & inclusion.
Melisaan Foster
Melisaan Foster is Chief Experience Officer at employee engagement specialist, WorkBuzz, where she helps businesses build great company cultures by gaining feedback from their people. Melisaan was awarded a Mark of Excellence - Outstanding Young Communicator by the CIPR in 2018, named an Inspiring Leader in 2020, and Customer Success Rising Star EMEA in 2022.
Nazia Nathu CIIC
As a Head of Internal Communications at BDO, Nazia blends creativity and strategy to deliver engaging and effective messages. With a talent for storytelling and a passion for connecting people, Nazia ensures that communications are clear, accessible, and impactful. Known for making complex information easy to understand, Nazia fosters a culture of transparency and collaboration. Outside of work, Nazia enjoys exploring new ideas and staying ahead of industry trends, always aiming to make communication seamless and meaningful.
Nicole Bearne
Nicole Bearne is the Founder and Director of The Comms Exchange, an internal communication consultancy supporting organisations around the world. She is also an international speaker and facilitator of leadership and change communication training.
Drawing on her championship-winning career in Formula One - including a decade as Head of Internal Communications for the Mercedes Formula One Team - Nicole brings a compelling blend of real-world business experience and academic rigour to helping organisations build happy, high-performing, people-centric cultures
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Her experience spans executive and technical operations, internal communications, events and employee experience. Nicole holds a Master’s degree in Organisational Behaviour and a CIPR Postgraduate Diploma in Internal Communications. She is a member of the Institute of Internal Communication and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (MCIPR), an Accredited PR Practitioner, and a Non-Executive Director of Motorsport UK, the governing body for four-wheel motor racing in the UK.
Rachel Miller FIIC
Rachel Miller is an internationally recognised authority on internal communication. A former journalist, she has 20 years’ experience in IC and advises many of the world’s best-known companies through her consulting business, All Things IC. She is a Chartered PR practitioner and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Institute of Internal Communication. Rachel is a keynote speaker and Candid Comms podcast host.
One of Inspiring Workplaces’ Top 101 global employee engagement influencers, Rachel was awarded the Chartered Institute of Public Relations President’s Medal in 2020 for distinguished service to PR. She is the author of two books, Internal Communication Strategy: design, develop and transform your organizational communication (Kogan Page, 2024), and Successful Change Communication: how to inform, involve and inspire employees (Kogan Page, 2026).
Rachel Royall
Rachel Royall is a leader in healthcare communications. She’s founder and MD of Blue Lozenge, a strategic communication consultancy in healthcare and has led Board level communications for complex organisations including IBM, NHS, HMRC, Cabinet Office, Department of Health and Social Care and local government. She is also a visiting lecturer at Quadriga University of Science and Technology in Berlin. Rachel is a Fellow of the IOIC and a Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Fellow and Chartered Practitioner. Follow her on twitter @RachRoyallRachel Royall is a leader in healthcare communications. She’s founder and MD of Blue Lozenge, a strategic communication consultancy in healthcare and has led Board level communications for complex organisations including IBM, NHS, HMRC, Cabinet Office, Department of Health and Social Care and local government. She is also a visiting lecturer at Quadriga University of Science and Technology in Berlin. Rachel is a Fellow of the IOIC and a Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Fellow and Chartered Practitioner. Follow her on twitter @RachRoyall
- X:
- @RachRoyall
Ranjani Dhanabalakrishnan
Ranjani is a communications professional with 13+ years’ experience across financial services, high-growth environments and mission-led organisations. Her work focuses on building trust, strengthening culture and supporting organisations through change, with a particular interest in inclusive, accessible communications. She has led internal narrative and leadership messaging, channel strategy and intranet governance, engagement planning, and change communications. She was recognised by the Institute of Internal Communication as IoIC Internal Communication Manager of the Year 2025.
Rebecca Marks FIIC
Rebecca helps senior leaders navigate complex organisational change through a people and culture lens. With over 25 years’ experience in consultancy and senior in-house roles, Rebecca specialises in team coaching, facilitation, and behavioural change, supported by a strong background in internal communication. Her focus is on creating resilient teams and embedding sustainable change that drives measurable impact.
Richard Riche
Global Internal Communications Manager @ Urenco Global - I focus on internal communications, employee experience, and global engagement. I bridge the gap between technology and people by turning complex change and digital transformation into simple stories that promote understanding, adoption, and innovation.
Rob Jones
Ross is co-founder and content director of communications agency Artful Dog. He has more than 20 years’ experience in internal comms – planning, writing and editing magazines, websites, brochures and other campaign materials. He is the editor of IoIC’s membership magazine, Voice.
Rona Kotecha FIIC
Rona Kotecha is Deputy Head of Communications at Skanska, Costain, STRABAG JV works across internal and external communications, playing a key role in shaping and executing strategic communication initiatives to enhance engagement. With over 15 years of experience across internal communications, stakeholder management, employee engagement, marketing and external communications, Rona has built a reputation for developing and delivering meaningful multi-channel communications campaigns that support the project's values and objectives. Rona supports the Head of Communications in managing a high-performing team and delivering cohesive messaging across multiple platforms. With the ability to distil complex information into clear, compelling narratives, Rona is passionate about driving impact through storytelling and strategic insight.
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronakotecha/
Ross Behenna
Ross is co-founder and creative director of communications agency Artful Dog, responsible for art direction and design strategy across print and digital projects, including IoIC’s membership magazine, Voice. He has extensive experience across publishing, marketing and branding.
Shalini Gupta
With over two decades of internal comms experience, Shalini has worked for insurance, banking, telecoms and professional services sector specialising in leadership communications, employee engagement, organisational culture, and communicating change.
Shalini's career highlights include communication roles across India, Middle East and the UK at RSA, GE Capital, Aviva, BT, NatWest group and Arup.
A Fellow at the Institute of Internal Communications, Chartered CIPR practitioner, WeAreTheCity Rising star nominee, and mentor to others in the IC profession, Shalini is passionate about sharing her experience and knowledge and can often be found speaking at industry panels, hosting or writing blogs.
Sherrie Burnham
I lead internal communication for the Food to Go category, the biggest category in Samworth Brothers. At Samworth Brothers we do good things with great food, and I aim to do good things with great communication. To engage, inform and inspire our colleagues across five sites, in Leicester, Melton Mowbray and Worksop.
Shetal Joshi FIIC
Shetal Joshi is the UK Head of Internal Communications and Employee Engagement at Ørsted, one of the world’s largest renewable energy companies.
With over 20 years of experience, including leadership roles at RAPT Dev London and BT Group, Shetal partners closely with executive teams to deliver global transformation and change programmes. She champions internal communications as a strategic enabler that helps build employee trust, strengthen culture, and foster belonging.
Shetal is a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communication (IoIC) and serves as a Board member of the IoIC Standards and Skills Board. She is also a Mental Health First Aider and a former member of the Board of Trustees for Sands, the Baby Loss charity. She was honoured with the Sheila McKechnie Amplifying Voices Award for her advocacy work highlighting disparities in Asian baby loss.
Sinéad Bell FIIC
Sinéad is an award-winning senior communications and reputation management professional, helping to protect and enhance the reputations of her clients through providing expert advice and developing and delivering effective communications strategies.
Her areas of specialism include Internal Communications and Employee Engagement, Crisis Communications and Change Management, Public Relations – including media relations, thought leadership and campaigns. She has experience across a broad spectrum of sectors including travel, financial services, technology, FMCG, retail, energy, third sector, healthcare and education.
She has worked with brands including Virgin Atlantic, Disney, Guide Dogs, Legal & General, Dr. Martens, Barclays, AstraZeneca, Pinewood Studios, the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and Suntory Beverage & Food (SBF).
Soyem Osakwe FIIC
Soyem is a London-based communications strategist with over 16 years’ experience across agency, private sector, and global non-profit environments. She currently leads internal communications for Malaria Consortium, working across the UK, Asia, and Africa. Her expertise spans strategic communication and public relations. Soyem holds an MA in Global Communications and Social Change (Distinction) from Loughborough University London, an MSc in Marketing Communications, and a BSc in Mass Communication. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communications (UK) and mentors NGO colleagues through the Humanitarian Leadership Academy.
Steve Hayes FIIC
Steve has more than a decade of experience leading communications functions in large organisations. After moving into communications and PR following a career as a newspaper journalist, he led communications for the Chartered Institute of Housing and has subsequently overseen award-winning transformations of the communications functions at housing associations Citizen and GSA. Steve is a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communications and a non-executive director at creative agency, Creative Bridge.
Victoria Ford
Victoria is managing director of Perago, a change, delivery and communications agency. Victoria has led large operational delivery units whilst transforming culture and building engagement, delivered award winning communications and led on digital communications and culture change. Working on major organisational change programmes, including a cross government technology programme, ignited her passion for collaborative working to deliver sustainable change.
Victoria has supported organisations, from major government departments to regional charities delivering communications advice, delivery and capability reviews, and designing and delivering communication strategies and support to embed new ways of working. She provides communications advice and delivery support for chief executives, senior leaders and change programmes.