Cara is a highly experienced events professional with over 14 years in the industry, bringing a strong commercial perspective shaped by hands on experience across hotels, venues, and agencies.

She began her career in the Lake District, working within hotels where she had the opportunity to work on a range of events. It was here that Cara developed a strong foundation across both sales and operations, giving her a strong understanding of how successful events are delivered from concept through to delivery. Cara transitioned into the agency world which followed by the big move to London 9 years ago where her passion for events truly flourished. She has since worked with a diverse portfolio of corporate clients, alongside leading event professionals and some of the most respected events and hospitality brands across venues and agencies

Now Head of Sales at Story Events, Cara plays a key role in driving business growth, developing new client partnerships, and leading a high performing team.

Having spent significant time working with venues that excel during the festive season, Cara is particularly passionate about championing those that deliver exceptional creativity, atmosphere, and guest experience at the most demanding time of year.

With two decades of experience at the heart of the London events industry, I am delighted to bring my perspective to this year’s judging panel. Over the last 20 years, I’ve had the pleasure of organising Christmas parties across the city’s vibrant venue landscape, from bespoke gatherings for 50 to large-scale celebrations for 2,000 guests.

I have a particular appreciation for venues that inject ‘magic’ through immersive theming, but I equally enjoy the potential of a blank canvas space that invites true creative flair.

I’m dedicated to championing innovation and high standards in our industry, and I’m thrilled to help spotlight the London venues setting the gold standard for festive hospitality this year.

Marianne began her career in hotels, where she quickly developed a strong understanding of the operational side of the business — and the events that bring those spaces to life. Moving across to the agency world opened the door to the more creative side of events, where imagination and meticulous logistics come together to deliver truly memorable experiences.
Twenty years ago, Marianne founded Image with a passion for providing a genuinely personal service to corporate clients, helping them turn their vision into reality. Image soon grew into a highly respected boutique agency, earning an enviable reputation for stylish, well-executed events.
Over the years, Image has delivered a wide range of events, from large-scale conferences, parties and activity days for thousands of guests, to more intimate gatherings for small high level groups.

Ria Thomas is the Founder and Director of The Event Book, a London-based Boutique event management and production agency established in February 2020. With over 20 years’ experience in the events industry, Ria brings deep commercial understanding, operational expertise, and strategic leadership to the delivery of complex live events.

The Event Book was built on long-standing, trusted supplier relationships developed over two decades. Since launch, the agency has evolved from a boutique London consultancy into an internationally connected business, delivering full-service event management, production, and free venue-finding services across the UK, Europe, and the USA.

Ria leads a senior, highly experienced team and works closely with clients as an extension of their internal function, ensuring clarity, governance, and consistency at every stage. Her approach is defined by rigorous planning, transparent processes, and a focus on delivering measurable outcomes. Ria is recognised for her calm leadership style, attention to detail, and commitment to quality, making The Event Book a trusted partner for corporate clients seeking reliable, high-impact event delivery.

As the founder of Yahire, Taran entered the events industry in 2011 with just one month of prior experience but a clear vision for change. Spotting a gap in the market for affordable, stylish, and reliable hire, he grew Yahire into one of London’s leading event furniture suppliers.

Over the past decade, Taran has overseen the delivery of furniture to more than 80,000 events, working with clients ranging from intimate private gatherings to large-scale exhibitions. His ability to combine operational efficiency with a genuine passion for service has made Yahire a trusted partner to many of London’s most prestigious venues.

Taran’s entrepreneurial spirit and industry insight have shaped Yahire’s reputation, and he hopes to bring the same knowledge and perspective to his role on the judging panel.

As the founder of Yahire, Taran entered the events industry in 2011 with just one month of prior experience but a clear vision for change. Spotting a gap in the market for affordable, stylish, and reliable hire, he grew Yahire into one of London’s leading event furniture suppliers.

Over the past decade, Taran has overseen the delivery of furniture to more than 80,000 events, working with clients ranging from intimate private gatherings to large-scale exhibitions. His ability to combine operational efficiency with a genuine passion for service has made Yahire a trusted partner to many of London’s most prestigious venues.

Taran’s entrepreneurial spirit and industry insight have shaped Yahire’s reputation, and he hopes to bring the same knowledge and perspective to his role on the judging panel.

Lucinda has delivered successful events for over 25 years.

Rebecca Kelly is a founder and growth-focused operator in the global events and hospitality sector, with over a decade of experience building and scaling venue-led marketplaces and software-enabled agency businesses.

She is the Founder & CEO of VenueScanner, a leading venue discovery and booking platform that connects corporates, agencies and planners with independent venues across the UK and internationally. Rebecca combines leadership focus on digital marketing, marketplace economics and performance-led distribution to help venues increase visibility, utilisation rates and profitable revenue.

Rebecca brings deep expertise in demand generation, digital channels, SEO, partnerships and conversion optimisation, translating modern growth marketing principles into a traditionally offline industry. She works closely with venue operators and hospitality groups to adapt to evolving buyer behaviour, changing search patterns and the increasing role of AI in discovery and decision-making.

She is passionate about championing independent venues, raising commercial and digital standards across the sector, and supporting innovation that enhances — rather than replaces — the human nature of great events.

With a career in the events industry since 2013, Abby began as an events manager but quickly discovered her true passion lay in finding the perfect venue. This led her to specialize in venue sourcing, where she has spent years building expertise both working with agents and gaining invaluable insight on the client side. This breadth of experience allows her to bring a 360-degree perspective to every project, ensuring that each venue perfectly aligns with a client’s brand and objectives.

Today, she leads the venue finding team at AOK Events, combining her industry knowledge, attention to detail, and genuine love of spaces to create memorable experiences. Her passion for venues and dedication to client satisfaction continues to define her approach and makes her a trusted partner in delivering exceptional events.

Rachel is the founder and Director of Eventspiration and also sister company Re-Connect, a brand new agency specialising in organising corporate wellness events in the Uk and Europe.

Rachel started her journey with a First Class Honours degree in Event Management. Moving from Leeds to the bright lights of London, she started from humble roots organising red carpet Film Premiere parties for Hollywood stars. After a wonderful few years working for Merlin Entertainments where she met life long friends, Eventspiration was born and here we are 15 years later, so its definitely a year for a party!

It’s the thrill of seeing a packed dance floor that really keeps a smile on her face after all these years and the adrenalin rush when the party ends and you know you nailed it!

London offers such a rich tapestry of ever evolving diverse venues it keeps the magic alive. A wise person once said “You are only as strong as your suppliers Rachel” never a truer word spoken.

She is both honoured and excited to have been selected to be part of the judging panel.

Anna Peters is Creative Director at Evolve Events, a UK-based agency with 25 years’ experience delivering standout celebratory events and sourcing exceptional venues. Known for her creative flair and eye for detail, Anna has helped produce hundreds of Christmas parties — from glittering soirées in London’s most iconic venues to immersive celebrations in unexpected spaces like warehouses and even car parks. With back-to-back wins as Events Influencer of the Year, Anna is recognised for her ability to spot trends, push creative boundaries and bring the festive magic to life for corporate clients.

Initially working for a caterer, then onto opening a brand new venue in London as well as being instrumental in the success of  several agencies, Matt has experienced the demands, expectations and possibilities from many angles. Matt is known in the industry as one to always take on a challenge and doesn’t shy away from the stage when it comes to drive forward event related initiatives. Events R Talented is just one example where Matt’s determination and dedication to pull together a successful industry wide event paid off, having won the C&IT Best use of Small Budget award. Matt has always had a passion for people; being able to build professional partnerships and be  memorable to suppliers and clients alike, is what makes Matt get up in the morning.

Ewelina Dunkley is a globally recognized events and strategy leader with over 16 years of experience in designing transformative experiences that drive inclusion, innovation, and community. Currently, she is the Global Events Lead at Wise, where she continues to create impactful and inclusive events worldwide.

Before joining Wise, Ewelina was the Global Events & Strategy Manager at Meta, leading cross-functional programs across 100+ global sites. She spearheaded initiatives like the GameOn Hackathon, which earned Meta the Best DE&I Initiative award in 2022. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in her role on the Women@ EMEA steering committee, where she empowered women across Meta’s international offices.

Ewelina also contributed to the Global Hackathon Board of Directors and the Global Community Leader Advisory Committee, amplifying underrepresented voices. Her career journey—from hospitality to tech leadership—reflects her resilience and creativity.

Named Event Planner of the Year at the Miss Jones Awards in 2022, Ewelina was also a finalist for the Fast Forward 15 awards in the Mentor of the Year category. She inspires through public speaking, mentorship, and her LinkedIn series, “REAL TALK with Ewelina,” where she shares insights on leadership and career transitions. Her strategic vision and passion for inclusivity make her a driving force in the events industry.

Jason Window is a dynamic sales leader and currently Head of Sales UK at Swingers – The Crazy Golf Club, where he drives commercial strategy and revenue growth across multiple London venues. With a proven track record of building high-performing sales teams and delivering bold, engaging customer experiences, Jason knows how to hit targets while keeping things refreshingly un-boring.

Beyond the golf greens, Jason serves as the current President of the Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Chamber of Commerce, where he champions local business growth, community collaboration, and strategic innovation. Prior to this, he led new business development at Pride in London and played a key role at All Star Lanes, Inception Group, and Swift Advances, consistently elevating commercial performance and fostering meaningful partnerships.

Jason brings sharp commercial instincts, a creative edge, and a team-first attitude to every role he steps into. He’s known for creating sales ecosystems that thrive—where fun meets function and results speak louder than PowerPoints.

When he’s not negotiating deals or rallying the business community, you’ll likely find him networking across London or proving that the best partnerships are formed somewhere between the bar and the putting green.

Bert started his career in hospitality and events at the tender age of 18.  After stacking shelves in a local supermarket, he thought it would be a great idea to fill nightclubs with North London youth.  It all started in a legendary club in Camden called Dingwalls.  He then moved onto running London’s largest under 18’s club nights and London’s top 80’s night, Club Fantastic.  This night ended up in clubs all over the Greek islands and Cyprus.  Slowly, Bert moved into planning people’s private events and 20 years ago Uptown Events was formed with his co-director Adam Phillips.  Today, Uptown plans over 500 events a year.  These range from weddings and barmitzvahs to international conferences, product launches, PR activations, Christmas and summer parties.  Last year, there were events all over the world including Europe, Las Vegas and China.  He is honoured to be a judge for this prestigious awards ceremony.

Charlotte Melia is a multi-award winning Founder and CEO at D&F Creative: A global creative studio, specialising in people engagement events, brand activations and fan zones.

Charlotte won ‘Creative Entrepreneur of the Year’ at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in 2022, followed by awards for ‘Best Business Growth’ and ‘Best DEI Initiative’ in 2024.

Charlotte is an active member of UN Women UK, The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and the APPG for Women & Work at Westminster. D&F Creative is also a women founded, women owned organisation, as globally certified by WeConnect International.

Charlotte is a champion for D&I and is a founding member of the 93% Club – celebrating state school educated excellence in business.

Before founding Miss London Concierge in 2018, Emily spent 12 years working in some of London’s most unique venues, as well as heading up a venue sourcing team at a top events publication, which is where her love and passion for London venues, corporate events, and connecting event professionals blossomed.

After three fun filled years working her way through the capital’s best venues & building fantastic relationships, Emily launched Miss London Concierge. You name it, Emily has probably been there and shared a glass of champagne or two with the venue team along the way!

Emily wanted to create an agency that embodied her passion for building client relationships, entertaining, and connecting event bookers. Emily could see that other agencies just didn’t offer the personal bespoke touch and knew that she wanted an agency where clients felt like friends.

In the third week of launching, Emily hosted a networking dinner for 40 event bookers at an exclusive London venue, and since then, Miss London Concierge has gone on to build a community of over 4,000 event professionals, hosted over 150 networking events across the country, and booked over 1500 client events since 2018.

Miss London Concierge is a bespoke venue sourcing agency, connecting corporate event bookers & venue partners in London, the UK & Europe.

With Samantha’s eye for detail and organised nature it was no surprise that she carved a career in Events Management. Having achieved a First Class honours degree in Events Management with International Hospitality Management at University Samantha immediately secured a job in a live events agency specialising in public sector events, which allowed her to work at some fantastic venues across the UK, including Lord’s and The Oval Cricket Grounds, the NEC, Birmingham and the Etihad Stadium.

Always one for getting stuck in, and searching for a bit more glitz and glamour, Samantha found her skills suited the delivery of events and soon progressed into a career defining role as Head of Events at Merlin Events London, which is where Samantha sculpted her career until co-founding Eventify eight years later. Since co-founding Eventify Samantha has delivered some awe inspiring and spectacular events for a number of extremely high profile client’s and guests. Working with a number of Blue Chip companies and some particularly demanding private clients over the years, Samantha’s love of managing events is only continuing to grow. From a team of 2 to now 6, Eventify continues to thrive delivering events globally.

An events expert with over 2 decades in the industry with experience of working for an agency and as a freelancer in the UK and across Europe on events of all shapes and sizes.
Her passion lies in creating parties that WOW.

From the moment I left college, I knew the events industry was where I belonged. What began as a passion quickly became a career spanning five-star hotels, leading catering companies and wedding planning, giving me a broad, hands-on understanding of events from every angle.

I ultimately found my dream role as an event agent, where creativity, strategy and client relationships come together and I haven’t looked back since. Today, I’m proud to head up the KIN London team as Managing Director. My role is varied: alongside retaining and nurturing a number of key client accounts, I oversee the day-to-day running of the business, from strategy and growth to team leadership and delivery.

What drives me most is creating exceptional experiences, building trusted partnerships and leading a team that genuinely cares about the work we produce. No two days are the same and that’s exactly how I like it.