Ethical, transparent, and respected, the awards are judged by esteemed industry experts who follow a robust two-step judging process that includes pre-scoring to establish a shortlist and judge discussion to determine winners and in some cases silver awards.
None of our award judges can take part in the competition and any conflicts of interest must be declared.
The UK Digital PR Awards are accredited by the Awards Trust Mark – The Independent Awards Standards Council – Trust Mark Scheme.
Adam Guerguis | Digital Marketing Manager | Airbnb
Based in Montreal, Adam has more than 10 years in search marketing and growth hacking experience. His latest job is Head of Operations for airbnb organic growth. He also has been working with very exciting brands in several industries, languages, and sizes like Yahoo!, MSN, Groupon, UNHCR, Skrill, Paysafe card, and others. Adam is also a digital marketing trainer, guest speaker, mentor, digital marketing blogger since 2010, and a MSc. Marketing Candidate. In his free time, Adam likes coding and reading about marketing,
Andy wrote the first book on the subject of ‘Creativity in Public Relations’ and continues to be at the forefront of new thinking and doing as a founder supporter of the Dublin Conversations, co-creating bigger thinking for the future of the communications industry. Andy is a working practitioner and academic teaching innovation, communications and public relations. He has written 7 books (translated into 8 languages) on purpose, creativity, social capitals, organisational change. He is co-founder of social enterprise ‘Grow Social Capital’, founder of The Tummler School and co-founder of Unstitution. Believing we can all gain inspiration from the unlikeliest of sources, pre-Covid Andy used to deliver creativity classes on the London Tube. Born and bred in London’s East End, he lives with his Barry-born wife on Barry Island, Andy is a real-life ‘Gavin & Stacey’.
Aoife McIlraith | Global Search & Digital Marketing Consultant |
Aoife McIlraith owner of Luminosity Digital marketing agency and founder of Speakerlineup.com An award winning marketer, international digital & SEO consultant and with 22+ years international marketing. Helping brands get the Right Content, to the Right Audience, at the Right Time to Drive Sales. She has worked with global brands building multilingual digital SEO and marketing strategies. Alongside running global web publishing operations for global and regional sites for Canon, Starbucks and Intel. Before starting her own agency she was VP, Product Marketing with Semrush. A regular speaker at international conferences and appointed judge for Search , PR and Tech Awards. Aoife was recognized among the “Top 20 Women making the biggest impact in Marketing Tech” by B2B Marketing Magazine (2019). Holding postgrads in web technologies and digital marketing, she is also a mentor with Enterprise Ireland.
Chelsey Wheeler | Deputy Head of News and Issues | Direct Line Group
Ambitious and driven public relations strategist, with extensive experience directing public relations campaigns in both agency and in-house settings. Proven success developing, managing and implementing media strategies and measuring results across traditional media and emerging digital channels. I'll be looking out for ways in which communications specialists have learnt to adapt and thrive in an ever changing digital media landscape.
Dan Barker | |
Dan has worked in ecommerce for around 20 years. He has worked within companies in ecommerce functions, up to CMO level, has worked on projects for more than 100 ecommerce businesses as a consultant, and has co-owned a couple of ecommerce businesses with millions of visitors and hundreds of millions of turnover between them over the years. He enjoys the opportunity that ecommerce has brought and can bring to people all over the world.
Emily Penkett | Head of UK PR | JustGiving
Emily is a creative senior communications leader, with more than 10 years’ experience in PR. She has a proven track record of leading and delivering integrated consumer and corporate campaigns for some of the UK’s most recognisable brands. Not afraid to push the boundaries, Emily continuously strives for new and innovative ways to land business messages across owned and earned channels.
Jamie Obertelli | Head of PR & Communications | OnTheMarket
Jamie is a former journalist turned public relations adviser and digital content specialist with a background in implementing high-impact influencing campaigns in corporate B2B and consumer sectors. After leaving journalism, Jamie began his 15-year career in communications with a PR and Public Affairs role at The PR Office, working across a mix of professional services sectors, before specializing in real estate comms. A move to global property consultancy and estate agency Knight Frank saw Jamie take responsibility for the firm’s residential research PR, before being appointed Head of Content for the network. Jamie is currently Head of PR & Communications for leading UK residential property portal OnTheMarket, which was recently acquired by CoStar Group, an S&P500 leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information, and analytics.
Jo O'Reilly | Freelance Digital PR Consultant |
Jo O’Reilly is a Freelance digital PR consultant based in Chester. She has been working in Digital PR for 6 years and before going freelance had worked both in-house and agency side. Before pivoting to Digital PR she worked as a journalist. She is fascinated with all things digital pr, especially reactive pr and newsjacking.
Kelly Friend | PR Manager - UK & US | WithSecure
Kelly is the UK & US PR Manager for cyber security company WithSecure. With almost 15 years in the industry, Kelly has led technology PR campaigns across industries including healthcare, aviation, subsea oil and gas, and maritime defence. You can find Kelly on Twitter @KellyFriendPR and on LinkedIn.
Michelle Gledhill | Senior Lecturer, Programme Leader MSc Creative Advertising Strategy | Manchester Metropolitan University Business School
Dr Michelle Gledhill is a specialist in in advertising, branding and media. Her position as Programme Leader for MSc Creative Advertising Strategy at Manchester Metropolitan University combines her expertise in strategic thinking when working in consultation on live briefs with brands such as Manchester City, the Happy Linen Company and Manchester Gin, with her passion for developing and nurturing student talent in the Manchester and across the UK. Her fascination for branding led her to complete a unique doctoral thesis on how brands are processed whilst playing videogames. She is a highly experienced marketer, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), CIM Senior Examiner and HE Examiner.
Mariam Abu Bakr | Global SEO Manager | Philips Domestic Appliances
Mariam Abubakr is an adept SEO professional based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, presently assumes the role of Global SEO Manager at Philips Domestic Appliances (Versuni). With previous experience as a journalist at CNN and Reuters, Mariam brings a unique perspective to her role, often describing herself as "an ex-journalist disguised as an SE optimizer". While she currently navigates territories on a global scale, Mariam's roots and early triumphs blossomed in the vibrant MENA region, where she led impactful SEO projects for renowned clients like Jaguar Land Rover, General Electric, Bosch, Accor Hotels, and Virgin Megastore. Her expertise spans various industries, with a proven track record of successful SEO strategies. Mariam's passion for SEO prompted her to explore new horizons, making her a valuable asset in recognizing and celebrating the outstanding achievements of the global search community!
Neil Costello | Marketing Director | Lowell
Neil Costello is Lowell’s Marketing Director having built high levels of experience in senior marketing roles across a range of Financial Services businesses including Atom Bank and Aviva. Passionate about building iconic brands and developing digital experiences across B2B and B2C, Neil has been named Marketing Week’s Top 100 most effective marketers.
Neville Hobson | Social strategist, ADVISOR, communicator, podcaster |
Neville Hobson works at the leading edge of innovation, experimenting with new technologies and the key roles they play in organizational communication. As an independent consultant, he works with a number of organizations to help them create and build foundations for authentic engagement that enable them to develop and expand their online presence, reach and influence. For over 17 years he’s been a business podcast founder, continuing to devote time and passion to podcasting, currently hosting and co-producing three business podcasts. Neville is also a non-executive director of and an advisor to a Web 3 start-up that’s bringing innovation to NFT marketplaces and communities with exciting products and services launching in 2023.
Purna Virji is a globally recognized content strategist and Senior Content Solutions Consultant at LinkedIn. She has been crowned the Search Personality of the Year by the US Search Awards, was named by Adweek on their Young Influentials List, and was named by PPC Hero as the #1 Most Influential Expert in the world. She is a columnist and top-rated international keynote speaker who regularly speaks at conferences such as AdWeek, DMEXCO, The Next Web Conference and INBOUND. Prior to joining LinkedIn, Purna led global learning and thought leadership programs for Microsoft. An award-winning former journalist, Purna is an avid traveler, aspiring top chef, and amateur knitter in her spare time.
Rachael Courtney | SENIOR SOCIAL MARKETING LEAD | VIRGIN MEDIA
Rachael has worked in PR & Events for over 17 years, with 15 years running Social Media for big brands. Previous roles have included heading up social at Cineworld and Three, where she was responsible for a number of award-winning social campaigns. Rachael now leads the social strategy and team at Virgin Media
Rejoice Ojiaku is an SEO Specialist & Content Strategist, as well as the Co-Founder of B-DigitalUK – a platform for showcasing and empowering black talent in the UK digital marketing scene. Her expertise lies in SEO, Diversity and inclusion, all bolstered by strong personal branding both online and offline.
Steve Kuncewicz | PARTNER - HEAD OF CREATIVE, DIGITAL & MARKETING | GLAISYERS ETL
Steve is a Partner and Head of Creative, Digital and Marketing at Glaisyers ETL in Manchester. He specialises in intellectual property, media social media and privacy law and is listed as a "recommended lawyer" in the Legal 500, and was a oo-founder pf the Bulletproof Agency Network. He is a regular media spokesperson, and has given interviews to the local and national press through BBC Breakfast, Sky News, ITV, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live and LBC London. Steve is also the Manchester Publicity Association’s Honorary Solicitor.
Veronika Höller | Global SEO Lead | CompuGroup
Veronika is a Global SEO Lead and has worked in SEO and PPC marketing for over 14 years. She started as a copywriter and PPC Manager in a little Ads Agency. She has continuously developed herself further into the direction of SEO. Over the years, she has worked as a digital marketing manager in agencies and international companies, including CompuGroup where she is now. International SEO and PPC Strategies are Top of her priority list. She views SEO as a whole puzzle and not just individual sub-areas, hence why she trained herself in all areas – content, technology, PPC, SMM and UX. Today she spreads her knowledge as a speaker on the stages of international digital marketing conferences such as BrightonSEO, SMX advanced, International Search Summit etc. For her all digital marketing channels have to be united to get the best of your website.
Viki Harris | Head of Brand Communications | Marshalls plc
Viki is an experienced communications professional who has honed her skills in strategic communications, content and stakeholder management. She has a deep appreciation for the power of storytelling in building and maintaining a brand's reputation and is dedicated to delivering content that informs and inspires audiences. As Head of Brand Communications at Marshalls plc, Viki leads a team that deliver high-quality brand campaigns and content.
Yevgeniy Samoilenko | Head of Research and Development | Technology Leadership Center | Advisor | Freedom Holding Corp.
“We are honestly over the moon to win the UK Digital PR award for ‘Best Use of TikTok’. It means the world to our team, as it acknowledges our strategic expertise in harnessing the power of TikTok to create engaging, viral content that captivates audiences and drives meaningful brand impact. It’s a real testament to the incredible talented tribe we have.\" “We absolutely love working with WD-40 and can’t wait to see what we can do next on TikTok!”Sheridan Okey, Head of Digital PR Tribera
"Being shortlisted for the esteemed UK PR Agency of the Year (small) 2023 award holds profound significance for Julia and the entire team and is a huge milestone for us all. It serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment, hard work, and dedication that emanate from this PR powerhouse on a daily basis." The Digital Voice
"Being shortlisted for a highly prestigious award like the UK Digital PR Awards – especially as it recognises a business-to-business tech campaign, where results are sometimes hard-fought – only increases that sense of accomplishment." NormCyber
“Pearl Comms has just had one of its most exciting years on record, topped off by this amazing opportunity to be a double finalist in the UK Digital PR Awards. From onboarding a host of new clients to acquiring Kinetic PR, our team has had to rapidly expand whilst still delivering the quality service that we are known for."Alia Al-Doori, Managing Director Pearl Comms
"PXN is honoured to be shortlisted for the UK PR Awards Digital PR Tool and Software of the Year as it is being recognised as a game changer within the PR and Digital Asset Management worlds. We are a small team of PR professionals who are looking to change the digital PR process. We help manage a trusted tech system which is used by global brands to securely host their sensitive resources. Being nominated for the award really means a lot to us, and we hope it opens the door to valuable industry recognition." PXN
"Being named as a finalist in the Digital PR Agency of the Year – Small category also means the world to us. We have huge respect for the judges and to be recognised by our industry peers in this way is very humbling." Motive PR
“We are honestly over the moon to win the UK Digital PR award for ‘Best Use of TikTok’. It means the world to our team, as it acknowledges our strategic expertise in harnessing the power of TikTok to create engaging, viral content that captivates audiences and drives meaningful brand impact. It’s a real testament to the incredible talented tribe we have.\" “We absolutely love working with WD-40 and can’t wait to see what we can do next on TikTok!”
Sheridan Okey, Head of Digital PR 
"Being shortlisted for the esteemed UK PR Agency of the Year (small) 2023 award holds profound significance for Julia and the entire team and is a huge milestone for us all. It serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment, hard work, and dedication that emanate from this PR powerhouse on a daily basis."
"Being shortlisted for a highly prestigious award like the UK Digital PR Awards – especially as it recognises a business-to-business tech campaign, where results are sometimes hard-fought – only increases that sense of accomplishment."
“Pearl Comms has just had one of its most exciting years on record, topped off by this amazing opportunity to be a double finalist in the UK Digital PR Awards. From onboarding a host of new clients to acquiring Kinetic PR, our team has had to rapidly expand whilst still delivering the quality service that we are known for."
Alia Al-Doori, Managing Director 
"PXN is honoured to be shortlisted for the UK PR Awards Digital PR Tool and Software of the Year as it is being recognised as a game changer within the PR and Digital Asset Management worlds. We are a small team of PR professionals who are looking to change the digital PR process. We help manage a trusted tech system which is used by global brands to securely host their sensitive resources. Being nominated for the award really means a lot to us, and we hope it opens the door to valuable industry recognition."
"Being named as a finalist in the Digital PR Agency of the Year – Small category also means the world to us. We have huge respect for the judges and to be recognised by our industry peers in this way is very humbling."
