Each year we bring together an amazing group of people who are excelling in their own fields to judge the Mainframe Awards.
The Mainframe Awards 2022, now in their fifth year, are no exception. The Awards present a unique opportunity to have your work reviewed by one of nine top class judges with the Digital/Creative Ambassador of the Year category going to a public vote.
Judges for the Mainframe Awards 2022
Nicki Capewell
Job: Founder of Pedddle & Tresstle
Category: Make & Trade
Paul Simpson
Job: CEO at Derby City Council
Category: Putting Derby & Derbyshire on the Map
Paul joined Derby City Council in August 2019 as Strategic Director of Corporate Resources and Deputy Chief Executive. Prior to that he was at Milton Keynes Council, as their Deputy CEO, having previously been their Corporate Director for Resources. In January 2020, on the retirement of Derby’s former Chief Executive, he took on the role of Acting Chief Executive and then in March 2020, three days before the first national COVID lockdown, he was appointed to his current role of Chief Executive.
Paul is a qualified accountant and has worked in a wide variety of organisations including PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Ministry of Defence, Department for Education, the NHS and four other councils. He lives in Derbyshire and actually started his career at Derby City Council, back in 1991, as a Trainee Accounting Technician.
Andrew Liddell
Job: Development & Partnerships Manager at Creative UK
Category: Best Digital/Creative Upscaler
Andrew leads Elevate, Creative UK’s membership offer for entrepreneurs, freelancers and SMEs. He has over ten years of experience developing new talent, having previously developed professional and talent innovation programmes at Birkbeck, University of London and Ravensbourne College of Art and Design. Andrew is interested in how learning design, innovation and social investment all work together to give a voice to new ideas and new creative talent.
Phil Basi
Job: Programme Leader Media Production & Principal Lecturer TV Production at the University of Derby
Category: Emerging Digital/Creative Star (under 25)
Still an active practitioner he believes that teaching and still being active in the industry is the only way to keep pace with the ever-changing world of Media Production.
Accustomed to building unique multi-skilled teams who have produced programmes from concept to completion across all areas of broadcasting, ranging from large studio productions and full Outside Broadcasts.
He has a strong portfolio of producing and managing large events and live performances from award shows to designing, building and running the Music stages at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, Olympia and the Excel Centre. He has also been involved with developing new music talent both on and off-screen, working initially by representing ITV as a judge at the 'Midlands Finest' run by DEP records as part of UB40’s development of music in the regions. He then followed that up by producing a number of shows that actually showcased new musical talent: MOBO Unsung, Soul Music, Xposure, Drum Beat and Music Uncovered.
Kerry Andrews
Job: Executive Director at the Level Centre
Category: Creativity for Good
karen newman
Job: Founder and Director, BOM (Birmingham Open Media)
Category: Best Digital/Creative Start Up
Karen is the Founder and Director of BOM (Birmingham Open Media), which she established in 2014. BOM is a centre for art, technology and science dedicated to creative innovation with purpose. They explore how technology can be used as a tool for change, to make society a better place. BOM's interests and expertise are in neurodiversity and technology, how technology can help disadvantaged communities, and how it can be used to address environmental problems.
Karen is the driving force behind BOM’s creative vision and mission. She is passionate about how technology can unlock the creative potential of future innovators (particularly unassuming disruptors), and how it can offer solutions to global challenges. Prior to BOM, Karen was Curator at FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) and Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool, as well as a contributing curator to Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008 and Liverpool Biennial 2006 – 2012.
Chris Hotham & Keith Cox
Job: Directors at Bloc Digital
Category: Digital Disruptor
Keith Cox and Chris Hotham are former Rolls-Royce technical illustrators who had a vision to disrupt the design and product visualisation industry. Since initially starting their company from their spare rooms at home, they’ve made that vision a reality. They’ve developed and grown Bloc Digital into a leading digital technology studio, delivering cutting-edge digital visualisation, harnessing augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and web and mobile applications for global clients including RR, Siemens, national and international broadcasting.
Created in 2000 and firmly rooted in Derby, Bloc Digital is pioneering the use of emerging technologies in creative, digital visualisation and software to deliver a growing range of innovative services and products which enable organisations sectors to work smarter, be more connected and have greater impact with their customers and markets.
At the company’s heart are the Keith and Chris’ values of creativity, horizon scanning and investment in talent. A significant drive is challenging and actively changing industry assumptions that innovation, technology design and creative talent is only found in London or big cities!
The last seven years in particular has seen dramatic growth for Bloc Digital, creating a interactive and immersive powerhouse which provides clients with a full suite digital journey.
The company now employs nearly 50 people and has added architectural visualisation, creative design and branding studios alongside the development of a wider media studio to service broadcast, film, arts and heritage industries.
Daniel Poole
Job: Head of Development at Derby Theatre
Category: Mainframe Unsung Hero
Daniel Poole is the Head of Development for Derby Theatre, the UK’s only Professional Producing and Learning Theatre. In this position he is responsible for the creation and implementation of the Theatres development strategy, ensuring revenue and project funding is secured from a variety of sources. Previously to this Daniel has held positions at Tate Liverpool, The Mighty Creatives and the NSPCC.
Daniel has had a lifelong passion for the arts, dedicating his career to helping build a more resilient sector through supporting organisations to secure the partnerships and funds needed to realise their artistic and community focused ambitions. As an East Midlands native he is particularly interested in how the regions arts ecology has evolved in recent years and recognises the importance of improving diversity across the cultural and creative sectors in the region.
Stephen Goddard & Chevalier PHILIP BROOKS-STEPHENSON, kl
Job: Co-Founders at KuKu Connect
Category: Best Local Network
Fancy having your work reviewed by one of these top flight judges?
Find out all the details and submit your nomination now.
Deadline For Nominations is the 31st January 2022