JUDGES

Harald is the founding partner of Harald Ackerschott GmbH, innovation leader in assessment and psychometrics in Germany. He is the architect of abcή, ackerschott basic cognitions indicator ®, a measure of ability, behavioral styles and motivation. With its unique approach for requirements analyses, abtI®, ackerschott basic task inventory he brings online and scaled assessments to a new level. Harald co-authored the German standard work on proficiency assessment based on the DIN 33430 and teaches psychometrics and assessment at DIN Academy. Harald has over 30 years of experience in personally auditing, assessing and screening candidates. He has consulted and facilitated the staffing of tens of thousands of professionals, specialist employees and executives ranging from entry-level positions to C-suite management on all five continents. Harald serves on international panels and represents Germany in ISO Standards Development on Human Resource Management.

https://abci.de/en/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/harald-ackerschott-eignungsdiagnostik-assessment/?locale=en_US

Sid Barnes is Founder and CEO of Mastermind Consulting and CEO of Elite Leaders. He is a former Executive Board Member of Adecco UK&I where he was responsible for the 400 Staff £280m Professional Staffing business. He has established, grown, turned around, bought and sold, professional staffing businesses for over 20 years. Sid is an Advisor, Consultant and NED to 18 Professional Staffing businesses, covering UK, Europe, US, and is responsible for driving long term sustainable growth. As Co-Chairman and CEO of Elite Leaders, Sid is responsible for the growth, service and advancement of the business and its progression to serve as the Consulting Partner to the Staffing Industry.

Jim is the Director for Multi Posting Partnerships EMEA for VONQ, and Sales Director for the UK & Ireland – VONQ is Recruitment Marketing Technology for leading Staffing and Enterprise Firms – Jim Heads up the partnership team for the multi posting and programmatic solution that is integrated with over Seven leading ATS’s including Bullhorn, Workday, iCIMS, CSOD, Oracle and more. Jim is also part of VONQ’s ESG committee and a business ambassador for Ambitious about Autism leading UK Autistic Charity, he sits on two Recruitment Technology Boards and has over 25 years’ experience and knowledge in the recruitment profession, covering all sides Agency, Inhouse and Recruitment Technology. www.vonq.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/talentattractiontech-hrtech-tech2rec/

Now into my 11th year at the Bank, my current Relationship Director role affords me the privilege of managing the overall relationship between NatWest Group and a portfolio of our Business Services / B2B Corporate Banking customers. This covers a variety of sectors but, by number of clients, Recruitment & Talent Solutions is the most substantive sector represented - and it is one in which I take a keen interest. It is therefore an honour to have been asked to judge this year's The Recruiter Awards, and I wish all applicants the best of luck for the process to follow. For more details on NatWest, please refer to our website: https://www.natwest.com/corporates.html LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-biggs-a43a9371/

Over 30 years in the Recruitment industry of which 18 were in senior leadership roles . For 9 years I was the CEO of Randstad UK, Middle East and Ireland, prior to that I was MD of Hill McGlynn for 8 years which was a privately owned business we grew completely organically from 15 people in a single office to a £150m business with 450 staff across 4 countries with 17 offices globally and most recently as MD of MCG Group with 4 separate operating companies in my portfolio. I have extensive experience of scaling organisations organically and via M&A in addition to running multi disciplinary sector businesses domestically and internationally. Through my career I have gained significant experience of all delivery channels such as contingency, MSP/RPO, On Site , Search and retained assignment models. To gain operational effectiveness I have managed off shoring operations as well as creating Central Service functions. I am now working as a NED with disparate organisations of all types and sizes seeking support at a senior level with growth strategy , internationalisation, M&A strategy , operational optimisation and efficiency and executive coaching and mentoring

An experienced Business Consultant, Coach and Mentor, with a background of being CEO of a 60 employee recruitment business. www.alancrockert.co.uk linkedin.com/in/alan-crockert 07904945018

In 1999, Ruella launched Ruella James to focus on the Recruitment to Recruitment sector in the London market.

We place Trainees looking for their first role in recruitment, Experienced Recruiters and Managers/Directors of Recruitment businesses.

Ruella is the host of ‘Ruella Talks Recruitment’ Podcast and ‘Recruitment Hacks Live’ Linked in Live Show. She aims to motivate, inspire and educate current and future Recruitment Leaders. Joined by her team and a variety of guests, Ruella explores all things recruitment - giving SMEs top tips and new ideas on every episode. Recordings of these shows are on YouTube/Spotify/iTunes.

www.ruellajames.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rec2reclondon/

https://www.instagram.com/ruellajamesrecruitment/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7VM-KdKWEynsqdVZ1tdjig/featured

I work with the Mergers and Acquisitions team at BDO, alongside our specialist Human Capital and Recruitment M&A team. We want to build a long-term relationship with our clients from an early stage, and we will invest time and resource to understand their ambitions, business and markets to ensure we can provide relevant and trusted tactical advice. I have over 20 years’ experience of working in business and business advisory, having formerly qualified as a corporate lawyer before working as a lecturer in business and commercial law, and as the commercial director of a fashion agency and distribution company, before joining BDO. As well as my relationship development role, I produce regular research, reviews and publications for the recruitment sector.

Paul is a specialist recruiter in the environment and sustainability sector with over 25 years’ experience. Paul joined Hays in 2021 and leads a team of industry experts across the UK who specialise in sustainability recruitment within the emerging areas of sustainable buildings, the circular economy, environmental roles, and corporate sustainability.

Adam Hawkins is Head of Search & Staffing at LinkedIn for EMEA & LATAM. With over two decades of recruitment industry experience, he is a trusted advisor to leading recruitment firms across the globe. His team partners daily with the recruitment sector to arm them with unique solutions and insight trends from LinkedIn’s more than 900 million global members, to help them find the best talent for their client. With recruiters playing an integral role in powering businesses and the economy, his team is proud to partner and help connect people to opportunity. Prior to LinkedIn, Adam spent 18 years at The Adecco Group in numerous executive leadership and board member roles. He has worked and lived abroad for 10 years where he gained unique exposure many global staffing markets and managed a multitude of differing business. Passionate and active across the industry, advising numerous HR technology start-ups, mentoring talent from under-represented groups and non-for profits. He has a tremendous amount of pride and responsibility to contribute and help shape the evolution of the industry. His experience working both agency and trusted partner side for LinkedIn is why he is excited to put forward his nomination to represent the unified voice of trusted partners.

Lysha Holmes, owner of Qui Recruitment, Specialist R2R since 2005 placing experienced recruiters across the Northwest, Yorkshire and London. Host of The Recruiters Recruitment Podcast.

quirecruitment.com

@LyshaHolmes across all social media

Alison has more than 35 years’ experience in recruitment, been a director of 4 listed businesses and was MD at Liquid Personnel through a period of exceptional growth culminating in a substantial trade sale. She established and built two multi-million pound businesses for Hays PLC, and later two successful RPO/SOW businesses, personally negotiating global contracts up to £120million in value. Multiple awards include Times Fasttrack 100 (24th), Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For and Recruiter Fast 50 (11th). She now works with multiple small recruitment businesses (all sectors) to help them refine strategy, achieve business goals, enter new markets, improve market penetration and value, and develop great leaders, often with a goal of preparing a business for sale/exit. Also REC Chief Examiner and an honorary fellow (one of just 25 people worldwide to hold this honorarium). This year she published “Seven Behaviours of Successful Recruitment Leaders” to very positive reviews. www.recruitmentleadership.co.uk https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-humphries-hon-frec-75b1763/

Matthew currently leads recruitment for the large Big 4 Professional Services firm EY UKI. He has been in role for nearly 3 years. He has a distinguished career with Leadership roles at SAP, Autodesk and Electronic Arts, (EA). A multi award winner himself, Matthew prides himself on leading an innovative and creative team at EY.

Tom leads the Consultancy Practice at Resource Solutions, advising clients on all aspects of the Future of Work: ESG for HR, Diverse Hiring, HR Tech and recruitment ethics. Tom has worked in both agency and on-site recruitment roles and has worked in Recruitment Innovation since 2015. Tom has an MA in Career Development with a specialism in teh careers of under-represented individuals and has studied Business Sustainability management.

Thomas heads the employment practice, supporting German and foreign companies in all matters relating to individual and collective employment law. He has a particular focus on developing strategic concepts for companies in the recruitment industry, in particular employee leasing, independent contractors, HR compliance and cross-border projects for contingent workforce management (MSP, RPO).

https://www.osborneclarke.com/lawyers/thomas-leister

Imogen founded and continues to lead global executive search firm Perrett Laver's Sport Practice, as well as offering experience across education, voluntary and cultural sectors. As a former athlete, she holds a resolute belief in the transformative power of sport and physical activity and is committed to identifying and elevating leaders whom will help realise this potential. Imogen has been a powerful voice in the drive for greater diversity and inclusion in sports, working with high profile clients including the England and Wales Cricket Board, the Football Association, and England Rugby in pursuit of these goals. Other recent clients include Swim England, the Rugby Football League, and Commonwealth Games England. She has also pioneered a four year strategic partnership with Sport England and UK Sport focused on creating and enabling a diverse talent pool for non-executive roles in the sector.

Michelle Lownie is a founding Director and current CEO of Eden Scott Ltd. With a career spanning 30 years Michelle has a wealth of recruitment experience across both the private and public sector across a wide range of disciplines. Eden Scott is one of Scotland's leading independent recruitment consultancy. https://www.edenscott.com/member/michelle-lownie

Simon is a Director at Gambit Corporate Finance LLP, an independent corporate finance lead advisory firm providing services to private and public companies throughout the UK and internationally. Simon co-leads Gambit’s Human Capital team and has deep relationships with investors, vendors and acquirers in the sector. He has significant M&A market experience and has advised on a significant number of transactions across acquisitions, disposals, management buy-outs, fundraisings and restructurings. His recent Human Capital M&A experience includes the acquisition of BMSL for Indigo Group and the sale of MPCT to Learning Curve Group.

Named by Recruiter Magazine as the UK’s most innovative female and Scotland’s Regional finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the year 2022. Wendy has been making waves and influencing the recruitment technology space for the last two decades. Her company, Firefish, is a high-growth Recruitment SaaS company that accelerates growth for recruitment agencies by unlocking the value in their data; empowering recruiters to reach their potential.. 

Nicola McQueen was appointed as CEO of NHS Professionals (NHSP), the largest temporary staff supplier to the National Health Service, in September 2019. She initially joined NHS Professionals as interim COO in January 2019. She is passionate about workforce business issues, having spent the past 20 years supporting and creating effective staffing strategies across both the private and public sectors. Her career in recruitment began as a consultant at Hays, before moving to Capita and ultimately serving as CEO of Affinity Workforce. McQueen is also CEO of Doctors Direct, the locum service from NHS Professionals. Most recently, she has led NHS Professionals through the coronavirus pandemic, successfully attracting tens of thousands of healthcare professionals into the NHS

Highly experienced recruitment professional with over 25 years experience in the sector. Proven track record in leading and growing successful teams, developing strategy and driving new business lines and markets. Now working as Chair, NED and strategic advisor, mentor and coach to several companies in the UK market. CEO, Investor, NED, Growth Advisor, Exit Planning, Board Support Included in the 2015 Global Power 100 Women in Staffing list - http://si100women.staffingindustry.com/

Former Banker. I retired in mid-2018 after 40 years with Barclays and before that, 4 years in the Civil Service. During my banking career, I had a variety of roles within International, Credit, Shipping Finance, Corporate and Investment Banking. I spent over 20 years as a Relationship Director managing large publicly listed and privately owned clients within several different industry segments. In my final 10 years, I also led the Barclays industry focused approach to the banking requirements of recruitment sector clients of all sizes. Acting as an internal knowledge reference point and advocate for the sector within Barclays, I was the Bank’s face to market for the sector in the industry press and with selected trade and industry bodies. I personally managed the Bank’s lending and operational relationships with many of the largest listed and privately owned recruitment industry players.

Ruth is a People and Talent expert for over two decades and Chief People Officer, Ruth has built and rebuilt teams and cultures for companies like Shazam, Onfido and bp Launchpad. Having experienced the chaos of rapid growth first hand, she learnt how to build human centric, vibrant cultures that scale. She now works as an Advisor, Executive Coach and fractional CPO. She has also just launched Bloom, a leadership accelerator for women.

Heather is an experienced Leadership Coach, Non-Executive Director and Consultant, with expertise in People strategy and practice, talent retention, leadership, learning & development, employee relations and employment law. A qualified and experienced Executive Coach with 30 years of experience working with large and small recruitment and talent acquisition businesses across the UK, Europe and the USA. Her focus is on developing leaders to have the skills to promote business growth, improve productivity and attract, engage and retain fantastic teams. In her last corporate role Heather was part of the SMT leading international expansion, resulting in the organisation winning a Queens Award for International Growth. As part of the Jump Advisory Group team she develops, coaches and mentors CEO’s, MD’s and Associate Directors in both established and start-up businesses. https://jumpadvisory.com www.linkedin.com/in/heather-salway

Director – Brightwork Staffline I hold a leadership role within Brightwork where my core areas of responsibility are business growth, commercialisation, marketing, business development and corporate social responsibility. I have worked with Brightwork since 2008. I founded Scotland Against Modern Slavery with the Scottish Government and Police Scotland with the aim of raising awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery in the business community whilst supporting survivors into good work. To date we have helped 19 victims into work and have 59 businesses who have joined as members. We have 75 staff across Scotland where we work with most of the biggest brands in drinks industry as well as food and general manufacturing Brightwork opened in 2006 and grew to become the biggest name in the industry rapidly.

Gavin Sharpe is a former lawyer, entrepreneur, therapist, and executive and leadership coach. He is an Official Member of Forbes Coaching Council. He is the co-founder of the recruitment company SSQ. He spent eight years on the board the international recruitment company, Dartmouth Partners. Today, Gavin partners with organisations to assist them develop and implement executive coaching and leadership programs. He works with boards, team and senior individuals to facilitate others to maximise their performance. He combines his years of experience as an entrepreneur, recruiter and CEO together with his training and experience as an executive coach to offer others to achieve transformational change. He resides in Monaco. www.gavin-sharpe.com

I am a Director at Clearwater International within the M&A team, based in London, and focused on Business Services. Human Capital is a core part of our Business Services practice, and is one that I personally take responsibility for. Our people specialise in the sectors in which they operate giving a real depth of knowledge, which coupled with our global reach gives Clearwater a real point of difference.

Work psychologist (EuroPsy Specialist Certificate in Work & Organisation), certified coach (ICF ACC), one of the business leaders at Mercuri Urval, a global Executive Search and Leadership Advisory company.

linkedin.com/in/annukkatervo

Kent Thompson joined the recruitment industry after leaving the army in 1986, where he served as a tank mechanic in the REME. He started his recruitment life as a temporary HGV driver for a National PLC recruitment agency and soon after became a Temporary Consultant for that agency. He joined the Pertemps 'family' in 1991 and opened the first wholly owned Southern Branch in Reading, he led the expansion and growth of the Region to 15 Branches and in 1998 became the Southern Operations Director. In 2000, Kent became joint Managing Director for Pertemps Recruitment Partnership Limited. Kent, who still holds a current LGV licence, has a special interest in promoting the Branch Network, links with the MOD and the Driver Training Divisions of the Company and as such was instrumental in the creation of the Drivers Branding for Pertemps. Kent is also a Director of a number of PNG Companies.

Sue Weekes is a freelance journalist and has been a regular contributor to Recruiter for more than 15 years. She specialises in writing about recruitment technology and has covered the sector since the early days of the first job boards. She writes Recruiter's technology articles and also compiles and writes the 11 Most Influential In-house Resourcers' showcase, which is published annually.