Meet our panel of judges

Neil Lloyd, Lombard

Based in Birmingham, Neil has worked for Lombard for over 16 years. Over the last eight years, while honing his business development skills in the heart of the UK’s manufacturing sector, Neil has helped businesses in the West Midlands acquire over £300m worth the assets that have been necessary to help them grow and for them to be competitive in an ever-challenging economic environment.

Neil is passionate about the UK’s manufacturing industry and believes that it is the bedrock of the UK economy. But in order for manufacturers to be locally, regionally, nationally and internationally competitive, capital investment is critical – and this is a key message that he is taking to the market. Investing in the latest equipment has a big part to play in the UK’s economic recovery and Neil has helped hundreds of businesses benefit from using asset finance to fund their capital equipment.

In March 2012, Neil took on the role of Head of Sales Development at Lombard’s Business & Commercial division, the part of the business that focuses on UK SMEs. He spends most of his time and energy championing manufacturing not only externally with key trade organisations such as EEF, but also internally within the Royal Bank of Scotland Group.

In his spare time, Neil is a keen runner and enjoys serving up a few aces on the tennis court.

www.lombard.co.uk

David Wilson, The ERA Foundation

David Wilson has many years senior executive and board experience in Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. This experience includes roles as Senior Vice President Finance and Information with Mars Electronics International, European Chief Executive with ADT Security Systems plc, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Asia Pacific with BT Group plc, and Chief Financial Officer with Celtel International BV.

The ERA Foundation contributes to the economic vitality of the UK by supporting activities that will help bridge the gap between research and exploitation in the broad field of electrotechnology. The ERA Foundation's activities include:

• Supporting projects at the early stage of commercialisation
• Investing in start-up and young technology companies
• Raising the profile of engineering and supporting young people
• Promoting the importance of high-quality research and development

www.erafoundation.org

Robert Lea, The Times

Robert Lea is the Industrial Editor of The Times. He has been a business journalist for more than 20 years having spent the last 16 years in stints at The Times and the London Evening Standard.

He specialises in covering the industrial, manufacturing, automotive and transportation sectors as well as industrial and business policy.

www.thetimes.co.uk

Tristram Hunt MP

Since May 2010 Tristram Hunt has served as the Member of Parliament (Labour Party) for Stoke-on-Trent Central. He is a Member of the Select Committee on Political and Constitutional Reform, Member of the Joint Committee on Reform of the House of Lords and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Energy Intensive Industries. He is also co-Chair of the APPG on Rebalancing the British Economy and the APPG on Publishing.

Will Stirling, The Manufacturer / SayOne Media

Will Stirling is editorial director at SayOne Media, overseeing The Manufacturer and Lean Management Journal. He has worked as a journalist for IPC Media and Euromoney plc and has been published in several magazines and newspapers on subjects from capital markets to superyachts. He received a Periodical Publishers Association award for specialist writing in 2002.

The Manufacturer is one of the leading trade publications for the manufacturing industry in the UK and Ireland. Founded in 1998, the monthly title is organised by headline subjects relevant to all manufacturers; People & Skills, Lean, Energy, Finance, IT, Leadership and more. The title has a BPA-audited circulation of 10,000.

SayOne Media Ltd was founded in 2007 and is the publisher of The Manufacturer and Lean Management Journal magazines. It also runs several event brands including ERP Connect, LMJ Connect, the Lean Management Annual Conference and the flagship Manufacturer of the Year Awards and The Manufacturer’s Directors Conference. It has offices in Norwich, Manchester and London.

www.themanufacturer.com

Alastair McDavid, The Digital Asset Lab

Established reputation in '90's as PR photographer, managing his own photographic agency. Very early digital technology adopter. Pioneered digital imaging production for global Travel Trade in Australia, Asia, USA, the Caribbean, plus most of Europe. UK clients included Travel Trade Gazette, ABTA and World Travel Market. Lectures to The Chartered Institute of Public Relations, universities and corporate clients on digital imaging and DAM technology. Expertise gained as a digital photographer, digital picture editor & digital content supplier ensures unparalleled insight into DAM for the corporate and Public Relations sectors.

www.thedigitalassetlab.com

John McRae, Guild of Photographers

One of the top Business to Business photographers in the UK. His clients are many and varied, mostly blue chip household names. John was one of the early pioneers of digital photography switching from film to digital almost two decades ago. Endorsed by some of the industry’s leading manufacturers and importers he regularly tests and evaluate products before they go to market. The winner of a number of major awards and a respected authority within the photographic industry he is a much sought after lecturer whose easy relaxed style and encyclopedic knowledge of photography enable him to pass on his unique experience and skills to fellow photographers.

www.photoguild.co.uk