Our Judges
Our Judges
Entries to the Tonbridge Business Awards are judged by a panel of Tonbridge business leaders and experts. Our rigorous judging process includes pre-scoring to determine a shortlist and a meeting where entries are discussed in detail to decide our winners and runners up.
Dawn Blee, Chamber of Commerce
Dawn Blee joined as CEO of Sevenoaks District Chamber of Commerce in 2021, which has since expanded to include the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells business communities in 2023. Dawn brings experience of working with an international hotel company as a director in Human Resources; has taken time out for a baby break; working as an associate in a small-medium sized organisation; managing the back office support for her husband’s company; developing her own company as a sole trader and most recently working with Sevenoaks District Council.
Eileen Leahy, Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine
Eileen Leahy is an experienced journalist who has worked in the media industry, on both national and local platforms, for two decades. Eileen is Editor of Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine, a business-focused publication which carries in-depth features, insightful interviews and news and reviews for the commercial sector in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge. She has spent many years through her roles as Editor of SO Magazine, Times of Tunbridge Wells and now Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine in supporting and championing local businesses and businesspeople.
Joseph Oates, Cooper Burnett
Joseph Oates joined law firm CooperBurnett LLP in 1999. He has been managing the firm since 2002 and today co-leads CooperBurnett alongside Victoria Sampson. Joseph is Head of the firm’s Contentious department. He has a thorough understanding of insolvency law and practice; and has been a licensed insolvency practitioner since 2012. As a trained mediator, he adopts a commercial and straightforward approach to resolving disputes. He also advises on all aspects of contentious employment law, including settlement agreements. Joseph is on the board of Royal Tunbridge Wells Together Business Improvement District (BID) - which uses funds to deliver projects and activities designed to provide a collaborative, more powerful voice to support the Tunbridge Wells business community and improve the trading environment of Tunbridge Wells.
Jeremy Whittaker, TMBC
Jeremy Whittaker has been the Economic Regeneration Manager at Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council since 2019, having worked at the Council since 2015. Jeremy is responsible for delivering a range of programmes aimed at supporting local businesses, as well as overseeing corporate performance management. Before working at Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, Jeremy worked in a number of roles in both Town Planning and Regeneration across Kent.
WILL MAY, Tonbridge School
Will joined Tonbridge School as the Chief Operating Officer last summer. He is an experienced senior executive with commercial, operations and project management expertise gained from working for the UK government as Commercial Director at the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury and across various industries in the private sector globally.
Jess Gibson, The TN Card
With a background in marketing and events, Jess launched the TN card in 2020 as a practical way of encouraging our community to shop locally. The TN card now works with 1000 local businesses from retail and hospitality to health, leisure and professional services and promotes High Street independents through social media, photography, press, podcasts, events and more. The TN card is a certified Social Enterprise, putting social purpose before profit. Memberships are digital via the TN card's iOS and Android app, and the TN card is being adopted as a staff benefit by local employers keen to give back. The TN card has donated £35,000 to West Kent Mind. Jess is a podcast presenter and a writer for two local publications. Accolades include Entrepreneur of the Year (KWIBA 2022), Start Up Business of the Year (Times of TW Business Awards 2022), Best New Business and Best Micro Enterprise (Sevenoaks Business Awards 2023). She organises the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Business Awards.
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