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.
Chris Langley, Absolute Creative Print
Working in business since 2008, Chris Langley manages the day-to-day running of Absolute Creative Print in Tonbridge and two other locations in Kent. With a great passion for business, his main expertise lies in dealing with all types of industries, giving him a great insight into our local business community. Chris is part of the Tonbridge Town Team and produces What’s On in Tonbridge, a comprehensive round up of local events with 10,000 copies printed three times a year.
Suzannah Niklas, Tonbridge Daily
Suzannah Niklas is well known in the Tonbridge community as the founder and face behind Tonbridge Daily, the Tonbridge Happy Video and the Tonbridge Charity Calendar. She grew up here and permanently settled in Tonbridge with her husband and two sons. Always championing our local area, Suzannah knows the town inside out and has seen many changes over the years. Studying art history to post graduate level, Suzannah has spent her working life in the creative arts, focusing on publishing, marketing and production. Her interest in art and history has led to her curating a number of exhibitions as well as giving talks to local community groups. Latterly Suzannah has worked with her husband in their Advertising and Marketing Agency. She appreciates the dedication and passion it takes to run a business.
Mat Parker, Tonbridge School
Mat Parker is Commercial and Operations Director of Tonbridge School. His role includes overseeing seven departments at the School, delivering high quality services for the boys and community, in addition to working on the School’s Masterplan and project implementation. After graduating in ‘Sport and Leisure’, Mat embarked on an 18-year association with the London Borough of Bromley, working as a Sports Development Officer, sports facilities Client Officer and then as a Group Manager with Leisure Trust, Bromley Mytime. His portfolio encompassed seven facilities, including leisure centres, golf courses and civic halls, with a turnover of £6m. In 2008 he joined Tonbridge School, to launch the new Tonbridge School Centre, creating a 2,500 strong leisure club, international training hub for London 2012 and achieving a leisure industry Flame Award in 2016. Mat was instrumental in putting Tonbridge School commercial services on the map, including creating the Recre8 children’s brand and Tonbridge Events.
Jeremy Whittaker, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council
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.
