As the final deadline to enter the Prolific North Creative Awards edges closer, we can reveal a number of the industry experts already on board to judge the entries for 2025.
The Creative Awards, first launched in 2023 with the backing of creative experts, is back to showcase more of the region’s brightest and boldest creative individuals, teams and organisations across the North of England and Scotland.
Entries are officially open – and you have until 20 April to get your entries in. But who will be looking over your entries this year? From brand-side marketers to experts with decades of experience, find out more about some of this year’s judges below.
Cerys Griffiths, head of content production, BBC Education
Cerys is a former TV and newspaper journalist and has been an editor of news programmes for both the BBC and ITV. She is currently head of content production at BBC Education, the department which aims to transform lives through education by delivering annual campaigns aimed at addressing a cultural, societal or educational need, and Bitesize – the BBC’s formal education resource for children and young people.
Charlie Sadler, head of commercial and marketing at The Gate Films
Sadler has worked in the advertising industry for over 10 years, having started at The Gate’s post-production facility before going agency side. She returned to The Gate Films three years ago, where she is now head of commercial and marketing.
She has been both a producer at Hanger Seven working on photography and film shoots for brands like John Lewis and Tesco, and also an account manager at creative agencies working on integrated campaigns for Silent Night and Sharps.
Vineet Raheja, head of creative at ITV
As head of creative at ITV, Raheja leads two creative teams (creative development and creative production) to develop ambitious ideas that help brands tap into popular culture and live at the intersection of advertising and entertainment.
Prior to joining ITV, he was an adman with over 20 years’ UK and international experience working not only for large network agencies, such as McCann, but also for creative independents such as HHCL. His work has been recognised at both national and international award shows including Cannes, New York Festival and Caples.
Justin Clark, founder at SocialNorth
Justin Clark is one of the UK’s leading social media experts with more than 15 years experience in the UK and overseas. A proud Northerner, he’s also the founder of SocialNorth, a networking and speaker event bringing together the digital communities of the North.
Clark also holds multiple positions outside his own businesses, including as social director at Mangold Consultancy and member of the advisory board at fast-growing Manchester-based social media start-up, Chatloop.
Nick Hussey, managing director, Embryo
Nick has decades of experience working for some of the UK’s biggest agencies on accounts with many well-known brands including Aldi, Reebok, and Orange Mobile. His career began working for a special effects and model-making company, which led him to gain hands-on experience in the worlds of TV and film.
Throughout his career, he has had roles at agencies such as Mother, McCann, and Jaywing. These roles developed Nick’s reputation for being highly experienced in producing multi-channel campaigns in advertising and content for social platforms.
Taylor Orford, creative, Ogilvy UK
Taylor is a creative at Ogilvy UK, concepting and creating earned campaigns for their PR accounts such as Coca-Cola, TUI and LEGO. Learning her craft in the North, Taylor graduated from Leeds Arts University’s Creative Advertising program. Her efforts since graduating have earned her a spot on PRWeek UK’s 30 Under 30 Newcomers list for 2024.
Phil Cookson, co-founder, School of Thought
Phil is Co-Founder of School of Thought, the creative course and competition that has been running in Manchester and Leeds since 2016, working with the best Northern Agencies to develop the idea generation, creative thinking under pressure and pitching skills of 166 participants and sending 14 winners to Cannes Lions. Phil is also Director at Creative Resource and has been helping agencies and brands to find and retain talent for 20 years.
Find out about the rest of the judges here.
Once all entries for 2025 have been received, our panel independent, industry-leading experts will compile the shortlist, and ultimately, decide the winners. Make sure you enter before the final deadline on 20 April here!
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