Judges

Head of the Bath School of Art at Bath Spa University

Dan is the head of the Bath School of Art at Bath Spa University, as well as being a practicing figurative ceramics, curator, writer and critic. Dan has worked at a number of higher education institutions with experience as an external examiner and also holds the post of external expert for Art and Design at the University of Wales.

As founding director of Fireworks Clay Studios in Cardiff, Dan has experience of running a successful artist co-operative and has represented the Arts Council and Crafts Council at a number of international conferences and symposiums. He has received successful grants from the Arts Council, Millennium Lottery, Wales Arts International and the Crafts Council UK. Dan has also established an international artist fellowship scheme in collaboration with a number of funding bodies and arts organisations.

Owner of Bath Literacy Agency and co-owner of Wonder

Gill is a dedicated children’s literary agent and owner of The Bath Literary Agency. She has over two decades of industry experience, working with a huge variety of publishers, big and small. Gill’s agency works with writers of poetry, picture books, young fiction, middle grade fiction, YA fiction and non-fiction. It also looks after authors/illustrators who write their own work as well as illustrating the work of other authors. Gill co-founded the Bath Festival of Children’s Literature in 2007, and has recently launched Wonder, a not-for-profit that offers a year-round series of inspiring children’s book events in Bath, Bristol and beyond.

Founder and creative director of Complete Control

Glynn is the founder and creative director of Complete Control, a leading digital production company in Bath that produces interactive content for some of the best-loved brands in children’s media. Glynn has been acknowledged twice by BAFTA for his interactive direction across entertainment and education, and has directed and produced creative digital interactive content for over 20 years.

CEO and co-founder of Network N

James is CEO and co-founder of Network N, a media business started in 2012. Network N operates in the video games market as an editorial publisher, advertising network, and creative agency – employing almost 70 people in Bath. Prior to that James was a journalist, editor and then publishing director at Future, where he worked for 18 years. James moved to Bath to work at Future in 1992 and never left!

Chief creative officer at Wild + Wolf, and founder of Petit Collage

Originally from Buenos Aires, Lorena has over 20 years experience in product development in the gift industry and is now the chief creative officer at Wild + Wolf. Lorena founded Petit Collage in San Francisco over a decade ago, starting with handmade wall décor and growing into a design-led kids brand found in the best retailers and museum stores, internationally. Petit Collage is now one of the Wild + Wolf family of brands. Lorena has also written and illustrated over 30 children’s books that have published into many different languages.

Head of marketing and brand at Aardman

Lucy joined Aardman in 2000 and her career over the last two decades has spanned the launch of the studio’s slate of feature films, series and shorts. IP development is central to Aardman’s business and as Head of Marketing & Brand, Lucy has been focused on driving engagement in and partnerships with enduring character brands such as Wallace & Gromit, pre-school show Timmy Time and Shaun the Sheep. Shaun is now Aardman’s biggest global brand with 170 episodes, 2 feature films and a thriving licensing programme including themed attractions and live events around the world.

Owner of Witty Event Management

Formerly a Thames TV and BBC Natural History Unit producer/director, Megan set up Witty Event Management in her hometown of Bath 12 years ago. She has created, produced and promoted a wide range of events ever since, including Lions of Windsor, Minerva’s Owls of Bath, Lions of Bath, Swans of Wells and King Bladud’s Pigs of Bath, raising nearly £500k for charities in Bath and other UK cities.