2023 International Judging Panel

JON ARNOLD is Principal of J Arnold & Associates, an independent analyst providing thought leadership and go-to-market counsel with a focus on the business-level impact of digital transformation in the workplace. Core areas of expertise include unified communications, cloud communications, collaboration, Artificial Intelligence, speech technologies, Internet of Things, future of work, contact centers, customer experience, video, VoIP, and social media. He has been consulting in many of these areas since 2001, and his independent practice was founded in 2005. JAA is based in Toronto, Ontario, and serves clients across North America as well as in Europe. Jon's thought leadership can be followed on his widely-read JAA's Analyst Blog, his monthly Communications and Collaboration Review, and ongoing commentary on Twitter and LinkedIn. His thought leadership is also regularly published across the communications industry, including BCStrategies, Ziff Davis B2B/Toolbox.com, No Jitter, TechTarget and Internet Telephony Magazine.

SHARON BENNETT is an IT blogger for Small Business IT, one of Biz-Tech's Top 50 Must Read IT Blogs and is currently writing her second book on IT for parents to help keep their kids safe online. She is also an IT staff instructor at LinkedIn, creating instructional content focusing on Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Azure. Previously, Sharon worked at Microsoft helping Microsoft Partners, by providing technical and business development advice to help them build their cloud offerings. Sharon is a certified Microsoft Cloud Solutions Architect, a Microsoft Certified Trainer, and holds several other Microsoft certifications. Before joining Microsoft, Sharon had her own company providing a variety of IT services. Sharon brings 20+ years of technical experience and her own entrepreneurial lessons to her role. Her passion is encouraging young women to consider careers in STEAM, specifically technology.

ROB URBAN, a previous Best in Business winner, has been a journalist for more than 30 years, the last 24 at Bloomberg News, where he is managing editor for market structure and financial regulation. He started at Bloomberg in Prague, establishing coverage across Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, then moving in 1998 to Moscow. In New York, where he moved in early 2001, Rob oversaw Wall Street reporting and coverage of U.S. defense and industrial companies before establishing global real estate coverage teams in 2006. He moved to market structure and financial regulation in 2015, overseeing teams in Asia, Europe and the Americas.

JAIME RODRÍGUEZ-GUERRA is a Spanish biotechnologist specializing in computational chemistry who also happens to contribute regularly to Computer Hoy, the Spanish sibling of Europe's top selling computer magazine Computer Bild, and Personal Computer & Internet, both edited by Axel Springer. An early interest in bioscience and technology makes him a rare specimen who can enjoy artificial enzyme modelling while writing about the latest trends in web design, the psychological consequences of social media or easy-to-understand step-by-step tutorials. Jaime can be followed at @jaime_rgp.

MATHEW SCHWARTZ is an award-winning journalist with two decades of experience in magazines, newspapers and online media. He has covered the information security and privacy sector throughout his career, as well as working as a photojournalist and travel writer. Before joining Information Security Media Group in 2014, where he now serves as the Executive Editor for Data Breach Today and for its European news coverage, Schwartz was the information security beat reporter for InformationWeek and a frequent contributor to DarkReading, amongst other publications. He lives in Scotland. Find him on Twitter at @euroinfosec.

Former Managing Editor of Grrlgamer.com, DIANA “DIDI” CARDOSO became the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Gamer's Intuition (gamersintuition.com), a review-oriented videogame website ran by an all-female crew. She has been writing videogame reviews and game guides for almost 20 years, has participated in several gaming-related events and single-handedly covered E3 eight years in a row. Since becoming ill with idiopathic intracranial hypertension, a rare and debilitating neurological condition, she has taken more of a backseat to the site's functions and has spent the past two years re-designing, re-organizing and moving content to a new WordPress format, which is soon to be launched.

ZVI WROBEL is the senior editor, with more than 10 years of experience, at HTIsrael group, the home for the largest technical consumer electronics centered community in Israel. HTIsrael group consists of the following websites: Hometheater, the largest online Audio & Video magazine in Israel; HTmobile, the fastest growing website about mobile technology; Userit, technology-related magazine written by women for women; HTcafé, the most professional magazine in Israel about coffee, espresso, milk; HThome, the Smart-Home and Connected Home magazine; HTphoto, the photography magazine; HTTV, the Next-Generation TV magazine and HTmag, a men's magazine about technology and leisure. Besides, Zvi is the CEO of the i-Apps College, a Mobile Applications Design and Development College. Zvi graduated with a degree in Computers and Control from Tel-Aviv University.

MICHAEL L. BERMAN has more than 40 years' experience writing and editing for The Hartford Courant, The Norwich (CT) Bulletin, The Journal of Commerce and The Middletown (CT) Press. Mike's Techtalk column was syndicated by the Scripps Howard News Service from 1995 to 2000 and appeared as a computer and technology blog on www.shns.com until Nov. 19, 2013. The blog has since moved to The Huffington Post and can now been seen New Theory Magazine. You can also visit Mike's consumer technology website at www.jocgeek.com.

GEORGE GEORGALLIDES regularly contributes to business publications, covers entrepreneurship through his personal blog and business growth through his agency blog on venture investing and entrepreneurial insights. He is currently the managing partner at marketing technology group XO (www.xo.agency) a full service digital marketing agency and a marketing technology development company. In the past, he was a managing partner at Curious Ventures, an early stage new media fund. In addition to his role as an institutional investor, George has been involved with start-up communities in the U.S., Latin America and Europe either as an advisor, mentor or angel investor and has founded/co-founded companies in the international trade, medical device and media space.

GAVIN PHILLIPS is a freelance journalist, primarily contributing to technology-simplification website, MakeUseOf. Gavin currently covers Microsoft, Windows, and all things cyber-security, but in a nine-year writing career has covered topics as diverse as electronic hardware production, the global e-waste epidemic, pharmaceuticals, and burgeoning real estate markets. Currently living in Cornwall, UK, he holds a B.A. Contemporary Writing from Falmouth University, and you can follow his work and ramblings @GavinSpavin.

DOMINIQUE L. ZIESEMER has worked in television for nearly 20 years. For six years, he has been the presenter of a TV advice magazine about consumer technology products, including mobile phones as well as security systems, in the most widely broadcasted German TV channel ARD. Today, he continues to produce TV shows and develop new formats. In 2009 he was a member of the jury of the famous Rose D'Or Festival. He also represented various large organizations like the Frauenhofer Institut at fairs. He graduated from Mainz University with a research thesis about people's “zapping” behavior.

MANJULA RAMAKRISHNAN is former editor of the magazines Business Quality Review and Dubai Rotary in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In her career spanning 25 years, Manjula has written well over 3000 articles on a variety of subjects. She currently contributes articles on fashion, lifestyle, art, healthcare, education, besides writing on local events for Panorama Magazine, Sharjah. She currently heads the NGO SmartLife (smartlifefoundation.org) as its President, an entity that empowers the lives of blue collar workers in Dubai.

HIMANSHU GUPTA is the founder and chief editor of http://www.techhim.com in India. He is obsessed with technology and gadgets so much that he loves to sleep and wake up with them. He covers news and reviews of the latest gadgets and gizmos around the globe. Himanshu currently works as a Data Strategy Consultant in a reputed MNC. Himanshu is an MBA in Strategy and Marketing.

JIM BRAY publishes TechnoFile.com, one of the first online publications, founded in 1995. He is also a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada and for several years was Western Editor for Transportation Media, publishers of Truck News and Truck West. A licensed private pilot, Jim's varied background includes broadcaster, journalist, restaurateur, bus driver, technology retailer, video store pioneer, and syndicated columnist; he has appeared regularly on CBC Radio One and various private broadcasters, including Live 88.5 FM in Ottawa, Ontario, for whom he did a regular car column. Jim worked for many years in radio news, both with CHQR Newstalk 770 in Calgary, Alberta, and KBS in Trail, British Columbia. Jim also taught writing and editing courses at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and his novel, “Ransom for the Stars: the Last Supra,” was published in 2005.

CAT ELLIS is the downloads and developing technology editor at www.techradar.com – an international technology media outlet reaching over 30m enthusiasts every month. She is also a regular contributor to Windows: Help & Advice and Maximum PC, where she specializes in consumer software and online security. During her career as a technology journalist Catherine has worked on a wide range of consumer titles including PC Plus, PC Format and Official Windows Magazine, and she has edited one-off publications on coding and ecommerce. She tweets @whenevergreen.

JOE PETTIT is the managing editor at Tripwire. Joe graduated with a degree in Business and Marketing in 2009 and then went on to create and develop the popular IT Security blog, Information Security Buzz. From that venture, Joe moved to Tripwire where he has continued to aid the development of their award-winning blog, The State of Security. Joe specializes in SEO, Social Media, Lead Generation and implementing new strategies to help develop Tripwire's online presence. You can follow Joe on Twitter here.

MADHU BARBHAYA is resident editor of Vyapar, a business bi-weekly, simultaneously published from Mumbai and Rajkot since 2005. During his 45-year-long carrier in journalism, Barbhaya worked at Phulchhab, a leading daily newspaper published from Rajkot, currently in its 92nd year of publication and started with blessing of Mahatma Gandhi, in various capacities from sub-editor to assistant editor for 21 years, as well as a resident editor of Gujarat Samachar and Sandesh, both leading daily newspapers from Gujarat state. Barbhaya previously worked as executive editor of Phulchhab, daily newspaper, Surat edition; Surat bureau chief of Business Standard, a leading business daily; and Surat correspondent of United News of India (UNI) news service. He has also represented Asian Ceramic magazine (UK). He was honored with two awards for services and excellence in journalism by leading journalists associations of Gujarat. He completed his science degree from Bombay University in 1967.

ISDIYANTO ISDI has for the past 10 years been the founder and editor in chief of Entrepreneur and Finance magazine in Jakarta, a monthly magazine that has spurred new entrepreneurship in Indonesia. In 2006, he built the ISMBEA forum (Indonesia Small Medium Entrepreneur Award) as a gathering of entrepreneurs from micro, small and medium businesses to inspire and encourage each other. In 2010, he founded www.wirausahanews.com as an additional online forum and publication for Indonesian entrepreneurs. In 2009-2011, he was a member of the jury for Entrepreneurial Self, a competition organized by a major Indonesian bank. He is also an entrepreneurship speaker and is actively involved in community and business associations supporting micro, small and medium enterprises in Indonesia.

MARCOS A.T. SILVA manages XboxPlus, a popular gaming website, where he oversees editorial coverage about games, as well as the gaming industry and technology, always with a critical eye to the market. Marcos has more than 15 years of experience in the industry and prior to Xbox Plus, he worked at his own IT technology company. Marcos started his career at Multiplic, an established Brazilian financial group.