2026 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS JUDGING PANEL

We’re pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards, including representatives from Walmart, Amazon, Warner Bros. Discovery, Holland & Barrett, JD Sports, PoundFun, Austen & Blake, C&C Group, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, East of England Co-op, Fabletics, CVS Health, and Ingka Group/Ikea.

We have brought together a broad spectrum of independent experts, who have experience and insight into different aspects of the retail technology industry.

Who will be judging the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards?

Christiana Hawes, Senior Director Retail Experiences Technology, Worldwide Studio Tours & Retail, Warner Bros. Discovery

Dan McGrath, JD Group Customer Operations, JD Sports

Prabhat Johl, Director of Data Science, Walmart

Meriel Neighbour, Senior Programme Director, Ingka Group/Ikea

Yatin Garg, Senior Manager, Product & Engineering, Amazon

Glen Richardson, Non-Executive Director, PoundFun, former COO at The Range and CMO at Fruugo

Steve Webster, Founder & Principal, Barking Cat Advisory

Melissa Moore, Host of The Retail Tea Break podcast

Graham Broomfield, Managing Director, Austen & Blake

Rob Smith, Technology Officer, East of England Co-op

Vineta Bajaj, Group CFO, Holland & Barrett

Jack Roberts, Senior Global Director of GMS Technology, Fabletics

Karthik Jambulingam, Senior Director of Enterprise Architecture, Batteries Plus

Nadine Neatrour, Chief Marketing Officer, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants

Mike Cadden, Chief Technology Officer, Marie Curie

Carole Kingsbury, Chief Technology Officer, C&C Group

Vivek Misra, Lead Director - Engineering, CVS Health

George Hayworth, Retail Director, Bringg and former Head of Q-Commerce Development, Co-op

Christine Russo, Industry Analyst and Retail Influencer

Matt Taylor, UKI Chief Delivery Officer, Kyndryl

Paula Bobbett, Chief Data and Digital Officer, BootsBen Miller, Founder and Director, Bryher Bay Ventures

Scott Thompson, Editor and Founder, Retail Technology Innovation Hub

Toby Pickard, Retail Futures Senior Partner, IGD

Key dates for 2026

Friday, 20th February: Awards open for entries

Friday, 2nd October: Awards entry deadline 

Tuesday, 6th October: 2026 finalists revealed

Wednesday, 7th October - 20th October: Judging days

Wednesday, 4th November: Winners announced at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC (Prince Consort Rooms) in Central London