pro.innovator

Judges Profiles

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Mike Ryan
Mike Ryan is a successful entrepreneur and digital futurist, Mike is no stranger to innovative thinking, he eats, lives and breathes technology and has helped many large organisations on their future IT Strategy. As secretary for Manchester Digital and a committeed futurologist he frequently speaks for the digital sector and is committed to seeing an unprecedented growth and success of Manchester as a leading place for technology led life. He has advised clients including BBC New Media, Royal Mail and the NHS on developing future technology strategies and is an experienced advisor and mentor to new companies and non executive director of several public sector organisations.



Clare Schofield
As Deputy Director with Special Responsibility for Learning and Curriculum at the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School’s Centre for Enterprise, Clare has been the University's Enterprise Champion since 2008 and is responsible for designing and delivering enterprise learning provision.Clare also manages a team to deliver a portfolio of leadership development programmes, including the successful LEAD programme.  She has a decade of experience of developing and growing businesses, their people and their leaders. 


Mark Blakemore
Mark is Managing Partner of Baker Tilly's Manchester office.  He is the current Chairman of Lord’s Taverners Committee North West Region, member of Member Manchester Managing Partner’s Forum, and member of St James’ Club Management Committee.  He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Academy of Experts. 

Julia Norman
Julia is a Talent Consultant and an experienced Chartered Occupational Psychologist having worked with leading organisations at senior levels in objective assessment and development. She has a particular interest in facilitating sustainable behavioural change with Senior Leaders through rigorous psychometric assessment and coaching.

Imran Hakim
Optometrist and serial entrepreneur Imran Hakim heads up a portfolio of businesses right across the supply chain.  within the optical sector this includes a chain of optical retail practices, an optical lens laboratory, spectacle frame distribution and retail shopfittings. This expanding portfolio of businesses includes a call centre, Ofshore software development and an investment business.
Imran came into the media eye in 2007 when he joined forces with Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis to create the multi award winning iTeddy and iTeddy.com. click here to read more

Andy Harrison
Andy has worked within elite sport since 1995, initially as a physiologist but since 2002 within management and leadership roles.  In both capacities he has worked with some of the country’s best athletes and sports programmes including Olympic, world, European and Commonwealth medallists.  Andy has also acted as a consultant to premiership and international professional athletes and teams (Football, cricket and rugby).  To date he has presented at 15+ international conferences and has published widely (peer reviewed journals, internationally recognised coaching magazines and book chapters).  His current Professional Doctorate research is looking at the management cycle linking strategy and operations within the elite athlete development environment.  Andy is currently the performance manager for the English Institute of Sport and will be a team manager at the London 2012 Olympics

Andy McLaren
Andrew is a partner within the Owner Managed Business Department and looks after all schools serviced from the Manchester Office. He is responsible for the provision of management services to private clients and has over 15 years experience in the education sector and has been with Beever and Struthers since 1993. He has also spent 9 years in the Merchant Navy training and qualifying as a decok officer and is responsible for the recruitment of graduate and A Level trainees and for ensuring staff complicance with CPD requirements at the firm.