Judges

Derek Top is a Senior Analyst at Opus Research, specializing in the analysis of voice and conversational technologies. With a strong background in digital communications and market research, Derek has spent over a decade studying how voice interaction and AI influence consumer behavior and business strategies.

At Opus Research, he leads initiatives to assess market trends and technologies, offering deep insights into the evolving landscape of conversational commerce and intelligent assistants.

Derek's expertise makes him a key resource for businesses seeking to integrate advanced voice solutions into their operations. His work helps shape industry standards and guides companies towards innovative, effective communication strategies.

Dr. Natalie Petouhoff is a Business Development Executive at Next CoLabs, where she leverages her extensive expertise in digital transformation and customer experience to drive strategic growth and innovation. With a Ph.D. in Engineering, Natalie has over two decades of experience working with Fortune 500 companies, helping them integrate cutting-edge technologies to enhance customer engagement and operational efficiency.

A recognized thought leader, Dr. Natalie Petouhoff frequently speaks at industry conferences and contributes to publications on the future of business and technology.

Katie Stabler is an award-winning CX thought leader and founder of CULTIVATE, a leading customer experience consultancy. With a proven track record in designing strategies that drive loyalty and growth, Katie has co-authored the Amazon #1 bestseller Customer Experience 2 and was ranked among the Top 5 CX Thought Leaders in 2024.

As a sought-after keynote speaker, host of the UK and International CX Awards, and a seasoned strategist, Katie empowers businesses to deliver exceptional, customer-centric transformations. Her expertise spans regulated environments, contact center operations, and fostering high-performing teams.

Katie's passion for driving positive change and operational excellence makes her a valued judge for CX Leaders Awards, bringing unparalleled insight and expertise to the role.

As the Director of Customer Strategy at Veriteer, I lead a team of customer experience, strategy and design consultants who support purpose-led brands in becoming more customer-centric and driving incremental growth.

With over 15 years of experience in CX management and strategy, I design and deliver impactful, innovative solutions that drive customer loyalty, retention, and satisfaction across multiple channels and touchpoints.

Keith Kirkpatrick is the Research Director at The Futurum Group, where he leads research initiatives focused on emerging technologies, digital transformation, and market trends.

With a strong background in technology analysis and strategic insights, Keith has over 15 years of experience in guiding businesses through complex technological landscapes. At The Futurum Group, he oversees the development of in-depth research reports, providing actionable intelligence to help companies navigate the future of business.

Keith is known for his ability to distill complex data into clear, strategic recommendations, making him a trusted advisor for executives and industry leaders.

Lara Khouri is the founder of there is no spoon, a boutique cx, ex, and change leadership consultancy and training provider, on the values of “passion, positivity, and putting people first.”

She firmly believes that combining understanding people with understanding business processes leads to success.

In 2022, she and her business partner, Rajeev Daswani, developed The CEO MakerTM the world's first empathy-based, business-focused leadership accelerator that takes a coaching consulting approach to leadership development for enhanced ex, cx, and overall productivity.

Among other achievements and initiatives, Lara is one of the female factor’s “New Era of Leadership” global leaders and a founding member of Cultural Edgewalkers global culture-focused think tank, Playbook global female empowerment ecosystem, and Women in CXTM (WiCX) global cx community.

As the Arabia Chapter Lead for WiCX she champions the growth and empowerment of women in customer experience across the region by fostering a supportive community as well as providing mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources to advance their careers.

Samantha Conyers is well recognized as a Customer Experience leader in the Caribbean, being among the first in the region with the expertise. With a BA in Public Relations and Economics, as well as an MBA in Strategic Planning, she advocates for placing the customer at the core of organisational success. Serving as the inaugural Head of Customer Experience at Digicel (Trinidad & Tobago) Ltd., Samantha went on to create and co-found the successful CX consulting agency, exco. In December 2023, Samantha assumed the role of Chief Experience Officer at First Retail Group, strategically focused on optimizing and elevating the overall First Retail experience. Her mandate involves implementing streamlined processes and innovative enhancements, strategically positioning the company to capitalize on regional growth opportunities.

Debra Smith is the Director of Call Center Operations at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, where she leads a dedicated team in delivering exceptional customer service and support.

With over 15 years of experience in call center management, Debra specializes in optimizing operations, enhancing customer experience, and driving team performance. Her leadership has been instrumental in implementing innovative strategies that align with the Alliance's mission to save species worldwide.

Chris Crosby is the CEO of Ventures, bringing over two decades of leadership experience in the tech and real estate sectors. He has a proven track record of driving growth and innovation, particularly in data center and cloud infrastructure. Crosby's strategic vision has helped Ventures scale significantly, positioning the company as a leader in its industry. His background includes key roles at industry-leading firms, where he honed his expertise in operations, business development, and strategic partnerships. Crosby is recognized for his dynamic leadership and commitment to excellence.

Colin has over 30 years of senior-level experience leading people in contact centers and customer service.

As a consultant, he has a track record for building organization-wide relationships, solving performance challenges, and delivering excellent client outcomes.

In short, Colin's heritage in operational environments defines the quality and pragmatism of his client work today.

For nearly 25 years, Daniel has helped & inspired people all over the world through professional training in contact centers, customer service, and customer experience.

In that time, he has worked with clients including Allianz, AXA, DHL Express, Singapore Airlines, The Economist and may more global brands, engaging people and delivering business results backed up by thousands of wonderful testimonials and long term relationships.

Shantel is a Corporate Executive and Business & Personal Branding Mentor with nearly two decades of experience. She is passionate about empowering diverse professionals to build impactful personal brands and succeed in their careers. Drawing from her own journey from homelessness to executive leadership, Shantel offers a unique perspective on overcoming challenges and achieving success.

With an MBA and extensive experience as a keynote speaker and coach, she specializes in helping individuals turn ideas into reality, guiding them through every step of their professional journey. As a judge for CX Leaders Awards, Shantel brings a keen eye for recognizing and celebrating the achievements of diverse professionals.

Garry has spent nearly two decades in contact center environments, and - at FAB Solutions - he and his team recognize the hurdles contact center leaders face: high wait times, staff attrition, fragmented customer journeys, and the complexities of disparate systems and technologies.

In leading that team, Garry has gained immense experience in overcoming those barriers, smoothing out and digitizing customer journeys, and building top-notch CX cultures. As a result, he certainly knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a great CX leader.

Mike Aoki is the President of Reflective Keynotes Inc. (reflectivekeynotes.com), a Canadian training company that helps contact centers improve their sales and customer experience results.

Mike was chosen by ICMI.com as one of the "Top 25 Customer Experience Thought Leaders" for the past ten years in a row. He also co-authored the Amazon #1 bestselling leadership book, "Called to Action."

Finbarr Begley is Cavell’s Senior Analyst tasked with monitoring the CCaaS, and CX spaces. Finbarr has been at Cavell for over five years, and worked in the Telecoms industry for over 12 years in marketing and analyst roles. His role at Cavell also encompasses managing the Cavell podcast, managing enterprise quantitative research, and keeping track of AI trends.

Krishna P. Baidya is experienced CX analyst, specializing in contact centers, unified communications, and collaborations.

At Frost & Sullivan, he engages in industry analysis and provides strategic advice to management teams.

That advice includes everything from identifying new business opportunities to conceptualizing and implementing expansion plans for various business groups.