The 2023 judging panel for the Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards has been announced, with Anita Nadkarni, Technology Transformation Strategist for the Private Sector at PwC, once again heading up the team.
Anita is a champion of helping businesses achieve their objectives through the implementation of strategies, which are underpinned by technology. Her high level of business experience has seen her build strong relationships across the region, not only with businesses, but with the education and charitable sectors and professional bodies.
Celebrating Diversity is the theme of this year’s MKBAAs, which will recognise and celebrate differences throughout the business and wider local community. Accompanying Anita on the panel will be commercial director and management consultant Jason Sinclair; Jo Lewington, Chief Environment & Sustainability Officer at Network Rail; Managing Director of SJD Associates Ruth Devine; Ranjit Singh, Director at MK Community Foundation; Viren Patel from the Open University; Deputy Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Francesca Skelton; Brioche Pasquier UK Managing and Industrial Director Ryan Peters; and Sophie Lloyd from Milton Keynes City Council.
Jason Sinclair, who is currently Chief Operating Officer at Profile Resourcing, has a focus on executive diversity and inclusion strategy development in recruitment best practices and delivers modules for Cranfield University’s Executive Management Programme. He is a vocal supporter of diversity and inclusion and other initiatives designed to give every individual the chance of success. Jo Lewington is passionate about the positive environmental impact that the rail industry can bring to the communities it serves and the wider economy and is an advocate of embedding sustainability throughout the organisation.
After SJD took the MKBAA Small Business Award in 2019, Ruth Devine knows the impact the awards can have. She is an advocate of technical education, especially apprenticeships and strongly supports improving the culture and diversity of the construction industry.
Ranjit Singh is Philanthropy Director and MK Community Foundation and is committed to engaging corporates and individuals to invest in their local community. He is co-founder of the Milton Keynes Ethnic Business Community, a network connecting, raising the profiles of and empowering ethnic minority businesses owners and professionals.
Francesca Skelton has a background in media advertising, turning her focus to the community of Milton Keynes as a trustee of the Milton Keynes Community Foundation, and is one of Milton Keynes College’s Ambassadors.
Nick Mann, Chair of MKBAA organisers Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership, added:
“Businesses have an important role to play in bringing diversity and inclusion into the mainstream – it needs to be talked about at the highest level. Diversity has been rising up the agenda for many years but now organisations of all sizes need to be encouraged to recognise the benefits that a strong diversity and inclusion strategy can have on their business. The awards in 2023 aim to champion our growing diverse population in Milton Keynes and how it can be harnessed.”
To find out more about the Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards, visit www.mkbaa.co.uk and follow @MK_BAA on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and join the discussion on LinkedIn
