Meet the judges
Our 2026 judging panel…
Our 2026 judging panel…
Alastair Ferrans
Head of International Podcasts / Spotify
Alastair Ferrans is Head of International Podcasts at Spotify, leading podcast strategy and operations across international markets. His podcast journey began as a presenter on student radio at the University of St Andrews. After working with WPP in London, New York, and Singapore, he joined Gimlet Media, later acquired by Spotify. Since then, he has worked closely with creators, producers, and teams around the world to help podcasts grow audiences, develop sustainable models, and tell stories that resonate locally and globally. Originally from Glasgow, Alastair is passionate about the role podcasts can play in championing new ideas, fostering connection, and creative ambition.
Dylan Kelly
Founder & CEO / Maven
A commercially driven marketing and communications leader with a strong track record across sport, financial services, hospitality, and professional services. As Founder and CEO of Maven, he delivers strategic growth, digital transformation, and membership engagement for national brands, governing bodies, and complex stakeholder organisations. Drawing on senior roles he consistently builds high-performing teams and campaigns that drive measurable revenue and brand impact.
Gary Muircroft
Podcast Director / Go Radio
Gary Muircroft is an award winning Scottish Radio and Podcast Director, Broadcaster and Creative writer with over 30 years’ experience in the industry. His career has seen him lead programming teams as Regional Managing Editor and Regional Programme Director at Global and Bauer in Scotland. Gary is currently leading the talented Go Studios team where he has worked with some of the biggest brands in the country to develop and deliver audio and video content solutions that attract, delight and connect with audiences around the world.
Gina McKie
Radio Presenter & Event Host / Go Radio
Gina McKie is a top radio presenter and live event host. Gina hosts her Go Afternoons show 2.00pm-5.00 pm weekdays on Glasgow’s Own radio station Go Radio. Gina has worked in radio for her entire career and has studied subjects along the way such as psychology, counselling, and hypnotherapy. She also studied counselling, NLP and is a fully qualified hypnotherapist and a Reiki Master.
John McBlain
Podcast Producer, Host, Lecturer / Jonsan Media and Ayrshire College
John McBlain is an award-winning producer, educator, and podcasting expert based in Ayrshire. As owner and showrunner of Jon-san Media a versatile digital media company – he specialises in podcast production, audio journalism, music composition, and innovative productions for creators, charities and educational institutions. A lecturer in Media, Film & Broadcasting, Music & Performing Arts, and deep expertise in digital storytelling and emerging technologies, John has produced several acclaimed series which gained national recognition and multiple awards. His work has been commended by BBC Radio Scotland, industry bodies and has been recognised by the Scottish Government via Scottish Parliamentary Motions.
Lindsey Gardiner
Author, Illustrator, Lecturer
Lindsey Gardiner is an author/illustrator of children’s books and freelance artist. With over 30 books published worldwide in many different languages, Lindsey works from her WASPS studio on other varying art commissions, often linking up with charities, public engagement projects, sculpture trails and children’s book events through the Scottish Book Trust live literature programme. Her love of dogs features regularly in her artwork, books and collaborations, which has led to working with various dog rescue charity initiatives (and having a constant studio companion). Alongside this, Lindsey is also a Part-Time lecturer at Duncan of Jordanstone college of art and design.
Lynsey Campbell
Client Director / Scoot
Lynsey Campbell is Client Director at Scoot – the digital marketing agency behind the brand and website for The Scottish Podcast Awards. With over 10 years in the digital marketing field, Lynsey’s connections with clients across Scotland have provided key insights into multiple industries and sectors. Off the clock, Lynsey’s experience is on stage. Her experience spans diverse genres and styles, from corporate performances and tribute acts to treading the boards in a myriad of roles in musical theatre.
Paul Mitchell
Sports Commentator & Broadcaster
One of Scotland’s most accomplished and versatile Sports Commentators covering over a dozen sports including Football, Bowls and Rugby Union at the highest level on both radio and television. Football credits include working on Domestic, European and International football in over 25 countries across many national TV and Radio platforms. Experienced podcaster including host of ‘Stramash’, running since 2018 it’s a weekly American football show that discusses all things NFL from a Scottish perspective. Selected by Nike to appear in their award winning 2014 World Cup advert as the commentator on ‘Winner Stays’ featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.
Scott Sutherland
Managing Director / Scoot
Scott is Managing Director at Scoot Digital, the agency powering The Scottish Podcast Awards’ brand and website. With over 12 years’ experience in the digital marketing industry, Scott has worked with businesses of all sizes, helping them achieve sustainable growth through strategy-led, data-driven decision-making. His hands-on background across design, development, analytics and marketing enables him to bridge the gap between creative ideas and measurable results. Outside of agency life, Scott enjoys all elements of sport, in particular football & golf and is kept on his toes with his young family.
Viv MacLaren
Portfolio Marketing Director & Chair of Scottish Women's Football
Vivienne is passionate about sport, in particular women’s and girls’ football and has a keen focus on expanding the opportunities available to women and girls to take part in or return to sport. She is an award-winning marketing and digital specialist with 30 years’ experience spent in Scotland and London both client and agency side. She is also former MD and founder of an award-winning digital marketing agency, ad tech advisory board member and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Kelly Crichton
Presenter & Producer / The Scotsman
Kelly Crichton is a documentary maker and award-winning Podcast Host and Producer working with The Scotsman and other publishing brands. She is the co-host and co-producer of the newly launched ‘Have you Frozen Your Eggs Yet?’ podcast and has previously worked with BBC Radio Scotland and RTÉ. Kelly produces full length documentaries with a social history focus for Irish national radio, Newstalk. She also shares her passion for alternative and new music presenting the Indie show on Edinburgh’s Edge 2 radio on Sunday nights from 5-9pm.
Juliette Nicholls
Founder and Director / Pineapple Audio Production
Juliette is the Founder and Director of Pineapple Audio Production, which specialises in the production of podcasts. Her expertise in podcast production has been instrumental in crafting over 1800 episodes for clients including Heart, Grazia, CNBC, Marie Claire, Aramco, The Telegraph, Metro.co.uk and the chart-topping ‘Love Island: The Morning After’ podcast for ITV. She is also the project lead for Audiotrain, the training and networking arm of Audio UK. Previously, as an award-winning, high-achieving audio producer, she created station sound, imaging and trails for the Heart network’s biggest national campaigns for a weekly audience of 9 million.
AWARDS AND HONOURS:
Dave Howard
Director - Bespoken Media / Founder - Scotland Audio Network
Dave founded both Bespoken Media and the Scotland Audio Network in January 2020 in Edinburgh. He is a former BBC Radio 1 politics reporter and North America correspondent, and has won multiple awards for audio and podcast production.
Tristan Boyle
Co-Founder / The Archaeology Podcast Network
Tristan Boyle is a digital public archaeologist and co-founder of Archaeology Podcast Network. He has been podcasting since 2008 and helped create the network to cultivate and develop the creative talents of fellow archaeologists and bring knowledge to the public. He has written for textbooks and journals about podcasting and archaeology as well as worked on media projects with National Trust for Archaeology Team as well as Open Past, recording interviews and sessions at international conferences.
John Brown
Head of Commercial at Fife Flyers / Founding Director of The Longest Forty Production Co.
John Brown is a commercial, marketing professional and hospitality professional, having worked in these industries for over 25 years. His varied work life also includes interests in psychiatry, and he has held various consultancy positions in health intermittently over the past 6 years.He co-founded The Longest Forty Production Co. in 2017, and the business has grown to be a sector leader in the U.K, producing audience with type events with major sporting personalities. Recently, he was invited to join the senior management team at Elite Ice Hockey League side Fife Flyers, where is responsible for all commercial, media and merchandise operations.
Robbie Armstrong
Journalist / Audio Producer / Co-Founder of The Glasgow Bell
Robbie is an audio producer and co-founder of the Glasgow Bell. He’s produced BBC Radio 4’s Archive on 4 and the Food Programme, 5 Live’s Gangster, BBC Radio 3’s The Essay, and was part of the production team on the BBC’s Hunting the Whisky Bandits. He’s also written for the Guardian, Sunday Times, Noble Rot and Vittles.
Flora Zajicek
Audio Producer / The Big Light
Flora Zajicek is an audio producer interested in how storytelling can prick your ears and spark new empathetic connections… who knows, it might be catching. She’s most excited by the extraordinary magic that’s dug out of ordinary life, and sound-rich audio that tells these stories in creative and unexpected ways. At The Big Light Flora is Head of Development and Senior Producer working across a range of programmes and genres. Flora has worked extensively with communities as a facilitator, teaching recording, editing and production skills, and empowering groups of people with the means and platform to tell their own stories in their own words.
Esme Kennedy
Executive Producer / 16 Miles Productions
Esmé has over 30 years’ experience in the broadcast media industry, working for BBC across radio, television and online. She successfully led BBC Radio Scotland’s arts and entertainment team for over a decade, including launching The Culture Scene podcast, before leaving in 2025 to pursue freelance opportunities. She currently freelances as a radio Content Editor and Producer and is producing a live stage show event at the SEC.
Maddie Rose Hill
Actor / Social Media Influencer / BBC Content Creator / TikTok Shop Live Streamer
Maddie Rose Hill is a Scottish Actress, Filmmaker, BBC Content Creator and Influencer from the Orkney Islands, with over 1 million followers across her platforms. She recently wrapped on a new BBC drama series, alongside writing, directing and starring in her own short film. Her ongoing work with BBC Scotland has extended into Kids & Family TV opportunities. As a result of her Social Media success, she has been interviewed across BBC radios, newspapers, magazines, featured on the Young Scot Podcast, as well as speaking at the Scottish International Women’s Day Festival. A two-time Scottish Influencer Awards nominee, Maddie is passionate about inspiring creatives from small Scottish communities to pursue careers in the arts.
Kate McCabe
Improviser and Comedy Creative
Kate McCabe has been working in comedy for over 25 years including in the fields of stand-up, improv, workshop facilitation, playwriting, voiceover, and immersive theatre. She currently co-directs the comedy improv troupe Murder Inc and is touring her farcical two-hander play Name of the Dame around the UK.
Alison Bruce
Co-Founder and Director / Colours Agency
Alison Bruce has over 28 years’ experience as a model, acting and talent management agent and is the founding partner of Glasgow based Colours Agency. An internationally respected mother agent, she is known for discovering and developing Scottish talent for international careers. Alison has worked with production companies across the US, Asia and Europe and has represented models, actors and creative talent including make-up artists and stylists across fashion, film, TV, editorial and commercial campaigns.
Ruth Robin
Founder / Roots for People
Ruth Robin is the founder of ROOTS for People – a values-driven approach to health, social care and housing that strengthens capability, ownership and lasting impact across organisations and communities. A former Head of Transformational Change for Drugs, Alcohol and Housing at Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Ruth has built a varied career around turning insight into meaningful action. She is recognised for creating spaces where diverse voices shape real change, bringing clarity, warmth and a systems-thinking lens to conversations that elevate Scotland’s creative and community-led talent.
Fiona White
Co-Founder & CEO / The Big Light
As co-founder and CEO of The Big Light, Scotland’s premium audio production company, Fiona heads up a small but mighty team of creatives producing award-winning content for broadcasters, streamers and commercial clients. With over 4 decades of media experience under her belt, she spent the first part of her career in television, film, event management and PR and now specialises in audio production where storytelling is at the heart of everything she does. She’s delighted to be on the judging panel for the inaugural Scottish Podcast Awards. When she’s not in the studio, Fiona sings in the rock and soul Connect Choir, is currently learning to play electric bass guitar and tries to see as much live music as possible, particularly at her favourite venue, the Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom.
Kelsey Bennett
Broadcaster & Audio Producer
Kelsey Bennett is an established Scottish voiceover artist and award-winning audio producer. She’s regularly heard on Channel 4 & Radio 4, introducing programmes and reading the news and the Shipping Forecast. Kelsey has produced multiple podcasts including the ARIA award winning, Life Sentence, Who Cares Wins with Lily Cole, Love Island: The Morning After, The Shipping Postcards and Doing it Right with Pandora Sykes.
David McIntosh Jr
Podcast Host & Founder / Origin Story
David McIntosh Jr. is the host of Origin Story, a podcast showcasing the people and experiences that shape who we become. He has hosted Jimmy Carr, Sir Tom Hunter and is known for calling HM The Queen. He is also a 5 x Award Winning Entrepreneur & Chartered Accountant who works across podcast strategy and production, helping individuals and organisations tell stories that resonate and hold attention. As a judge for the Scottish Podcast Awards, David looks for originality, a strong and authentic voice, and episodes that are well-structured – where the production elevates the story rather than distracting from it.
Michael Wilson-Park
Producer & Production Co-ordinator / The Big Light
Michael Wilson-Park is an award-winning producer, and production coordinator at The Big Light, Scotland’s leading independent podcast network. Known for a cinematic approach to audio, Michael is the creative mind behind Scottish History Out of Order, a series that explores the nation’s past through intimate, human-focused narratives. His production credits include Hunting The Whisky Bandits, Scottish Island Adventures, and The Many Lives of Duff House. Beyond the studio, Michael is Communications Manager for the Scottish Lowland League. With a sharp eye for storytelling and technical excellence, he joins the Scottish Podcast Awards judging panel to celebrate the very best in homegrown audio talent.
Gillian Shirreffs
Writer
Gillian Shirreffs has a Doctor of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from the University of Glasgow. Her “darkly funny, sharply observed” debut novel Brodie has raised over £30,000 for Beatson Cancer Charity. Her second book, Elephant, is an intimate exploration of illness told through messages, emails, photos, and interior thoughts. It captures the chaos, loneliness, absurdity and clarity that come when life tilts suddenly and irrevocably. In a previous life, Gillian was a Director of Human Resources, living and working on both sides of the Atlantic. In another previous life, she was an English teacher.
Claire Irvine
Founder / Bare Spirit Creative
Claire Irvine is the founder of ‘Bare Spirit Creative’ a new venture specialising in strategic marketing consultancy to help brands grow & deliver impact. Claire is a passionate, creative, commercial, marketing leader with significant experience in creating & scaling brands around the globe including iconic brands such as Starbucks, Lurpak as well as a portfolio of premium whisky and gin brands too. Strategy, positioning, brand building, campaigns, innovation, communications and asset creation are her expertise and her passion is delivering a meaningful, recognisable, consistent brand experience across all markets and all media touchpoints.
Stacy Campbell
Managing Director / McKee Campbell Morrison Solicitors
Stacy Campbell is the Managing Director and co‑founder of McKee Campbell Morrison Solicitors (MCM), the Glasgow‑based law firm she helped establish in 2021. Since launching MCM, Stacy has led the firm’s rapid growth across corporate, commercial and residential property, private client, dispute resolution, employment and insolvency services. A specialist in Commercial Property Law, Stacy advises clients across a wide range of sectors, with particular expertise in the leisure and hospitality industry. Stacy is also the co‑host of the FoundHer Place: Scaling Businesses podcast alongside Lynne Kennedy MBE, where they spotlight the journeys, challenges and growth strategies of entrepreneurial women. In March 2026, Stacy was named Solicitor of the Year at the inaugural Business Women Scotland Law Awards – an honour reflecting two decades of legal excellence and leadership.
Donna Muir
Work Winning Expert / Box Digital Proposals
Donna is a work-winning expert and business writer with over 20 years’ experience creating and evaluating high-stakes content for major organisations and multinationals across Scotland, the UK, and internationally. Her career spans sales, marketing, proposal management, copywriting, content strategy, and business transformation – always with a focus on what makes communication clear, compelling, and effective. From building winning tender submissions and improving business processes to providing independent expert reviews of business submissions, Donna knows what good looks like. She is thrilled to apply that critical and creative eye as a judge at the inaugural Scottish Podcast Awards.
Louise Mason
Presenter, Producer and Journalist
Louise Mason is a presenter, producer, and journalist with a love for conversation, music and big life topics. She produced the award-winning podcast ‘Changes’ with Annie Macmanus, has interviewed big names and presented music news on 6 Music and Radio Scotland and worked for BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra and Radio 2. She is now part of the powerhouse production team behind the hit podcast British Scandal with Alice Levine and Matt Forde. She is also the co-host and co-producer of the podcast ‘Have you Frozen Your Eggs Yet?’ and hosts her own chilled music show called ‘The Feels’ for EHFM.
Nigel Waters
Sports & Entertainment Commercial Specialist
Without realising it, Nigel’s fascination with the business of sport, began with a side hustle in the early 90s—an entrepreneurial venture within Rugby League that ultimately led to him selling the rights to Virgin before returning to learn how to do it properly. That foundation propelled him into senior leadership roles at two Premier League clubs before the global stage beckoned with the Commonwealth Games, the Olympics, Rugby World Cups and FIFA World Cups (amonghst others) all finding their way onto his CV. A career defined by constant travel is made infinitely more enjoyable by the companionship, insight and inspiration he finds in podcasts, which have become a steady source of connection and curiosity throughout his journey
Dan Holland
Director and Co-Founder / Adventurous Audio Ltd.
Director and Co-Founder of the Highland-based independent production company Adventurous Audio Ltd, Dan has been a passionate advocate for the power of audio content for over 25 years. He spent 20 years at the BBC coalface as an award-winning Senior Producer of a huge range of live and pre-recorded programmes and podcasts including the highland acclaimed Brainwaves science series. A factual and features specialist with a keen ear for attention to detail, in 5 years he’s turned Adventurous Audio Ltd into one of the most respected and sought after production, podcasting, and training companies in Scotland.
Kathi Kamleitner
Creator of Wild for Scotland Podcast
Kathi is an award-winning travel writer, podcaster and tour guide who turned her passion for travelling around Scotland into a business. Since 2021, she hosts the Wild for Scotland Podcast, an independent travel show full of immersive storytelling and soundscapes. Kathi holds a PhD in Film Studies from the University of Glasgow and has worked on various film festivals in Glasgow and Berlin, including co-producing her own feminist film festival, Femspectives. As a podcast junkie herself, she looks for strong storytelling and gripping flow – no matter the form or topic.
Heather Suttie
Publicist, Producer, Presenter
Heather has a 30-year track record across media, publishing, and live events. She creates campaigns that connect positive impact brands, talent, and audiences. In 2020, she founded Bookface, building a community of over 15,000 readers and hosting monthly sold-out events with some of the world’s most loved authors. Her work spans TV and documentary development, podcasts, and national radio. A vintage fashion lover and Say No To Plastic eco campaigner, she keeps sustainability front of mind. She loves a great podcast and always has earphones and a book in her bag — just in case.
Jamie Mackinlay
Podcast Host and Founder of Just Get A Real Job & Script Editor with the BBC.
Jamie Mackinlay is the host and founder of Just Get A Real Job, a podcast exploring careers in the creative industries. Through honest conversations with guests at all stages, the podcast aims to demystify the industry, offering insight, encouragement, and practical advice for those navigating creative careers. Alongside this, Jamie is a Script Editor in TV drama, with credits including Screw (C4) and River City (BBC). More recently Jamie has been doing some work with the BBC Scotland development team across a number of narrative podcasts. Jamie is currentlty working on the final ever series of River City.
Mauro Serra
Founder, Podcast & Multimedia Producer / Kenji Productions
Mauro Kenji Serra is an audio, music, and multimedia producer specialising in podcast production, sound design, visual storytelling. With 15 years in the industry, he has delivered thousands of projects worldwide, blending technical precision and creative direction. His work includes: music and spatial audio on VR documentaries for Meta, video production for Warner Bros. Discovery, post-production and sound design for Murder in America podcast, and video & podcast production for Juno Reactor (The Matrix trilogy). He has also worked as a sound designer for Aaron’s Animals, with his sound work featured in content surpassing 750 million views.
Julien Manuguerra-Patten
Journalist and Audio Producer / Novel
Julien is a journalist, presenter and audio producer with an international career spanning France, Canada and the UK. He worked as a reporter for France Télévisions and as a radio producer and presenter for CBC/Radio-Canada in Montréal and Toronto. Based in Scotland for the past 12 years, Julien has spent the last four at Novel, one of the UK’s leading podcast production companies, working on the hit No. 1 podcast The Girlfriends (Season 1) and producing BBC Radio 4’s Sideways with Matthew Syed. Originally French, he is passionate about storytelling that highlights lived experiences and fresh perspectives.
Mark Hunter
Co-Founder / The Podcast Studio Glasgow
Mark Hunter has been podcasting since 2005 and is widely recognised as Scotland’s first podcaster. He co-founded Podcast Studio Glasgow in 2021, one of Scotland’s leading professional multi-camera video podcast studios, working with clients including Scottish Water, NHS Education Scotland, and the Scottish Drug Forum. He was also executive editor of the world’s first podcast magazine. With over two decades of hands-on experience in podcast production, audience strategy, and content creation, Mark brings a practitioner’s eye to judging what makes audio genuinely worth listening to.
Katharine Kerr
Managing Director / Podcast Pioneers
Passionate about creating impact-driven, high-quality storytelling across audio, video and written formats. I champion original thinking, innovative use of sound and visuals, and the amplification of diverse ideas. I celebrate work that informs, challenges, and connects audiences to ideas, research, culture, and place meaningfully.
Gully Singh
Content Creator & BBC Sports Reporter
Gully works on-air delivering sports desks on BBC Radio Scotland and also is a match-day reporter. He was also nominated at the TikTok Awards in the Rising Star category ⭐
Tracey Kelly
Creative Industries Consultant and Director/Owner, Vis-a-Vis Agency
For 25 years, Tracey has worked supporting individuals, companies and national initiatives to grow to expand income and participation. These include launching major capital and development destination projects across Scotland, in senior development roles. She has worked for the last eighteen years as consultant to the creative, tourism, cultural and hospitality sectors and is passionate about supporting SME entrepreneurs and business owners’ growth and change. A huge podcast enthusiast, she is an advocate of Scotland’s creative output and delighted to engage with the wide range of national podcast talent and discussions that have emerged.
Stephen McGowan
Football Writer, Broadcaster / The Herald & Nutmeg Magazine
Stephen McGowan is a former sports columnist of the year and a two-time winner of the sports news writer award at the Scottish Press Awards. He writes for the Herald and Nutmeg as well as broadcasting and podcasting.
