Organising committee announced for 2017 BYPY

BPS Birmingham Future has unveiled the committee which will organise the 2017 Birmingham Young Professional of the Year – one of the most eagerly contested titles in the city.

Taking the helm is Mike Colledge, former Deputy Chair and Client Services Director at Leamington Spa-based marketing agency Denfield, closely supported by Sophie Taylor, Associate at law firm Squire Patton Boggs.

Bringing her experience in event management is Pia Pearson, Marketing Manager at Innovation Birmingham, who returns to the committee. Natalie Barnes, Banking & Finance Associate at Irwin Mitchell, also returns. Mike Bandar, founding partner of Turn Partners, brings his knowledge of acquisition, turnaround and creation of online businesses to support the team and develop the awards’ technology category.

Looking after finances is Sameera Amarasiri, Manager within Business Assurance at BDO, who returns for his second year on the committee. Laura Gallagher, a qualified Project Quantity Surveyor who has worked on landmark Birmingham developments including the Mailbox Redevelopment, also returns. A former finalist in the Property & Construction category, Ms Gallagher has first-hand experience of the BYPY process.

Supporting communications and digital for BYPY 2017 is a team of comms specialists; Eleanor Cuthbert-Edkins, Customer Service & Community Manager at Turn Partners returns for her second year, and is joined by Sara-Ann Mills-Bricknell, a Media and Communications graduate from BCU, and Matt Walker, Client Services Manager at Clive Reeves Public Relations, who joins the committee for his first year.

Scarlett Armstrong-Sly, Events & Marketing Assistant at BPS Birmingham, joins as the BPS representative.

Mr Colledge said: “I couldn’t be more excited and proud to be BYPY Chair 2017. This time around we want to not only celebrate the vast array of talent currently residing in the city, but to also pay homage to the previous successful candidates. BYPY winners have gone on to achieve amazing feats and I’m keen to showcase these throughout my year in tenure.

“As the biggest regional hub of business professional services in the UK it is important that we come together to celebrate the talent that is within our region.”

This year (2016) saw Abby Corfan, Director of Marketing & Digital at CBSO, awarded the BYPY title.

The awards, open to professionals aged 35 and under, span six categories: finance, HR, legal, marketing and communications, property and construction, and technology, with one winner talking the overall title.

The 17th Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (BYPY) Awards take place on Thursday May 18, 2017 at the ICC.

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