East Midlands Business Masters Awards: Meet the judges

With entries now closed for TheBusinessDesk.com’s East Midlands Business Masters Awards, our attention turns towards the judging session, to be held at the beginning of August.

Our judges have a tough job on their hands this year, with over 160 entries from across the region, to decide on the shortlist and winner in each category, who will be celebrated at a glittering ceremony on the evening of Thursday October 19 at the Crowne Plaza in Nottingham.

That job falls to the following people:

Natalie Gasson-McKinley
Having built an extensive career in corporate environments as a strategist and lobbyist, Natalie has been instrumental in driving positive change in local and regional economies. Her role as development manager at the Federation of Small Businesses, places her firmly in a position to champion small businesses. Natalie is chair of Obu Invest and a Trustee at Nottingham Playhouse. She was awarded an MBE in the New Years’ Honours 2023 List, for services to businesses in the East Midlands.

Adam Pye
Adam currently holds the position of managing director at John Pye & Sons – a Nottingham-based family-run national company of auctioneers and valuers established by his parents in 1968. He oversees the continued expansion of the company which has, since his appointment, opened 10 national auction facilities servicing clients all across the UK.

Jade Martin

Jade is the property manager at Rushton Hickman, the Burton-based property consultancy. She was crowned Non-Executive Leader of the Year at our 2023 East Midlands Leadership Awards, held in Nottingham in March. She has been with Rushton Hickman for three years.

Sam Scott
Sam is a director at Northampton-based Panther Logistics, the two-person delivery specialists. Panther Logistics walked away with a double win after triumphing in the Large Business and Fast Growth categories at 2022’s East Midlands Business Masters Awards.

Dr Sukhi Ghuman

Sukhi is a serial entrepreneur and the chairman and CEO of Octavian Group, the security and facilities services firm. He has owned and operated businesses in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and North/Central America. Octavian won the Community Impact award at last year’s East Midlands Business Masters Awards.

To book your tickets for the East Midlands Business Masters Awards, please click here.