The Educate Awards judging panel revealed

Preparations for the Educate Awards 2016 are underway, with new judges already lined up and the return of some familiar faces to the judging panel.
The Educate Awards, moving in to its fifth year, is the one night of the year where the excellence of schools in Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire is celebrated and rewarded in a unique fashion.
Joining the panel this year is Henry Platten, founder of the multi award-winning eCadet Scheme. The eCadets saves kids’ lives by empowering pupils to keep their friends safe online. Henry has worked with online safety and school issues for more than 10 years, winning prestigious awards for ‘Making the Internet a Safer Place’. As a parent he is driven to ensure future generations have the skills to safely get the most from the digital world.
Another new judge joining the panel for 2016 is managing director of MerseySTEM, Michelle Dow. Starting her career as an apprentice gas service engineer, Michelle quickly moved up the ranks in to management and found her passion for establishing links between industry and education. MerseySTEM works across Merseyside, Cheshire and Warrington to bring exciting science, technology, engineering and mathematics projects to life.
The third new judge to join the team is Merseyside track athlete and architect James Tartt. As a fully-qualified architect working for Falconer Chester Hall, James balances his time competing alongside his full-time job. Aiming to qualify for this year’s Rio 2016 Olympics, James is hoping to fly the flag for Merseyside and become an Olympian.
Returning judges include Fiona Barnet, director of The Foundry Agency; Radio City presenter Leanne Campbell; Councillor Gary Millar, Liverpool’s cabinet member for business, enterprise and investment; Chris Walker, regional managing editor of Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales; Lesley Martin-Wright, chief executive of Knowsley Chamber; Andrew Pimbley of Claremont Farm and Wirral’s Farm Feast; Olympian and managing director of Raise The Bar, Steve Smith and the education team at the Everyman and Playhouse theatres.
Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Henry, Michelle and James to our growing panel of experts and education champions. They each bring something unique to our panel with their knowledge within the areas of technology, STEM and sport. We’re excited to have their input in to the all-important shortlist.”
“It’s also great to have some familiar faces back on the judging panel, with all their expertise, I’m certain the Educate Awards 2016 will continue to raise the bar and award the best projects and initiatives happening throughout the region.”
Nominations for the Educate Awards 2016 will be open shortly, to keep up to date follow @educateawards on Twitter or go to www.educateawards.co.uk