World Class Judges
Katie Philo
Head of Social at GQ Magazine – New York
Katie is the Associate Director of Social at GQ in New York, overseeing strategy and brand presence across platforms. With 12 years of experience in digital and social media, she has a deep understanding of the global digital and social landscape.
At GQ, Katie has led successful social media campaigns for cover stars like Cillian Murphy, Ryan Gosling, and Timothée Chalamet, as well as high-profile events like the Men of the Year party and the Met Gala. Prior to GQ, she managed social media at Pitchfork and led campaigns for their end of year lists, music festival, and more.
Originally from the UK, Katie moved to New York in 2018 to work on social media marketing for BritBox (a streaming service created by BBC Studios and ITV), where she nurtured organic growth and oversaw the production of viral video campaigns. Before that, she worked at the BBC in London on brand and social marketing campaigns for many flagship BBC shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, The Apprentice and Peaky Blinders.
Sophie Ellis
Large Agency Partner at Meta
Sophie Ellis has built a successful career over more than seven years, working in agencies across London, Sydney, and Dublin, managing high-profile accounts including PepsiCo, Ladbrokes, and Hewlett-Packard. Her achievements in these roles have been recognised with prestigious awards such as a Silver Spike Award, an APAC Light Award, and a Silver Festival of Media APAC award.
In 2019, Sophie joined Meta as a Partner Manager based in Dublin. She later transitioned to the role of Agency Partner in London, managing top-to-bottom relationships and partnership plans for some of the largest full-service independent agencies in the UK. Her passion for coaching and mentoring has been a key focus throughout her career.
Outside of work, Sophie enjoys spending quality time with her husband, son, and dog, exploring the outdoors.
Lachlan Stewart
Global Social Media at Canva
Lachlan is an award-winning Senior Social Strategist and Creative, currently leading Global Social Media at Canva, based in the UK. With over a decade of experience in global advertising and marketing, Lachlan has a proven track record of crafting impactful moments that drive results.
His expertise spans campaign management, partnerships, and experiential marketing, bringing a unique perspective to every project. Lachlan’s ability to think outside the box and lead cross-functional teams has resulted in successful campaigns across a variety of industries, demonstrating his versatility and innovation.
At Canva, Lachlan leverages his extensive background to create and implement strategies that enhance brand presence and foster meaningful connections with audiences worldwide. His passion for social media and marketing is evident in his work, where he continuously seeks new ways to help brands achieve their business goals.
Sophie Miller
Pretty Little Marketer
Sophie Miller is the founder and director of global marketing community, Pretty Little Marketer and strategy and content consultant, working with some of the UK’s biggest brands.
Sophie’s educated teams overseen strategy planning and executed organic growth tactics for global corporates like ASOS, L’Oreal and Unilever and community-led brands like Lounge Underwear, Toco Swim and Klowt – whilst growing her own community, Pretty Little Marketer, to a following of 400,000 across platforms in 3 and a half years.
Trusted by brand partners like Virgin Startup, YouTube, Semrush, Hootsuite and more – Pretty Little Marketer has flourished from Sophie’s university blog, to one of the internet’s leading marketing communities.
NIMAH KUZBARI WHITE
Head of Brand at 4TH ARQ – Ireland
Nimah is the innovative Head of Brand at 4TH ARQ, the fastest-growing fashion lifestyle brand in Ireland, where she is responsible for shaping and driving the strategic vision and identity of the brand.
With over a decade of experience spanning the beauty, fashion, and lifestyle sectors, Nimah has established a reputation for delivering some of the most disruptive marketing and communications campaigns in the industry.
Throughout her career, Nimah has led the marketing & public relations for some of the most trusted household names, including Boots and Very. At Boots, she played a pivotal role in transforming the beauty landscape both online and in-store, successfully launching renowned global beauty brands such as Fenty, HUDA, and MAC.
During her agency days, Nimah also led the PR and communications for prominent brands such as Nivea and Bioderma, showcasing her ability to manage and grow global brand presence.
Her passion and expertise for scaling startups are reflected in her most recent roles: her current position at 4TH ARQ and her prior role as Head of Brand with leading beauty brand Sculpted by Aimee. Nimah’s strategic vision and creative prowess continue to set new standards in the industry.
Beth Thomas
Director of Social Media Operations Frankly
Beth is a seasoned Social Media Pro, with over a decade of experience building operations and teams for top brands like TikTok and Deliveroo. Currently, Beth is the Director of Social Media Operations at Frankly.
In addition to her professional role, Beth is also a dedicated creator. Her passion project, 2 Girls 1 Pup, has successfully built a vibrant community of over 45,000 women worldwide, showcasing her ability to foster connections and inspire audiences through authentic content. Beth’s expertise extends beyond corporate environments as she combines her professional acumen with personal creativity to make a significant impact in the social media space.
Beth’s journey in social media began with grassroots campaigns, gradually advancing to lead roles in high-stakes environments. Her tenure at TikTok and Deliveroo involved not only strategising but also executing large-scale campaigns that reached millions. She has a keen eye for emerging trends and an exceptional ability to adapt to the ever-changing dynamics of digital platforms.
The Judging Process
The judging process for the NI Social Media Awards is designed to be fair and impartial. Our esteemed panel of judges comprises experts from various sectors and disciplines within the digital marketing industry, hailing from different parts of the UK and Ireland. Each judge independently reviews and scores the entries they are assigned. This individual assessment helps to prevent any group bias from affecting the scoring and ensures that the judging process remains completely independent. We prioritise transparency and integrity in recognising the best in social media excellence.
submission deadline
19th August 2024
Shortlist announced
9th September 2024
Awards Cermeony
5th October 2024
