World Class Judges
Submission deadline
Midnight, Tuesday 26 August 2025
Shortlist announced
Friday 19 September 2025
Awards Cermeony
Saturday 18 October 2025
The Judging Process
The judging process for the NI Social Media Awards is designed to be fair, impartial, and rigorous. Our esteemed panel of judges comes from diverse sectors and specialisms across the digital marketing industry, representing different regions of the UK and Ireland. Each judge independently scores entries assigned to them, ensuring unbiased assessments free from group influence.
This approach safeguards transparency and upholds integrity in recognising outstanding social media achievements.
Judges will score each submission based on four equally weighted criteria:
Strategy & Objectives (25%)
Creativity & Execution (25%)
Engagement & Community Impact (25%)
Results & Measurable Impact (25%)
Catherine McKeown
Media Controller at Sky Ireland
An accomplished Digital Marketing Specialist and currently Media Controller for Sport, Entertainment & Sponsorships at Sky Ireland. With extensive experience leading performance marketing and digital strategy, Catherine has driven successful campaigns that deliver measurable growth and strong return on investment. Known for her data-led approach, she excels at blending creativity with analytics to produce impactful digital experiences. Her strategic insight and wide-ranging industry knowledge make her a valuable member of the judging panel.
What Catherine will be looking for in submissions:
Clear KPIs and results demonstrating campaign success
Innovative paid media strategies
ROI-focused execution and measurable outcomes
Oskar Persson
Head of Brands at Irish Distillers Pernod-Ricard
- Creativity and storytelling as a driver of business success via social media
- Deliberate social platform choices tailored to the creative
- Results clearly tied to the business goal that are attributable to social activity
Amy Lynch
Digital & Content Manager at Aldi Ireland
Amy is the Digital & Content Manager at Aldi Ireland, where she leads innovative campaigns and strategic digital initiatives for one of Ireland’s largest retailers. With a strong background in social media, Amy previously served as Social Media Lead at Ryanair, where she played a key role in driving engagement and brand personality across platforms. Known for her creative approach and deep expertise in content marketing, Amy brings a wealth of industry knowledge and a passion for impactful storytelling.
What Amy will be looking for in submissions:
Creative, original content ideas that set a brand apart
Strong consistency in tone of voice across channels
Campaigns with clear objectives and measurable outcomes
Abbie Smyth
Social Media Lead at Rise At Seven
A dynamic Social Media Lead at leading London agency Rise At Seven, with extensive experience driving creative social strategies for globally recognised brands. Passionate about using the power of social platforms to connect with audiences in meaningful ways, Abbie excels at crafting engaging content and data-driven campaigns that deliver measurable results. Her innovative approach and keen understanding of digital trends make her a respected voice in the industry.
What Abbie will be looking for in submissions:
Innovative use of platform features (e.g., Reels, Stories, Lives)
Evidence of authentic community engagement
Clever campaign strategies that align with audience interests
Leonor García
Social Media Manager at Barnaby Bars
A highly experienced Digital and Social Media Strategist with a proven track record of delivering impactful campaigns across diverse sectors. With a career spanning multiple markets, Leonor has worked with renowned brands such as lastminute.com, EasyJet, and others to build strong digital identities and drive audience engagement through innovative social strategies. Her expertise in content creation, community management, and performance analysis ensures she brings valuable insights and a strategic perspective to the judging panel.
What Leonor will be looking for in submissions:
Strategic thinking behind campaigns, not just execution
Strong alignment with brand identity and values
Data-backed evidence of campaign performance
Leticia Barbosa
Senior Social Media Manager – WPP Media
A seasoned Social Media Account Manager with extensive experience leading creative and results-driven strategies for global brands. She previously worked as Senior Social Media Manager at Frank & Bear, where she worked on campaigns for clients including Universal Pictures, Aldi, Board Bia, and Indeed, delivering data-driven improvements and exceptional engagement. Before that, Leticia was Social Media Creator at Ryanair, where she successfully created reactive content and managed content calendars to boost brand visibility. Her expertise spans social media, content creation, and performance marketing, helping organisations elevate their online presence and connect with audiences authentically.
What Leticia will be looking for in submissions:
Creative concepts that effectively capture audience attention
High-quality content execution across platforms
Clear strategy tied to performance metrics
