Marketing & Event Awards Judging Committee
Chair:
Ella Louise Allaire, CEO & Founder
MONLOVE, Wentworth-Nord, Quebec, Canada
Ella Louise Allaire is a distinguished CEO, producer, show designer, composer, librettist, lyricist, international speaker, mentor, and entrepreneur. She was honored with a Gold Stevie Award in 2024 for Creative Executive of the Year, and a Silver Stevie Award in the Woman of the Year category. Known for her rare ability to manage both the creative and operational aspects of entertainment, Ella Louise has built a global reputation as a uniquely qualified and highly sought-after Creative Executive Manager. As founder and CEO of the award-winning company MONLOVE for over two decades, she has led a wide range of productions, overseeing both creative direction and financial strategy. Her leadership has steered large teams of creatives, business partners, consultants, and high-profile clients toward excellence.
In recent years, she spearheaded major productions, including the original concept, book, music, and lyrics for Scooby-Doo! and the Lost City of Gold, where she also managed a multimillion-dollar budget for the show, which toured internationally. In 2023–2025, she led All Systems Are Go! - an immersive educational experience on NASA’s Artemis missions featuring Peanuts™ characters at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, captivating millions of visitors with a fusion of entertainment and education. Her other recent ventures include the creation of Bugs Bunny’s Great Big Musical Extravaganza and the development of Le Festin™, an immersive dining experience scheduled to open in 2026. Her prolific creative career includes contributions to Cirque du Soleil productions (KA, Zed, Alegría), the James Cameron co-produced film Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away. She was also the creative force behind the original concept, book, music, and lyrics for 20th Century Fox’s multi-billion-dollar franchise Ice Age Live! A Mammoth Adventure, which broke sales records with over 3 million viewers and was voted the #1 show in Europe in 2013. Additional credits span the Vancouver Olympics, NBC, NFL Films, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and more.
A passionate advocate for equity in the arts, Ella Louise has implemented workplace diversity and equal pay initiatives across MONLOVE’s productions. These efforts continued during the 2024 Abu Dhabi tour of Scooby-Doo, reinforcing MONLOVE’s commitment to inclusive hiring in technical roles. Her entrepreneurial impact has been recognized with multiple nominations for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards (2016, 2022) and as a finalist at the Quebec Business Women Awards (2022, 2023). Under her guidance, MONLOVE has received four Gold Stevie Awards, including Best Media & Entertainment Company – Small. In 2024, she was selected as one of ten global finalists at the WEPitch Competition during the WBENC International Day in Denver for her socially impactful projects. She is a frequent keynote speaker at major industry events such as SXSW, HUB Montreal, the EDC Retreat, and the Quebec Women Entrepreneurs convention. She also mentors rising creatives through programs like La Piscine, a non-profit accelerator supporting cultural entrepreneurs. Ella Louise graduated from McGill University, receiving the James McGill Award and the Music Faculty Award. Admitted to the master’s program at the University of Montreal in film composition, she was awarded the Canada Council Fellowship.
Committee:
Diana Akchurina, Founder
Easy Communications, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Diana Akchurina is the founder of Easy Communications, a marketing communications agency established in 2016. She is a professional in business development and marketing communications, with over 17 years of experience in business growth, social media marketing, public relations, and influencer marketing, primarily within the high-tech industry.
Veli Can, Founder
Montiso, Kadikoy, Istanbul, Turkey
Veli Can is a creative strategist and technologist, founder of Montiso, specializing in marketing, automation, and digital innovation. With a technical background and 15+ years of experience, and a passion for blending technology and creativity, he helps brands grow through smart, data-informed strategies and engaging experiences.
Cheryl Catterall, Curated Technologies Strategy Lead
HKS Architects, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Cheryl has focused her career on the integration of digital tools into the built environment, using embedded storytelling as a means of deepening connections between people. Navigating the overlap of creativity and technological innovation, she has delivered impactful experiences in the performing arts, museums, public spaces, and commissioned art realms.
Rinita Datta, Director of Marketing
Cisco company, Fremont, California, United States
Rinita is a marketing leader who thrives at the intersection of product strategy, customer value, and innovation. As Director of Marketing at Splunk, a Cisco company, she leads global initiatives across product adoption, developer engagement, and community growth. Rinita combines technical fluency, systems thinking, and business storytelling to drive innovation.
Tina Delfino, Fashion Designer
BAD KITTY. Fierce Attire, New South Wales, Australia
Tina Delfino is a global award-winning fashion and character designer from Australia. As the creator of BAD KITTY. Fierce Attire., she is known for her bold approach to fashion, vibrant designs, and storytelling. Tina champions ethical fashion and also serves as a judge for the Global Recognition Awards in the creative arts.
Tanvi Sangal, Founder & CEO
CinEmon Consulting, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
Tanvi Sangal (Dhamija) is the Founder & CEO of CinEmon Consulting, a purpose-driven brand consultancy working with clients across India and globally. A Stevie's Silver Winner and award-winning storyteller, she brings 14+ years of expertise in branding, communications, and films, blending strategy with soul to craft brands that create impact.
Abdul Hafiz, Founder & CEO
Purplesoft Technology Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia
Abdul Hafiz is a tech entrepreneur and investor with over a decade of experience building digital-first businesses. He has led multimillion-dollar campaigns for clients across real estate, legal, and home improvement industries, while also investing in early-stage startups across APAC. Known for his clarity of vision and no-fluff execution.
Lisa Marie Heitman-Bruce, Founder & Managing Director
Fairytale Agency Limited, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Lisa is the Founder & Managing Director of Fairytale Agency in Edinburgh, Scotland and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) with 30+ years of marketing experience. A member of the Sun'aq Tribe and founder of the Kodiak Summer Science & Salmon Camp, she is also a novelist, playwright, and songwriter.
Marina Hidalgo Jaèn, Head of Marketing
rankingCoach Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Marina Hidalgo Jaèn is a digital marketing leader with 12+ years of experience, currently heading the marketing team at rankingCoach. She holds degrees in Advertising and User Experience, and is passionate about creativity, AI-driven strategies, and driving innovation in customer-centric marketing across international markets.
Beatriz Hutchings, Company Director
Pulse Comunicação Ltda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Beatriz is a distinguished Global Event Director renowned for her strategic vision and expertise in curating world-class brand experiences. With a career spanning high-profile events like the Olympics and FIFA World Cup, she brings a discerning eye for innovation, operational excellence, and impactful storytelling. Her multicultural fluency and leadership in large-scale productions.
Syed Kashif Rafi, Registrar / CMO
ILMA University/Rapido, Karachi, Pakistan, Pakistan
Syed is an esteemed and accomplished C-level executive with a flair for excellence. With a career spanning more than two decades, Syed has left an indelible mark on the industry, showcasing his versatility in a range of distinguished roles, including marketing, event management, advertising, academia, education, entrepreneurship, business strategy, and more.
Nitin Mahajan, Founder & CEO
QuickAds.ai, Liberty Hill, Texas, United States
Nitin Mahajan, Founder & CEO of QuickAds.ai, is a performance-marketing architect with 12 years of scaling AI-driven campaigns across 30+ countries. He has steered Fortune 500 growth, mentors early-stage startups, and champions data ethics in advertising. His analytical rigor and creative courage enrich the IBA judging panel.
Jade McKenzie, Co-Founder & COO
Zea, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Jade McKenzie is an award-winning strategist, speaker, and co-founder of a multi-million dollar e-commerce brand. With 20+ years of experience across sectors, she designs high-impact projects, events, and partnerships that fuse purpose with profit. Jade empowers entrepreneurs and organisations to create meaningful, measurable change through strategy, storytelling, and values-led leadership.
Galina Pauncheva, CEO
D:istinkt, Sofia, Bulgaria
Galina Pauncheva, CEO at d:istinkt, is a seasoned PR, brand strategy, and marketing consultant. With over 20 years of experience in Public Relations and Corporate Communications, she is also the author of "How to Launch a Successful Brand: A Step-by-Step Guide for Building a Powerful Brand."
Asli Sarman, Founder & Managing Director
Wicasa Group, Istanbul, Turkey
She was born in Istanbul, graduated from Boğaziçi University, and earned a postgraduate degree in Marketing Communications from the University of Zurich. With 15 years in executive roles in tourism, FMCG & telecom, she founded Wicasa Group in 2003 and DCP Trust in 2020, leading award-winning projects and offering strategic consulting.
Benjamin Schwartz, VP Client Servicing
Bates Pan Gulf (BPG), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Ben is a marketing professional with 15+ years of experience in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. He has worked at big network agencies (BBDO, TBWA, Ogilvy) helping international brands (Ford, Nestle, Lenovo, Pepsi, L'Oreal, etc.) tell their story.
Punit Sinha, AVP of Marketing Strategy
Merrick Bank, Wilmington, Delaware, United States
Punit has 15+ years of strategy and execution experience at successful startups and established organizations across Finance and Retail industries. Punit led the Acquisitions Investment Decisioning and led a team of analysts at Merrick Bank Credit Cards (formerly Ally Bank Credit Cards). Lead the omni-channel product suite for past-due customers.
Anna Stella, Marketing
BBSA Marketing, London, England, United Kingdom
Anna is an award-winning marketing expert and founder of the global marketing outsourcing agency BBSA. She is also the president of the BASA Awards and the host of the YouTube show “The Best of Business Show.” Anna has more than 20 years of experience in B2B, B2C, and non-profit industries.
Pierre Subeh, Co-President
The American Marketing Association (Orlando) & X Network, Orlando, Florida, United States
Pierre Subeh is a marketing executive at X Network, a strategic advisor to the Council of Change at the United Nations, and leads the AMA Orlando chapter. He consults for global brands such as Kaloud and MasterCard blending innovation with brand strategy. Pierre is known for driving impactful campaigns and fostering global collaboration through marketing excellence and extraordinary ability in changing the rules of the field.
Shoumian Xue, Senior Manager, Global Business Development Partnerships
Tencent Games, Los Angeles, California, United States
Shoumian is a global brand partnerships leader with over 10 years of experience driving strategic collaborations across product development and marketing. He specializes in building and executing high-impact partnerships that enhance brand equity, expand audience reach, and unlock new revenue opportunities. Currently at Tencent Games, he leads cross-functional, international teams.
Maksym Zakharko, CMO
ABi Media Holdings, Warsaw, Masovian, Polska
Maksym is a highly accomplished digital marketing expert and Fractional CMO with over 10 years of experience. He excels in media buying, user acquisition, and team leadership, driving growth through strategic vision and data-driven insights. A published author, industry speaker, and judge, Maksym holds an MBA and over 150 certifications.