Nursery World Awards 2023 – Meet the judges

Dr Aaron Bradbury is a principal lecturer in early childhood at Nottingham Trent University with a specialism in early help, child development and child protection. He has also been a Children’s Commissioner for Public Health and Social Care.

Anna Wright ran the Paint Pots Nurseries group in Southampton for 30 years. She continues to work as an ambassador for them as well as being a consultant, trainer and charity trustee. Paint Pots was Nursery Group of the Year in 2018. Anna is well known for her love of babies – and toy mice!

Anne O’Connor taught in early years settings in London primary schools for more than 20 years before becoming an independent consultant, trainer and writer. She is an associate of Early Education. She also co-founded and is a principal consultant with Primed for Life Training Associates.

Dr Mine Conkbayir is an award-winning early years author, lecturer, trainer and researcher. She wrote the first-ever NCFE neuroscience-based early years qualifications, as well as contributing to the non-statutory guidance for the EYFS, Birth to 5 Matters, on the subject of self-regulation.

David Wright won the 2022 Nursery World Lifetime Achievement Award, after 25 years running award-winning Paint Pots Nurseries. His roles include global early years lead, advisor, author, broadcaster, presenter and trustee. David is an advocate for Men in Early Years.

Dhanvanti Deshmukh is a nursery manager for London Early Years Foundation. She has more than 20 years’ experience in the early years sector. She is an early years trainer and consultant, EYP qualified teacher and counsellor and conducts workshops for teachers and parents.

Di Chilvers is an advisory consultant in early childhood education, having worked in the sector for more than 40 years as a nursery nurse, teacher, senior lecturer, adviser and National Strategies regional adviser. She has written several books and created an assessment tool called the Development Map.

Edwina Revel is the programme director for nutrition at Early Start Group, supporting nurseries to achieve standards of nutrition excellence. She has developed Association for Nutrition certified training covering menu planning and nutrition for young children.

Helen Donohoe is CEO at The Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY). She has many years of experience across the wider children’s sector and was a parent governor at a maintained nursery in north London.

Helen Moylett received Nursery World's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 after working in early years as a practitioner, university lecturer, head teacher and consultant. She was centrally involved in developing the EYFS and led Every Child A Talker. She is a vice-president of Early Education.

Jane Harrison is director of Red Hen Day Nursery, which has gained national accolades for providing outstanding provision on a working farm. Jane has a first-class degree in early childhood and is an advocate for children’s healthy lifestyles. Her nursery has received three Nursery WorldAwards.

John Warren is a director of the Toddletown Nursery group and new Toddleworld Franchise. He has worked for large groups of nurseries at director level and has experience in every aspect of the early years, including as a nursery practitioner. John has also been an Ofsted inspector.

Julie Mountain is a specialist early years landscape designer and educator. She is former operations director at Learning through Landscapes, while her company, Play Learning Life, helps others make the most of outdoor learning.

Linda Keats has worked in early years for over 30 years as an educator, deputy, manager and now as an early years advisor and consultant. She has worked in Australia and the UK, supporting settings, childminders and schools in all areas of the EYFS.

Lorna Wigley is the quality and training director at Childbase Partnership, overseeing training and development for 2,000 employees. Starting her career in a nursery, she has over 20 years’ experience in leadership roles.

Neil Leitch OBE was appointed CEO of the Early Years Alliance in 2008. He has been a strident leader of the membership organisation, overseeing its rebrand in 2019. Neil has fronted numerous sector campaigns on fair funding and staff mental health.

Nicola Read is the owner of award-winning social media management company Babbl, and works with Childcare Marketing Limited, which services the UK childcare sector and beyond on all aspects of digital marketing. Nicola is a chair of governors and charity trustee.

Penny Tassoni MBE is an education consultant, author and trainer. She has written more than 30 books and is the author of the best-selling Practical EYFS Handbook. Penny is also president of early years organisation PACEY. She is a regular and very popular contributor to Nursery World.

Philippa Thompson is a principal lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University with a research and practice specialism in early childhood parent partnerships, anaphylaxis, outdoor learning and employability. She has worked in the sector for over 35 years in education, family and community services.

Purnima Tanuku OBE is chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association. Purnima works closely with ministers and senior civil servants and is a major contributor to the policy debate across the UK. She was awarded an OBE in 2010. She regularly appears on national television, radio and in print.

Rebecca Martland is an independent early years trainer, consultant and writer with more than 20 years’ experience in the early years sector. She is an EYP, qualified teacher, four-times Outstanding Ofsted-registered childminder and co-founder of a thriving local childminding association, Magic Minders.

Sarah Mackenzie is CEO at Storal nursery group. Her leadership career has focused on high-quality early education, employee engagement, learning and development and business growth. Sarah is a columnist in Nursery World and a member of Ofsted’s Early Education and Curriculum forum.

Dr Stella Louis is a freelance early years trainer and consultant who has also worked as a nursery nurse, nursery manager and NNEB course co-ordinator. She has an MA, a doctorate in education and is a Froebelian-trained travelling tutor. Stella has a strong interest in schemas.

Dr Sue Allingham is an independent consultant, author and trainer. Beginning her early years career in the classroom, she went on to senior education roles in the late 1980s. Sue followed an MA with a doctorate, both in early years education, from Sheffield University.

Sue Asquith is an international early childhood consultant and author. She started her early years career as a childminder, affiliated with local children’s centres, a college lecturer, trainer and assessor. Work includes writing and delivering training, consultancy visits and keynote speeches.

Dr Tanya Richardson is a senior lecturer in early years at the University of Northampton and is programme leader for the Early Childhood Studies programmes. She led her own ‘outstanding’ day nursery. She is particularly interested in the student experience for Early Childhood Studies and supervises doctoral students.