Polly Bennett (Judge Chair) 
Founder & Editor, Little Vikings (York for kids)

Polly has been connecting families to the best of family-friendly York through her business, Little Vikings, for a decade. She’s been a London lawyer, a plugger for a major record label hanging out with rock stars, and even a medieval wench at The York Dungeon! Now she loves helping families make the most of their time in her hometown of York, ably assisted by her own three children.

Ann Gurnell 

A self-confessed marketing geek, with a core strand of her DNA in tourism, destinations and attractions marketing. After a career in brand marketing and experiences, including for Levi Strauss and Nestle; developing Coronation Street, the Tour and York's Chocolate Story; rebranding Visit Parliament and creating the Let's be York campaign post Covid, Ann now lectures at York Business School at York St John University and is Chair of the York Creative and Cultural Advisory Board. Inspiring and enabling students, businesses and entrepreneurs to be the best they can be.

Brendan Paddison 
Dean of York Business School at York St John University.

Brendan is Chair of the York Tourism Advisory Board and co-chair of the Tourism Education Futures Initiative (TEFI). He is internationally recognised for his work in tourism and has published widely on this subject.

Mark Grewer 
Managing Director at Hunter Gee Holroyd Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers 

Mark has over 30 years of experience helping businesses grow into the success that they want to be. He also heads-up the corporate finance team, supporting clients with raising money to expand or sell their own business or buy existing businesses.

Emily Pickard
Emily runs York Mumbler, the largest & most trusted parenting information website in York.

It’s based around making life easier for parents in the area. Mumbler has a large and loyal local parent following, often describing Mumbler as a ‘lifeline’ as well as being the go-to resource for when parents are looking for places to go with their kids. Emily has 2 children and regularly reviews Yorks family friendly attractions, cafes and restaurants. She loves championing the best places for families in York.

Ben Thorpe
Ben is firmly embedded in the York hospitality scene through his website York on a Fork.

This has become a valued and reliable guide for foodies interested in York for over a decade leading to him being quoted across national media and being featured in The Lonely Planet Guide. Bookings for York on a Fork Food Tours are available and can be made via the website. Ben also works with York Food & Drink Festival to coordinate their events program, filling 10 days of demonstrations, trails, tasting events and more as well as fulfilling a similar role at York Chocolate Festival.

Andy Wallhead

Andy is a chartered property surveyor with over 40 years’ experience in property development, property management and regeneration in both public and private sectors. Andy has held several senior executive positions, the most recent being as CEO of one of the regions largest housing developers and managers. Andy also has vast non-executive experience having served on several property, educational and cultural related boards including The Hepworth Wakefield.

David Flesher
Commercial Director at LNER

David Flesher is a commercially driven brand and marketing specialist who leads LNER’s commercial directorate covering marketing, revenue management, sales & distribution and analytics & insight and overseen their market leading recovery back to above COVID passenger and revenue levels. Having spent over 20 years working across financial services, tourism & leisure, automotive and rail David knows how to build brands, drive conversion and grow revenue founded in the power of the customer experience. Prior to LNER David has held senior roles across a number of UK and Global organisations including Aviva and Cox Automotive.

Jo Pickering
Director - Jo.P. Communications Ltd

Jo has over 25 years’ experience in the tourism sector, heading up the communications function at (what was) Yorkshire Tourist Board, and currently running Yorkshire’s Great Houses, Castles & Gardens - a marketing consortium representing over 30 of Yorkshire’s finest attractions. Well known in the York business scene, Jo also manages York Professionals, a networking organisation representing and championing the professional services sector in York.

Dawn Clements
Head of Development at the York Museums Trust

Dawn oversees fundraising, venues, and events, managing spaces like The Hospitium, Yorkshire Museum, York Art Gallery, and York Castle Museum. Dawn has spent over 10 years in Fundraising roles in the Hospice sector - spending 9 years at St Leonard Hospice as Director Of Income Generation - she is now back working in York - a city she is proud to call home. Before her move to the charity sector - a move she feels was always on the cards - Dawn worked at ASDA HO in Leeds for 15 years - covering roles from food development, customer experience and service, George clothing to heading up the national mystery shop programme and then the national community programme - a job which enabled the move from occupation to vocation.

Julie Barker

After a successful management career with Green Flag, Leeds working in the control room, Julie joined the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Retail Section on a three-year fixed-term contract. Over 30 years later! Julie is now a member of the Senior Leadership Team and leads a dedicated and experienced team delivering services for visitors and tourism businesses across the National Park. She works closely with the Local Visitor Economy Partnerships in North Yorkshire and Cumbria to support Destination Management Plans and collaborates with National Park colleagues across the UK, particularly on initiatives promoting tourism based on National Park Special Qualities, such as Dark Skies, and local produce.

Martin Rowley BEM 
Senior Partner, Rowley & Sons 

Martin has lived and worked in York since the mid 80’s when the Army brought him to the city. He met and married his York born wife Elizabeth and they set up their first home in Haxby. Following a successful career in Banking with Lloyds TSB, Martin set up Rowley & Sons in 2013 where he, Elizabeth, his two sons and daughter in law now work. Customer service is at the heart of what he and the family offer, and their benchmark is excellence. Martin has been a school governor for 34 years, and a City of York Councillor for 7 years, serving as the Lord Mayor in 2025/2026. In 2021 Martin was awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Years Honours List for services to the community in York.