Meet Our Judges

Aurélie Lory is the Häagen-Dazs Global Shops Managing Director at General Mills and since 2019, has led a network of over 400 franchised shops across 40 global markets. With over two decades of business leadership and a background in marketing, Aurélie has worked across France and Japan with her current team spread across 10 locations. Both her passion for multicultural backgrounds and heritage brands have been fostered in this role with Häagen-Dazs being the second female-founded business she has worked for. As a member of the Women Leadership Network at General Mills, Aurélie believes in the importance of female role models to empower women to achieve their potential.

Inés Arroyo is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of the international clothing brand Laagam based out of Spain. While studying Business, Inés saw potential in the power of Instagram while it was a nascent platform for showcasing her passion for fashion and pioneering the industry. At just 23, she founded Laagam which has taken the world by storm. A concept which offers affordable and sustainable luxury fashion with a focus beyond the product with its strong communication and branding, Laagam is currently one of the most studied e-commerce success stories in business schools across Europe. Inés has earned an important place in the world of fashion and Spanish entrepreneurship.

Katie Piper OBE is a best-selling author, philanthropist and one of Britain’s most inspirational broadcasters. Described as an ‘icon of her generation’, Katie secured her place in the nation’s hearts when she appeared on Channel 4’s BAFTA nominated documentary Katie: My Beautiful Face. For over a decade, Katie has devoted her life to the Katie Piper Foundation to support those living with burns and scars. Katie has now helped over 4,000 burns survivors and has received numerous awards, accolades and doctorates for her work – she received her OBE for services to charity in 2022. Katie is a much-loved presenter of both day-time television and hard-hitting formats as well as a podcast host, has published ten-books, and is the face of iconic global brands. Katie is dedicated to removing the traditional stigma of beauty across the media and will continue to lead conversation promoting diversity, inclusion and acceptance across society.

Mercedes Palomar is a Mexican author, professional speaker and founder of Lady Multitask. Mercedes co-created Lady Multitask with her sister, a women's support community with the purpose of promoting personal and professional development through meaningful connections. Lady Multitask is the largest of its kind for women in Latin America and has grown to include 1.2 million women from over 80 communities across 12 countries. Her book, “Ponte las Pilas”, focuses on female entrepreneurship and guiding women to fulfil their business dreams. Dedicated to inspiring and uplifting all women, Mercedes has also been a TEDx Speaker and actively supports women's nonprofit foundations.

Velda Tan, a Singaporean entrepreneur, dedicated advocate for women's fertility issues, and stands as a symbol of resilience in the fashion industry. As a trailblazing Creative Director with 18 years of experience in her field, Velda has established several brands including her latest lifestyle label, Our Second Nature, with a mission to elevate and enrich every day lives. Velda is also a mother to two daughters. Having overcome the challenges of infertility, she now uses her platform to champion the cause, actively supporting and empowering women through her advocacy and leadership with support groups and meet-ups.