Judges

This year’s judges bring a wealth of business experience to the awards and have a diverse range of backgrounds both within and outside the recruitment industry in both the public and private sectors.

David Gledhill

Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports (UK)

David Gledhill has responsibility for the Port of Felixstowe, Harwich International Port and London Thamesport.

With a workforce of 2,800, the Port of Felixstowe is one of Suffolk’s biggest employers.

As the UK’s largest container port, Felixstowe handles a massive 30% of all UK imports, particularly from the Far East, giving it national significance.

Across the water, Harwich is currently developing a substantial cruise business, is handling component parts being used in the creation of offshore windfarms and has permission to create a new deepwater container port at Bathside Bay, which will ultimately be part of David’s responsibility.

He joined Hutchison Ports (UK) in 2001 with 20 years’ experience in logistics.

He spent much of his early career with NFC plc and was subsequently managing director of a business unit within Hays, the Business Services Group.

After an initial familiarisation period with Hutchison in the UK and Far East, David took up the role of general manager of London Thamesport where he oversaw a major rationalisation. At the end of 2001 he was appointed Commercial Director for Hutchison Ports UK with responsibility for sales, marketing, customer services and property in all three Hutchison Ports.

In 2003 he was appointed Chief Operating Officer, initially for Harwich, Thamesport and Logistics Division and subsequently for the UK Group. As COO he led a significant change programme. In the summer of 2009 David was appointed chief executive responsible for a workforce of 3,500.

David holds an honorary commission in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with the Engineering and Logistics Staff Corps and is a board member of the UK Major Ports Group industry body.

Peter Funnell

Chief executive, IDEA

Peter Funnell has made a major contribution to further and higher education in Suffolk in his former roles as Assistant Principal at Suffolk College and as Executive Dean within UCS.

Peter played a key leadership role in the development of the case for a university presence in Suffolk and as Director of Enterprise and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences he contributed to the development of UCS, represented its interests externally, and established a broad network of relationships for the university.

Now as chief executive of IDEA, Peter is playing a key role in the development of Suffolk’s skills base.

IDEA is a joint venture between BT, University College London, the University of East Anglia, the University of Essex, UCS and Suffolk New College. IDEA is developing a unique skills escalator for the ICT and associated employment sectors, brokering services and encouraging innovation.

Peter is also chair of Eastern Angles Theatre Company, a trustee of Ipswich Town Community Trust and President of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and a board member of the New Wolsey Theatre.

Clare Whight

FCIPD – Managing Director, SOS-HR Limited

Clare is a Chartered Fellow of her institute, the CIPD, and had seventeen years experience working at senior human resource and strategic business management level as a Company Director, prior to being instrumental in founding HR consultancy, SOS-HR.   She has thorough and up-to-date knowledge of employment leglisation and, as a qualified practitioner with Continual and Professional Development (CPD), is a knowledgeable consultant, specialising in the provision of hands-on operational advice in all spheres of employment related issues from employee relations – recruitment and retention procedures, training and development, conducting disciplinary, grievance, capability and redundancy procedures.  Clare is proficient in researching and writing policies and procedures within the guidelines of the Employment Right Act and all relevant employment legislation.  As well as writing and updating policies she has a proven ability to translate these into practice through excellent organisational skills and proficient written and verbal communication.

Clare lives in Suffolk and is an active networker, champion of local businesses and school governor.

Michael Ladd

Michael Ladd has worked for the Southwold based brewer and leisure retailer Adnams plc for 38 years spending 17 years in Finance and the other 21 years in Human Resources.

Currently Michael is Head of HR managing a team of four which provide a comprehensive HR service to all the different business operations including Hotels, Retail, Production, Warehousing and Transport covering over 400 employees.

Michael has encouraged internal coaching for many years and is fully committed to ‘ making the good better’ through passing on experience, knowledge and by encouraging self-development. Michael trained as a Coach at the Ashridge Business School in 2007 and the following year he was an active member of the Common Purpose Leadership Development programme.

In his spare time Michael is heavily involved in his home town community and has been a member of Southwold Town Council for over 20 years and Town Mayor on three occasions.

Hannah Breen

Hannah Breen is a Human Resources and Development Consultant with Your Potential.

Based in Ipswich, she has more than 10 years experience in human resources management, and learning and development. A generalist, her experience includes employee relations, recruitment, change management, human resources strategy, personality assessments and management development.

Hannah’s experience has been gained in a range of roles in both public and private sectors. She is also a Chartered Member of the CIPD and is a Committee Member of the local Colchester and Ipswich CIPD group.