2024

Judging

Our judging panel is composed of International Airport’s advisory board members. They represent experts from across the global airport and aviation community. They have been selected to ensure they can apply their knowledge, expertise and skills to the judging criteria and ultimately, to award the finalists.

We are committed to ensuring the judging process for The Airport Honour Awards is transparent, independent, fair and unbiased.

View our 2024 Judging Panel below

Tijn Borms

Tijn Borms

Director of Product - Passenger Experience Platform
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Judge of Airport Experience Award

With 20+ years of experience in tech companies Tijn is a seasoned product leader with a diverse background in driving innovation across multiple industries. He is currently at the forefront of the digital transformation of the passenger experience at one of Europe’s most prominent airports as the Director of Product for the Passenger eXperience Platform (PXP) at Royal Schiphol Group. With a strong foundation in technology and (UX) design, Tijn remains closely connected to the core elements of product development while maintaining a strategic focus.

Oliver Braun

Oliver Braun

Head of Security
Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH
Judge of Airport Security Award

Oliver Braun is the Head of Security at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), where he is responsible for leading the airport’s comprehensive security management. He not only oversees the day-to-day security operations but also adopts a holistic, risk-based approach to ensure the right levels of safety for passengers and infrastructure. Oliver played a key role in the opening of BER, not just by meeting required security processes but by setting new standards for the airport security. His career in security management includes roles such as Managing Director at INTRAplus Security GmbH and head of Airport Security Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL), as well as leadership positions at SECURITAS. Oliver’s background as an officer in the German Army has equipped him with solid crisis management and leadership skills, which he applies to his current role at BER. His experience spans both military and civilian security, providing him with a comprehensive approach to managing security challenges.

Cyrus Dana

Cyrus Dana

Head of Security
London Gatwick Airport
Judge for Security Award

Kirsty Murphy Hughes

Kirsty Murphy Hughes

Group Sustainability Manager
Dublin Airport Authority
Judge for Sustainable Airport Award

Kirsty Murphy Hughes is Group Sustainability Manager at daa. daa group are the commercial semi-state operators of Dublin and Cork Airports in Ireland, airport retail operators (ARI) and airport management and consulting (daai) spanning 15 countries and more than 20 airports.

Shiv Kumar

Shiv Kumar

Chief of Marketing and Customer Experience Officer
Manohar International Airport, Goa
Judge for Airport Experience Award

Sarah Marquez

Sarah Marquez

Senior Vice President of Operations
Denver International Airport
Judge for Airport Leader of the Future

Sarah Marquez is Senior Vice President of Airport Operations at Denver International Airport (DEN). As an airport operations professional she has been recognised for her effective leadership and success in leading teams while driving performance and collaborating with stakeholders.

Giulio Ranucci

Giulio Ranucci

Head of Innovation, Digital & Corporate Venture Capital ADR
Aeroporti di Roma
Judge for Innovation Award

Starting his career in Vancovuer on media content, he pivoted to digital strategy, working on projects for major companies like Princess Cruises and Italo – NTV high-speed trains. Notably, Giulio designed and developed the digital strategy for Italo, driving over 70% of sales through digital channels.

Anurag Shandilya

Anurag Shandilya

Vice President of Airport Operations
King Salman International Airport Development Company
Judge for Airport Leader of the Future Award

Keshav Singhal

Keshav Singhal

Head of Sustainability
Noida International Airport
Judge for Sustainable Airport Award

Keshav comes with a rich and diverse experience in ESG, Sustainability Disclosures, Decarbonization, Circularity, Net Zero, Digitalization, and Green Supply Chain. He has worked in both public and private industries across various sectors, including consulting, oil & gas, retail, FMCG, finance, and aviation.

Shawn Smith

Shawn Smith

SVP Culture and Strategy
Denver International Airport
Judge for Accessible Airports Award

Shawn Smith serves as the Senior Vice President of Culture & Strategy at Denver International Airport (DEN), where he leads key initiatives in business learning and development, federal small business program compliance, strategic planning, continuous improvement, employee wellness, employee engagement, ADA/Title VI compliance, and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) efforts. Since joining DEN in November 2019, Shawn has spearheaded the development of the Vision 100 Strategic Plan and the organizational performance management model, a comprehensive and accountable framework to achieve the goal of serving one hundred million annual passengers per year. He has led his team in developing and launching enhanced programming supporting EDIA and launching a first-of-its-kind, award-winning program aimed at educating small businesses on how to work with the airport in pursuit of contract opportunities.

Luis Soto

Luis Soto

Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Technology Officer
El Dorado International Airport
Judge for EDI (Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) Award

Luis Soto, who holds an MBA degree and a specialisation in HR Management, currently serves as the Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Technology Officer at El Dorado International Airport. He has an impressive 18-year professional journey, with a decade focussed specifically on the airport industry. Demonstrating determination and strategic acumen, he has led various areas including human resources management, technology, projects, and innovation.

Vernon Taylor

Vernon Taylor

Director of People Operations
JFKIAT
Judge for Accessible Airports Award

Mr. Taylor pioneered the establishment of JFKIAT’s corporate People Operations department and built it from the ground up, implementing new People Operations policies and providing employees with a wide range of resources and benefits. The department was founded on the belief that human capital is JFKIAT’s greatest asset.

Previous 2023 Judging Panel below

Claire Waghorn

Claire Waghorn

Sustainable Transition Leader
Christchurch International Airport

Roelof Jan Steenstra

RJ Steenstra

President & CEO of Ports
Toronto

Tara Mulrooney

Tara Mulrooney

Chief Technology Officer and VP of Innovation
Edmonton International Airport

Maurice Jenkins

Maurice Jenkins

Chief Innovation Officer
Miami International Airport

Satyaki Raghunath

Satyaki Raghunath

Chief Strategy & Development Officer
Bangalore International Airport

Chris Woodroofe

Chris Woodroofe

Managing Director
Manchester Airport

Sarah Marquez

Sarah Marquez

Senior Vice President of Airport Operations
Denver International Airport

2024

Reasons to enter

Increased visibility

Winning an award can increase your company’s visibility and reputation within the industry. This can help attract new customers, improve brand recognition, and ultimately increase sales.

Competitive advantage

Participating in an awards competition allows companies to benchmark themselves against their competitors and gain valuable insights into their strengths and weaknesses.

Motivation for employees

Being recognised for their hard work can be a great motivator for employees. Entering an awards competition can inspire them to strive for excellence and take pride in their work. Winning an award can also help to boost employee morale and build team spirit.

Networking opportunities

Entering The Airport Honour Awards will provide valuable networking opportunities and a great place to meet industry leaders, potential customers, and suppliers. This can help to build relationships that may lead to new business opportunities in the future.