Spirit of Manchester Awards Judges | Manchester Community Central

Spirit of Manchester Awards 2026 judges

Jez Myers, Chairperson
Image	Jez Myers is a community champion and CEO of All For Ukraine. A recipient of Manchester City Council's prestigious Pride of Manchester Award, he brings a dual background in business consultancy and civic engagement. After fleeing Ukraine with his partner Maria, Jez has advised local and national bodies on supporting displaced Ukrainians, as well as assisting multiple Ukrainian charities. He is also Chairperson of the Spirit of Manchester Awards, a position he has held for well over a decade, ensuring that nominees applications are judged fairly, consistently, and on their merits.
Kieron McGlasson, Director at Sow the City and Green Spaces Fund Advisor
Image	Kieron McGlasson is a Director at Sow the City and the Green Spaces Fund Advisor covering Manchester and Trafford, for Andy Burnham's 'Green Spaces Fund'. Having grown up in the Lake District, Kieron has always been inspired by the natural world and its multiple benefits. After moving to Manchester for university, Kieron spent just short of a decade in the regeneration sector delivering high profile city centre and neighbourhood wide projects. Kieron then discovered the social enterprise sector in a bid to help both people and planet, and began working to build happier and healthier communities in Salford. Joining Sow the City in early 2014 has allowed Kieron to combine his roots, experience and personal interests in across numerous health and environmental projects. His work combines his passions for food growing, environmental conscience and commitment to assets-based community development to help create greener and healthier places.
Atiha Chaudry, Chair & Director, Greater Manchester Ethnic Communities Network & Manchester BME Network
Image	Atiha Chaudry is the Chair of Greater Manchester Ethnic Communities Network and one of four Directors. She is also a Director with Manchester Black and Minority Ethnic Network. Atiha is passionate and committed to supporting and empowering global majority communities and have worked hard over the last 20 years establishing, developing and successfully leading these networks across GM and the City of Manchester. She was a judge on the Spirit of Manchester's early events and pleased to be asked to sit on this year's panel. Her experience in community research and consultancy brings an added depth of knowledge and understading about local communities and how much contribution local people and local groups make to our local economy. She has made a significant contribution to community development and in recognition was appointed a GM Deputy Lieutenant in 2012.
Deborah Walker, Development Director, Manchester Building Society
Image	Deborah Walker is the Development Director of Manchester Building Society - tasked with growing the brand and the branch network across Greater Manchester. Deborah has had a 35 year career in Greater Manchester within financial and professional services, higher education and third sector. She's a passionate advocate for social inclusion and exceptional customer service.
Rana Holland, Head of Communications and Engagement, CPC Consortium
Image	Rana Holland is the Head of Communications & Engagement for a major educational charity, she leads a broad executive remit encompassing Group PR, IT infrastructure, and Customer Engagement strategy. Rana's leadership framework is backed by 28 years of extensive experience in the housing sector managing varying disciplines, underscored by her tenure as an independent business Director mastering the complexities of business growth and operational scaling. Recognised for her ability to transform organisational communication into measurable engagement, she excels at navigating complex stakeholder landscapes to deliver sustainable growth. Today, she seamlessly fuses her deep commercial acumen with a passion for social impact, driving cross-functional excellence across PR, IT, and customer engagement to amplify the charity's mission.
Sarah Broad, Director of Policy, Performance and Reform, Manchester City Council
Image	Sarah is Director of Policy, Performance and Reform at Manchester City Council a role which includes working together with the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector in the City. Sarah has 20 years of experience working in local government in the UK and New Zealand as well as nationally and regionally. Most recently Sarah worked as Deputy Director Adult Social Services at Manchester City Council where she saw first-hand the huge impact that the VCFSE sector has in supporting Manchester people in our neighbourhoods and communities. Sarah's current role is key in helping drive the Our Manchester Strategy together with partners over the next decade through key policy and strategic initiatives to address challenges facing our residents.