Final Group of Judges Announced for Global Spotlight Awards 2026
Truly exceptional work does not always arrive with the loudest campaign, the biggest platform, or the most attention. More often, it is recognised when experienced industry leaders take the time to look beyond visibility and identify the ideas, people, and projects creating genuine impact.
Following the announcement of our first lineup of judges, we are delighted to introduce the final group of judges completing the panel for the Global Spotlight Awards 2026. Together, they bring a remarkable breadth of experience, perspective, and credibility to this year’s programme, helping ensure the awards continue to celebrate work that is not only impressive but genuinely influential.
This final group brings together an exceptional mix of experience from some of the world’s leading technology companies and forward-thinking enterprises, offering perspectives that span both high-level strategy and hands-on technical expertise.
Meet the Final Judging Panel:
- Graham Baitson, COO-CTO & Co-Founder, AERPRICE
- Barry James, Director of Data & AI, Nucleo
- Shyam Kumar Gajula, Identity & Access Management (IAM), HCLTech
- Harish Apuri, AI Platform and DevOps Engineer, ITInduct
- Lydwin Chinnappan, Engineering Manager, Meta
- Riddhi Bhasker, Product Manager, Kyra
- Sridhar Rangu, Senior Program Manager, XSELL Resources
- Sanchay Gumber, Technical Product Leader, HCLTech
- Naomh McElhatton, Irish Ambassador, Women in AI
- Arun Vishwanathan, Senior Software Development Engineer in Test, Apple
- Emer Mugisha, CEO, CyberMinds
By bringing together experts from places like Meta, Apple, and HCLTech, we’re making sure your projects aren’t being reviewed in a vacuum.
Instead, your work will be seen through the eyes of people who truly get it. Whether it’s the technical heavy lifting of AI infrastructure, the high stakes of cybersecurity, or the creative strategy of product leadership, our judges look past the surface to find the real impact of what you’ve built. They aren’t just here to score entries; they’re here to recognise the human ingenuity behind the tech.
This panel is designed not just to review, but to challenge the industry. They represent the high-level technical expertise and honest evaluation required to identify the ideas that are truly solving real-world challenges.
Step Into the Light
With our full judging panel now finalised, the stage is set. These experts are ready to take a closer look at the work that often goes unnoticed behind the scenes of global digital transformation.
Entries are now open. We invite professionals from across the globe to submit their work, gain recognition from this prestigious panel, and step into the light.
Visit www.GlobalSpotlightAwards.com to submit your entry today.
