Judge Panel
We express our utmost gratitude for the contribution made by our expert team to the competition. Their impartial feedback and valuable insights will be provided to the participants' entries, with a focus on cultivating the next generation.
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Farooq Chaudhry OBE
( Chair of Tate Modern Advisory Group )
Farooq is Chair of Tate Modern Advisory Group .In 2000, Chaudhry joined forces with artist Akram Khan to establish the internationally acclaimed Akram Khan Company. Through his visionary leadership style, Chaudhry prioritized creativity and developed innovative business models to support Khan's artistic aspirations.
He serves as a witness at the School for Social Entrepreneurs and is a member of the Global Future Council. In 2008, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs included him in their list of the world's top cultural actors and entrepreneurs.
Chaudhry is a witness of the School for Social Entrepreneurs. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged him in a list of the world’s top hundred cultural actors and entrepreneurs. He is also on the advisory board of Global Future, an independent think tank campaigning for Britain to be a vibrant and open nation that reaches out to the world.
His work has received strong support from the London Arts Council. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the arts, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2019.
Leigh Clarke
(University of the Arts London & Royal Academy of Arts)
Leigh Clarke is UK based artist with an international career spanning over 25 years since his graduation from the Royal College of Art. His diverse printmaking practice has led him to undertake gallery exhibitions, publicly funded projects, performances, residencies, and publications. Notable exhibitions include those at The Whitechapel Gallery, The Turner Contemporary, The Institute of Contemporary Art and the Royal Academy of Art. He has engaged the public in participatory projects at the Centre de la Gravure et de l'Image imprimée Belgium, with Create London and Airspace Gallery Stoke-on-Trent.
He has taught and given lectures in many UK Universities and is Senior Lecturer in Printmaking and Illustration at The London College of Communication, University of Arts London and Print Tutor at the Royal Academy Schools, Royal Academy of Arts London. He has represented UAL at two International Printmaking Workshops at Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts China and Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland New Zealand. His studio is in Margate, England.
Pat Naldi
(University of the Arts London)
Pat Naldi is an artist and lecturer in MA Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London from which she also holds a PhD. Her research addresses the geopolitical, environmental, socio‐spatial, and ideological construction and operation of landscapes. She works with video, installation, live-events, photography, and writing. Exhibiting widely in the UK and internationally, Naldi’s work was most recently exhibited in ‘The Horror Show! A Twisted Tale of Modern Britain’, Somerset House, London. Other works have been shown in exhibitions including at Tate Britain, Palacio de la Diputación de Cadiz, Spain, Rome Film Festival, ZKM Center for Art & Media, Karlsruhe, Estorick Collection, London, and Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo, Seville. Her most recent book chapter 'Managing Arcadia: From the King's Cross Estate to the Bretton Estate' was published in 'British Art and the Environment: Changes, Challenges, and Responses Since the Industrial Revolution', Routledge.
Naldi was awarded “The Arctic Circle Artist and Scientist Expedition Residency” for April 2022, where together with a group of international artists, scientists, guides, and crew, crossed the Barents Sea, and sailed the high Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard aboard a barquentine tall ship. Her essay “The End of Reference” for NiCHE Network in Canadian History and Environment (August 2022), and solo exhibition at Tension Fine Art Gallery, London (May 2023), engage with some of her research conducted in the Arctic Circle.
Bob Matthews
(Royal College of Art)
Bob Matthews grew up in Dorset, UK and currently lives and works in London. He is a senior academic at the Royal College of Art in London, where he has taught since 2001.He has had many solo exhibitions, including those with Gregory Lind Gallery, San Francisco and at the National Museum of Singapore. He has also participated in many international group exhibitions including those in Germany, Portugal, Greece, India, China, Philippines, USA and the UK.
His work has been reviewed and profiled in various publications, including Art Monthly, Flash Art, Frieze, the Guardian, Metro, Modern Painters, The New York Times, and Tema Celeste. His work is held in public and private collections throughout Europe, Asia and the United States, including the Aspen Museum of Contemporary Art, Colorado; Government Art Collection, UK; Singapore International Foundation; Tate Gallery Archive, UK, and the Victoria & Albert Museum, UK.
Thomas English
(World Industry Expert)
Thomas English is a multidisciplinary artist who specializes in directing and cinematography for advertising, film, and television. He uses cameras, VFX, and special effects to tell stories and aims to touch the human soul.
He has directed commercials for many international brands such as Adidas, Nike, Yamaha, Oppo, Samsung, Airbnb, Chelsea Football Club, Skoda, among others. His work is known for its visual spectacle and unique narrative style, and has gained widespread praise and recognition.
In addition to commercial advertising, Thomas English is also actively involved in film and art. He has directed and shot several documentaries and short films, many of which have won awards. His recent film works include Mission: Impossible, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Expendables, as well as contributing to the production of films such as 101 Dalmatians, Victoria, and Kingsman: The Secret Service. He started as a video artist creating touring visual effects for musicians and still creates content for live shows of artists such as Kylie Minogue.
Thomas English is primarily an industry professional, but also serves as a guest lecturer. He speaks at many educational events in the field, including giving talks on fashion art direction at Central Saint Martins.
Yifan
(World Industry Expert)
Yifan is a distinguished tech designer possessing a multifaceted background in visual effects, computer graphics, and user experience design. With over eight years of experience in the film, commercial, and animation industries, she brings unparalleled perspective and expertise to her role as a tech designer at Schibsted's futures lab. Yifan specialises in speculative design, user research, and prototyping, dedicating herself to the exploration of plausible futures and the promotion of innovation for Schibsted's brands through experimentation with emerging technology.
Upon graduating from Bournemouth University with a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Visualisation and Animation in 2013, Yifan commenced her journey as a visual effects artist. Her initial professional experience was at Blue Zoo Animation Studio, where she served as a lighting artist, contributing to the lighting and rendering of six episodes of the renowned BBC TV series "Q Pootle 5."
In February 2014, Yifan joined Frame store, where she contributed to an array of high-profile projects, including "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Avengers: Age of Ultron," "Everest," "Dracula Untold," "Beauty and the Beast," "Guardians of the Galaxy 1&2," "Avengers: Infinity Wars," and "Thor: Ragnarok." There, Yifan demonstrated not only her artistic skills in creating beautiful visuals but also her technical versatility by writing shaders for various pipeline processes.
In 2019, Yifan joined Storm Studios AS as a Senior Lighting & Look Development Artist, further refining her skills and contributing to numerous projects, such as the Netflix show "West World," the HBO series "Watchman," and several Norwegian films.
Currently, Yifan holds the position of Tech Designer at Schibsted, where she has been employed since 2022. She works with various emerging technologies, including generative AI, to drive innovation for Schibsted's media brands. Yifan was recently invited by the Associated Press to participate as a panelist in a discussion on the potential impacts of generative AI in news and media.
