Meet the judges
Cecilia Mañosa Nyblon
Director COP28 We Are The possible between UK and UAE. | Education and Skills Partnership Development Manager.
Cecilia Mañosa Nyblon is a public engagement and education professional (+25 years) with a background in anthropology and education. She leads innovative international multi-stakeholder programmes connecting science, health, education, and the arts to leverage COP Conferences and other fora to forge a greener, healthier, and more equitable future for all. Harnessing the power of storytelling, we co-create new narratives for a healthy planet, the bedrock for books, theatre, visual art, and music that show how arts and science together can raise awareness and motivate positive action on social and cultural change, planetary health, and climate justice. These programmes have been funded by the British Embassy Gulf Strategy Fund, British Council, Met Office, UKRI, AHRC Festival of Social Sciences, Knowledge E Foundation, among others. As the Director of the University of Exeter We Are the Possible, Cecilia also co-founded the international ‘Schools Across the Ocean’ programme to support global efforts to green the school curricula. She is also a founding member of the Planetary Health Alliance European Hub. She is especially interested in creating awareness and action using the Planetary Health framework to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international targets focused on transformational change where all life can thrive for generations to come.
Dr Russ Wakeham
CEO and Co-Founder of Two Drifters Distillery.
Russ's academic career focused on chemistry research into carbon capture, storage and utilisation and trying to make CO2 have value. It's often hard to visualise CO2 as an issue, it is a colourless gas that has a dramatic effect on the planet's atmosphere but is often overlooked in lots of areas of life, because you can't see an invisible pile of CO2 building up in the sky. Raising awareness of this issue is the passion and mission for Russ and now Two Drifters.
At the core of Two Drifters is the constant desire to improve. To strive for perfection in their rums, to constantly search out and implement new or improved sustainable technologies and to inspire others to be more sustainable.
Since 2019, Two Drifters Distillery has permanently removed over 35 tonnes of CO2 through Direct Air Capture, avoided creating over 170 tonnes of CO2, increased capacity to over 2,500 bottles of rum a week and achieved B Corp Certification in January this year.
With award-winning rums and a genuine carbon negative footprint, Two Drifters are showing the drinks industry that more can, and must, be done to avoid, reduce and remove CO2.
Peter Knight
Managing Director of Stagecoach South West
Peter is Managing Director of Stagecoach South West, Devon's largest local bus operator. Having worked in the Bus Industry for 13 years, Peter started as a Graduate Management Trainee with Stagecoach Group and is an advocate of high quality public transport and is passionate about delivering bus services that people can rely on. Peter moved to the South West from Stagecoach's subsidiary in North East Scotland in December 2023 and has been steadily driving forward operational improvements across Stagecoach's South West business since.
Nikki Buckley
Head of Sustainability Engagement, University of Exeter
I am part of the Sustainability team at Exeter Uni - tasked with increasing the engagement of all our sustainability programmes and initiatives across faculty and students and looking at embedding the culture of sustainable living within individuals for life long transformation.
I’m also Director of Sustainability for a care home helping develop and implement sustainable practices that align with our values and goals, and a Non-executive Director for Exeter YMCA.
With twenty years of experience in business startups, purchases, and acquisitions, I have a deep understanding of the ESG challenges and opportunities that entrepreneurs face in today's market.
ESG strategy provides us with a framework to create positive social and environmental impact through business. I have successfully launched and sold Eco-Union, the first decorating supplies company to receive the B Corp certification, and attracted four out of five Dragons on BBC Dragons' Den. I have also served as Head of Sustainability at Lick.com, an online paint retailer, where I led the ESG strategy and initiatives.
I am a member of the Corporate Governance Institute and a city Lead for Exeter Women and Climate.
Emily Delve
Commercial Director, Coastal Recycling
Emily Delve is the Commercial Director at Coastal Recycling. Since joining the company in 2010, she has been instrumental in transitioning Coastal into the business and brand it is today. Passionate about our employees, customers and Devon community, Emily takes any opportunity to share her knowledge on how we can become better and more responsible recyclers. Emily was the driving force behind Coastal becoming 100% employee-owned, championing that a happy and engaged workforce creates better results for a business.
Chris Mainstone and Kate Helgeson
Global City Futures
Chris and Kate are from Global City Futures, they are both passionate about sustainability and having a positive impact on the environment and society.
Chris comes from a regeneration, construction and manufacturing background with experience in the public and private sector. He is a certified chartered accountant.
He is focused on the delivery of local government regeneration, commercialisation and housing projects and creating a sustainable energy environment for future generations. He brings his experience to local government housing projects, capital assets builds, renewable energy, and is experienced in managing projects with multiple components and deadlines.
Kate has a wealth of experience in management and client focused roles, including a background in real estate. Kate is tasked with keeping the consultancy team organised and informed, managing our busy business office, and providing executive-level communication and solutions.
She facilitates smooth operation for successful projects; Kate will be the first point of contact for many and will be on hand to help ensure the highest of standards are met and compliance adhered to. She is passionate about our B Corp certification and keeping the team’s B Corp journey progressing proficiently and, along with our shared values, at the forefront of everything we do.
They have both been involved in a number of fundraising, community events and volunteer work, including most recently a company beach clean in North Devon.
