8 minute read

CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS All the latest news on the Cardiff Life Awards 2020, including our panel of judges

with the region’s professional...

NOTHING BEATS BEING THERE

As deeply, wildly glamorous celebrations go, the Cardiff Life Awards go a pretty long way. Each year, unprecedented number of companies nominate; each year tickets sell out yet faster; and each year the drumbeat of expectation crescendos to Awards night itself.

Truth is, you never know quite what to expect at any stage. And that’s a good thing. The nominations reveal a profusion of clever companies and organisations – sometimes all-new and often barelyknown; many well-known but telling of great new achievements. The judging session has clever insights as the wisdom-of-the-crowds eff ect means that the collective decision arrives at sound outcomes. Awards night has everything from laughter to tears to boisterous celebration, idiosyncratic-to-triumphant music, glitz, jubilation, attendees posing as cover stars, drama and just the most outré defi nition of überglam imaginable.

Our host Nigel Owens will be very Nigel Owens, cheerfully yomping off piste as the whim takes him. Oh, and there’ll be an after-show party through to implausible o’clock, for OUR SPONSORS PLATINUM SPONSOR Marsh Commercial Expert consultants in insurance, risk management and employee benefi ts for businesses and individuals. Its strength is the expertise and relationships it builds, helping its clients to thrive. LEAD SPONSORS Cardiff Blues, Cardiff Life, FOR Cardiff, Genero Group, HawkinsThomas Wealth Management, Park Plaza, Regus, Savills The überglam Cardiff Life Awards take place on 19 March at Cardiff City Hall, celebrating the best of Cardiff. In this special preview, we give you a taste of what to expect…

the socially doughty, convivially hardy and, well, to be honest, the absolutely drunk. Maybe don’t schedule too many meetings on Friday 20 March (we won’t)…

Cardiff City Hall will be fi lled with hundreds of the city’s fi nest businesses again, with several dozen on the waiting list. If you can’t make it this time, do tune into social media on the night. Follow all the action @Cardiff LifeAwds– we’ll be live tweeting the results.

Thank you to all who have entered, sponsored and judged; and to those who will attend. It’ll be a blast. If you love Cardiff , nothing, but nothing, beats being there…

A panel of completely independent judges will decide the Cardiff Life Awards winners. As ever, they’re drawn from all over the city, and from all walks of life. THE JUDGES WILL DECIDE…

GIOVANNI MALACARINO Owner, Giovanni’s Giovanni is a Welsh Italian entrepreneur, restaurateur, local celebrity, life coach and author. He has been a major infl uence on shaping Cardiff ’s restaurant and night time economy.

GUY CHRISTIAN Owner, Guy Christian Salons With over 25 years’ experience in the hair and beauty industry, Guy is a skilled hairdresser, photographer and business consultant, developing a strong formula for success in his salons.

RAKIE AYOLA Actor Cardiff actor Rakie grew up in Ely and is a graduate and fellow of The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. In 2019, she received an Honarary Doctorate from Warwick University.

RICHARD DAVIES General manager, Chapel 1877 Having fi rst moved to Cardiff in 1996 for university, Richard went on to run several of Cardiff ’s most prominent businesses over the last 22 years, and for the last seven years, has been managing the stunning Chapel 1877.

CLAUDIA LE GROS Founder and managing partner, Le Gros Solicitors Claudia is a leading fi gure in the Welsh legal sector having founded Le Gros Solicitors, a niche property law fi rm in Cardiff , nearly nine years ago.

DEAN EUDEN Business development, WSET Dean has worked in the wine and spirits trade for over 10 years, starting at Majestic and then working at Averys in Bristol and Fine Wines Direct before joining the WSET in 2014.

JO EVANS Project development offi cer, Cardiff Capital Region City Deal Jo has almost 15 years’ experience of working in local government in a variety of roles. She joined Caerphilly County Borough Council in 2005, in Economic Development and moved to Newport City Council in 2008.

KAREN JONES Director, TSR Legal Recruitment Karen started her career in recruitment, working in Watford for Blue Arrow. She moved to Cardiff before setting up Tailored Solutions Recruitment with her current business partner in 2004, which later became known as TSR.

RORY FLEMING Centre manager, Morgan Quarter Rory has been managing the Morgan Quarter since April 2012 and before this, has managed a variety of shopping centres throughout the UK. Rory has a passion for property management.

STEVE WILLIAMS Former PE teacher Now an estate director at Whitchurch High School, Steve was a PE teacher at the school from 1975 until his retirement in 2011. During that time he taught footballer Gareth Bale, rugby player Sam Warburton and Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas.

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