Vicki has spent over 15 years working in comms for food and drink brands, now heading up Cirkle's retail trade and hospitality division, overseeing clients such as Carlsberg Britvic, PepsiCo and Rollover. Cirkle is a full-service PR agency which works to deliver comms campaigns with commercial impact for its clients, bringing its proposition 'Seen it, Shared it, Sold it Out' to life across channels. As a longtime supporter of the Retail Industry Awards, Vicki is proud to have been selected as a judge for this inaugural event, one which will truly shine a spotlight on the tremendous female talent this channel has to offer. Celebrating entrepreneurs across the independent convenience channel is close to Vicki's heart - she was instrumental in the creation, set up and leads the agency's Retailer Inner Cirkle initiative. This group of store owners from across the country was built to encourage stronger relationships between stores and suppliers, adding value and shining a spotlight on the hard work, dedication and drive within the convenience channel.

Neil Godhania is the owner of JSN Ltd, operating 3 convenience stores across Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, including the recently launched Heacham Stores, one of the UK’s flagship Nisa 2.0 stores. Having started with a single neighbourhood convenience store, Neil has grown the business into a multi-site operation employing over 50 colleagues and serving communities across both urban and rural locations. He’s passionate about community retailing, local sourcing, and creating stores that sit at the heart of their communities. Neil is an ACS Ambassador and an active voice within the convenience sector, regularly contributing to industry discussions on retail growth, community engagement, and the future of independent convenience retailing. His business has been recognised through numerous industry award nominations and has donated thousands of pounds to local causes and community groups. As a judge for the Women in Independent Retail Awards, Neil is proud to support and celebrate the outstanding achievements of women who continue to drive innovation, leadership, and success across the convenience and wider retail sector.

With more than 35 years of executive and board-level experience across the UK and international grocery and food retail sectors, Louise Hoste is on of the industry's respected leaders and a passionate advocate for independent retail. Having held senior roles including Managing Director, Commercial and Customer Offer Director within organisations such as SPAR UK, Co-op Group, Card Factory and ASDA, she has built a reputation for driving growth, fostering collaboration and leading business transformation. As former Chair of Association of Convenience Stores and MD of SPAR UK, she has championed strong governance, sustainable growth and the success of independent retailers and the communities they serve. A trusted mentor and advisor, Louise remains committed to supporting the next generation of retail leaders and helping independent retail continue to thrive.

Sarah C Johnson is a specialist in relationship management and events, with a career dedicated to connecting people, building communities, and creating impactful experiences. With nearly 20 years of experience in events management and stakeholder engagement, she has delivered more than 50 live and virtual events annually, ranging from small executive meetings to major industry conferences and international study tours. While at ACS, Sarah created the Women’s Independent Retailer Network, which gives female retailers a support network.

Today, Sarah works as a consultant supporting a range of organisations, while also leading youth initiatives and expanding her trampoline club into a full-time operation. Known for her collaborative approach and exceptional relationship-building skills, Sarah helps organisations inspire participation, strengthen communities, and achieve meaningful outcomes.

Aishwari joined the ACS team in September 2025, bringing experience in policy and corporate affairs from her previous role at another trade association. She holds both undergraduate and master’s degrees from Oxford Brookes University, where she studied International Management and International Relations. At ACS, Aishwari leads on policy and public affairs work related to Environment and Fuel, while also contributing to the communications team.

Frankie has over 20 years of experience in PR and Comms, specialising in Food & Drink within grocery, convenience, and hospitality. She has a proven track record of growing brand awareness and consideration, and an industry network that’s second to none. Mercieca is an award-winning integrated agency with an enviable client roster of some of the world’s leading Food & Drink brands including Vinarchy, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Weetabix, Perfetti Van Melle and Kellanova.

Susan is the Trade Communications Manager at Mondelēz International, with expert in-depth knowledge of the retail landscape after working in the sector for over 20 years. Mondelēz International’s brands include Cadbury, Green & Blacks, OREO, LU, belVita, Toblerone, Maynards Bassetts, Sour Patch Kids, Dairylea, Philadelphia, Trebor and Halls. As part of her role in helping retailers drive sales through detailed category advice, Susan leads on all trade press communications including product launches, advertising, seasonal events and industry awards, and manages Mondelēz International’s trade-facing website, Snack Display.

I am the founder of Wholesale Solutions Consulting Co.

I specialise in helping service providers provide solutions within the wholesale and retail market.

With over 20 years of senior experience across FMCG wholesale and retail, I bring a genuine 360° commercial perspective.

Amy Searle is a senior communications leader with over 16 years' experience across agency, in-house and trade body roles, giving her a unique perspective across both supplier and operator environments.

Amy is a passionate advocate for women in business and a champion of the retail and hospitality sectors. She is a proud member of G100 Media Arts & Communication – focused on celebrating and empowering women in the industry.

With a background spanning PR, marketing and sales, Amy is passionate about driving commercial results for brands, bringing a strategic lens and deep appreciation for the nuances of retail and out-of-home markets.

Across her career, Amy has delivered multiple award-winning campaigns recognised across the UK and EMEA, working with leading FMCG and drinks brands including PepsiCo, Organix, Diageo, Birds Eye, Ferrero, Haleon, Premier Foods and Suntory Beverage & Food.

Bobby Singh is an award-winning retailer, entrepreneur, property investor, and respected community leader based in Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

His business journey began in 1984 when his family acquired their first local store. Through vision, determination, and a commitment to excellence, Bobby transformed that single retail venture into a successful and diversified business portfolio spanning retail, property, and investment enterprises. Today, he is the driving force behind BB Superstores, one of the region’s most recognised independent retail businesses.

Over the past four decades, Bobby has built a reputation for commercial success, innovation, and leadership. His ability to identify opportunities, adapt to changing markets, and create sustainable growth has earned him industry recognition and established him as a trusted figure within the independent retail sector.

Beyond business, Bobby is passionate about supporting local communities and championing entrepreneurship. As a judge for the Women in Independent Retail Awards, he brings extensive industry knowledge, practical experience, and a deep understanding of what drives excellence in modern retail.

Bobby’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to hard work, innovation, and creating lasting value for both business and community.

Celebrating 18 years in the FMCG industry Carly is an experienced and dedicated trade communications consultant.

After working both agency side and in-house for global brands including Coca-Cola, Mondelez, Mars Wrigley, Kraft Heinz, Tetley, Merchant Gourmet and Blossom Hill, Carly set up SmithComm in 2020, and for the last six years has been helping brands, such as BrewDog and Red Bull improve their retailer consideration by growing their presence in trade press.

From brand and product awareness, to retailer engagement, category education and events, Carly is an extension of the teams she works with and during her time with the brand has helped BrewDog to establish and grow its distribution across convenience to become the number 1 craft beer brand in the channel.

I am an award-winning independent retailer, community champion, and industry advocate with over 16 years of service across policing and retail. As Managing Director of One Stop Carlton Convenience in Salford, I am passionate about driving innovation, supporting communities, and raising standards across convenience retail. Having been recognised through multiple national industry awards, I bring real-world experience, commercial insight, and frontline expertise to judging.

I am passionate about supporting and empowering women within our industry, championing greater opportunities, representation, and recognition across all levels of retail. I am honoured to have been selected to be part of this prestigious inaugural judging process and look forward to celebrating the individuals and businesses shaping the future of independent retail.

Rosie joined ACS in February 2021, after graduating with a Masters of Research from the University of Portsmouth. Before joining ACS, Rosie worked as a freelance researcher for several non-profit organisations. She is responsible for assisting the communications and public affairs team with research and analysis, used to support policy developments and keep ACS members informed.