BusinessZone.co.uk editor joins judging panel at government innovation awards

Dan Martin, editor of BusinessZone.co.uk, is part of a prestigious panel of judges taking part in the government backed iawards which celebrate the best of British science, technology and innovation.

Organised by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in association with QinetiQ, the inaugural iawards have been established to recognise and celebrate the best of British science, technology and innovation.

Judging entrants are high profile representatives from across science, industry, technology and media. Among them are BusinessZone.co.uk editor Dan Martin who will rate the contenders in the digital communications category. He is joined by Lyndsay Menzies, UK managing director of bigmouthmedia; Dr Mike Lynch, founder, Autonomy and Justin Pearse, editor of New Media Age.

Led by Dragons' Den entrepreneur James Caan and innovation minister Lord Drayson, the judging panels also include Brian McBride, UK managing director of Amazon; Paul Willcox, managing director of Nissan; Dr Tim Hunt, Nobel Prize winner in physiology or medicine 2001;  Rory Cellan-Jones, technology correspondent at the BBC; Jonathan Kestenbaum, chief executive of NESTA and Dr Sam Beale, head of technology strategy at Rolls Royce.

Lord Drayson said: "The iawards give us a crucial opportunity to unearth the hidden jewels of British innovation. This top calibre panel of judges will have their work cut out choosing between the very best of British - making sure they get the recognition they deserve."

James Caan added: "I am honoured to be chair of such a high quality academy of judges. This really is testament to the enthusiasm that exists in this country to celebrate our unsung heroes of science, technology and innovation. I look forward to working with them to pick the winners for the inaugural iawards, and give our innovative companies and individuals the recognition they deserve." 

The full list of judges is available here.