2026 Judging Panel
Jonathan Easton, Editor, Retail Systems
Oliver Banks, Retail Transformation Director & Consultant, OB&CO
Alex Leonards, News Editor, Retail Systems
Ruairi McVeigh, Head of Product, Payments and Fraud, END Clothing
Claire Wallis, Consumer Goods and Retail Director, BearingPoint
Tim Walpole, Head of Data and Creative Technology, Retail Trust
Oliver Banks, Retail Transformation Director & Consultant,OB&CO
Oliver Banks is an expert consultant working with senior leaders to transform retail businesses and operations. One of the most influential voices in retail, Oliver is author of 'Driving Retail Transformation: How to Navigate Disruption & Change' a LinkedIn Top Voice, host of the Retail Transformation Show podcast and keynote speaker, and advises on navigating transformation and the ever-evolving world of retail.
Alex Leonards, News Editor, Retail Systems
Alex Leonards is the News Editor at Retail Systems where she oversees the day-to-day running of the site and keeps on top of the latest goings on in the retail technology space. She is an ambitious, experienced, and inquisitive journalist with almost a decade of experience in the field, having achieved a master’s degree in multimedia journalism from the University of Westminster.
Ruairi McVeigh, Head of Product, Payments and Fraud, END Clothing
I've spent 12 years in e-commerce retail, holding roles from software engineer and business analyst to product owner, and, most recently, leading product teams in Fashion E-commerce. My career has spanned both challenging transformation projects and the rewarding launch of new apps and websites with global impact. Currently, at END Clothing, I'm expanding my knowledge in the dynamic omnichannel space, which combines complexity with rapid change and inspires my creativity. Working closely with Machine Learning and AI, I’m thrilled to see how these innovations are transforming retail. It’s incredible to witness the realisation of concepts I studied during my computer science degree, back when we saw them as futuristic ideas.
Claire Wallis, Consumer Goods and Retail Director, BearingPoint
Claire brings a wealth of industry expertise, having worked for leading retailers such as Tesco, Boots, and B&Q. Her diverse career encompasses pivotal roles in Goods Not for Resale Procurement, Marketing, Property Cost Management, and most recently, spearheading Promotions Optimisation at Tesco.
Claire's passion for driving transformation and change has been a defining feature of her career, particularly in its latter stages.
Currently, Claire heads the UK Consumer Goods and Retail division at BearingPoint, a management and technology consultancy, where she is committed to delivering sustainable business transformation across all facets of retail.
Tim Walpole, Head of Data and Creative Technology, Retail Trust
Tim Walpole is a seasoned technology professional with over two decades of experience, renowned for his innovative approach and expertise. Starting his career at ICL, Tim navigated through various roles to eventually become head of innovation at BJSS, specialising in AI and natural language processing. Tim has remained steadfast in leveraging technology for societal betterment, consistently demonstrating his commitment to driving positive change. Notably, during his tenure at BJSS, Tim played a pivotal role in delivering a platform aimed at distributing millions of items of surplus food to those in need.
Tim has embarked on a new chapter by joining the Retail Trust as head of data and creative technology. His mission is clear: to revolutionise the retail industry by harnessing the power of data and AI to improve the lives of every employee. Tim was instrumental in building the happiness dashboard for the Retail Trust, enabling retailers to enhance the wellbeing of their employees. This data and insights platform offers invaluable insights into employee satisfaction, engagement, and overall wellbeing, empowering retailers to make informed decisions that positively affect the lives of their colleagues.
