Meet the 2023 judges
The unstoppable EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ finalists are assessed by an independent panel of judges, most of whom have previously participated in EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ UK programme.
London & South East
Sumir Karayi
Founder, 1E Global
Sumir is one of the UK’s more successful software entrepreneurs. In 2021, he sold most of his business — 1E — to the Carlyle Group, after having grown it organically over 20 years. 1E has continually invented new technologies, with more than 40 patents helping businesses ensure their employees can successfully work from anywhere.
Midlands & South West
Steve Hewitt
Founder, The Whānau Advisory
Steve Hewitt founded Whānau Advisory to help entrepreneurs and senior leadership teams build small to medium-sized businesses into global brands.
The company donates a percentage of its profits to charities providing housing, mentoring, and supporting healthcare programmes.
North
Hayley Roberts
CEO, Distology
After a 20-year career with blue chip enterprise businesses in retail, recruitment and technology, Hayley founded an information technology (IT) security distributor — Distology. Distology specialises in identifying and distributing the latest disruptive technology in the cybersecurity arena.
Scotland
Chris van der Kuyl
Principal, Chroma Ventures
Chris is one of Scotland’s leading entrepreneurs, working across the technology, media, gaming and entertainment sectors. He is — most notably — the Co-founder and Chairman of multiple award-winning games developer — 4J Studios. He and fellow Co-founder — Paddy Burns — launched Chroma Ventures — the investment arm of 4J Studios — in 2021.
United Kingdom
Jamil Mawji
Co-Founder & Co-Chair, National Care Group
Jamil is the Co-Founder & Co-Chair of National Care Group (NCG) - one of the UK’s largest adult specialist care providers, employing approximately 2,500 team members and providing care and support services to vulnerable adults. He was a UK finalist in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2020 UK experience along with his co-founder, Faisal Lalani.
