Judging Panel 2026

Chair of the judges: Adam Cadle, Editor, Corporate Finance News, Insurance Asset Management and MoneyAge  
David Butcher, Founder & Director, Communications and Content
Adrian Quick, Advisory Board Member, Society of Later Life Advisors (SOLLA)
John Somerville, Director of Financial Services, LIBF
Debbie Staveley, Founder and CEO, bClear Communications  

Chair of the judges: Adam Cadle, Editor, Corporate Finance News, Insurance Asset Management and MoneyAge  
Adam Cadle is a business and finance journalist with over ten years’ experience, and is currently the editor of Insurance Asset Management, MoneyAge and Corporate Finance News. He previously worked as deputy editor on Pensions Age and European Pensions. Adam has chaired a number of award judging panels and conferences over the years both in the personal finance and insurance asset management spaces. He is a graduate from Sussex University with a BA honours in French and History and is NCTJ qualified.

David Butcher, Founder & Director, Communications and Content
David Butcher is a communications professional with a long experience of adding enterprise value through engaging messaging, thought leadership and reputation management. He is managing director of Communications and Content – a specialist communications consultancy for investment and financial brands – and has worked in the sector for nearly 25 years. He started his career in specialist consultancies, such as Lansons, advising companies on strategic and tactical issues, and held a number of senior roles at blue chip investment businesses, including Fidelity International and M&G Investments. He writes regularly on financial communications in the trade media.

Adrian Quick, Advisory Board Member, Society of Later Life Advisors (SOLLA)
Having worked in financial services since 1979, Adrian founded HarperLees in 1996, initially as an IFA practitioner but transitioning into Financial Planning between 2004-2007 to provide lifestyle based client outcomes. He joined SOLLA in 2015 and added specialist later-life planning to HarperLees’ client service, in recognition of the increasing demand from clients for support with family members and long-term care funding. Adrian stepped away from client advice in 2025, although he remains involved in HarperLees Financial Planning.

John Somerville, Director of Financial Services, LIBF
With over three decades of experience in Regulated Financial Services, John Somerville has held various roles, including Financial Adviser, Regional Manager, and Business Development Manager at renowned companies such as Aviva, AXA, and Legal and General. Prior to joining LIBF, John served as the Regulated Learning and Development Manager at Nationwide Building Society and as a Regulated Learning and Development Consultant at Intrinsic Financial Services, now Quilter. For the past six years, John has been dedicated to nurturing the next generation of Banking, Mortgage and Financial Advice Professionals at LIBF. He takes immense pride in helping individuals achieve their qualification ambitions, thus playing a vital role in shaping the future of the UK Financial Services Profession.

Debbie Staveley, Founder and CEO of bClear Communications
Debbie Staveley is a PR and communications professional. She is the founder and CEO of bClear Communications, an agency which has specialised in financial services, fintech, property and construction for 20 years.
bClear Communications is now one of the most well-respected public relations agencies in the financial services sphere. The team at bClear is well known for achieving outstanding results that eclipse those most other agencies. It specialised in everything from communications strategy and digital PR to white papers, award entries and, of course, generating extensive media coverage for clients in both trade and national press.
Prior to founding bClear Communications Debbie set up an internal communication at RBS, managed B2B and B2C PR at Bristol & West and Bank of Ireland and then internal and external communications at top-75 law firm Clarke Willmott.