This year, we celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Professional Paraplanner Awards and we’d like to take a moment to recognise a group of people whose contribution is vital to the integrity and success of the awards – our judging panel.
Our thanks to Standard Life – Headline Sponsor of the Professional Paraplanner Awards 2026.
A big, big, thank you to our 2026 judges:
Jon Scannell – Head of Individual Annuity Distribution – Standard Life
Paul Ilott – Managing Director – Scopic Research
Kim Sanders – Director – Go Paraplanning
Caroline Stuart – Director – Sparrow Paraplanning
Richard Cooper – Business Development and Accreditation Manager – LIBF
Martin Rooks – Head of Advisory and Partnership – Marketing, Fidelity International
Sam Patterson – Head of Proposition – Equilibrium Financial Planning
And of course two of our very own…
Natalie Dawes – Editor – Professional Paraplanner
Rob Kingsbury – Consulting Editor – Professional Paraplanner
Behind every shortlisted entry and every winner announced on the awards day, sits a rigorous but also fair, judging process.
Using their relevant expertise, every year our judges generously give their time and careful consideration to reviewing what is invariably a high-quality and highly competitive field of entries.
In this tenth anniversary year, we saw the most entries we’ve ever had, so that field of entries was stronger than ever.
Having an independent judging panel is incredibly important.
Together, they draw upon their relevant experience from across financial planning, paraplanning and related sectors, offering valuable perspectives that help identify the individuals, teams and providers making a real difference.
One of the themes we hear repeatedly from judges is the sheer quality of the entries submitted each year.
Many have commented on the professionalism, technical expertise and passion demonstrated throughout the submissions, as well as the increasing standards being achieved across the profession.
Judges have also spoken about how rewarding they find the process itself. Reviewing the entries provides a unique view of the paraplanning profession – leaving everyone feeling immensely proud.
As Professional Paraplanner marks ten years of celebrating excellence, we are truly grateful to our judging panel for helping uphold the standards and values that make these awards so meaningful.
To every one of our judges, thank you for your professionalism, your insight and your generosity in supporting the profession.
The Professional Paraplanner Awards simply would not be possible without you.
Main image: thank you, courtney-hedger-t48eHCSCnds-unsplash
