This is our pool of 20 highly esteemed international judges that have participated in either the Radioinfo Podcast Asia Awards or the Radio Today Podcast Awards or both.
As eminent as our judges are, YOU TOO can be a JUDGE in the Radioinfo’s People’s Choice Podcast Awards. GO HERE TO VOTE.
Voting closes on Friday, 1st September.
People’s Choice winners will be announced at the Radiodays Podcast Day in Kula Lumpur (local time) on Wednesday, 6th September and posted on the Radioinfo and Radio Today group of websites.
Scroll down to read about the judging process.
Olya Booyar
Olya is a media and communications specialist who has worked with a wide range of broadcasting, media, statutory and regulatory organisations over the past 20 years. As Head of Radio at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), Olya is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the division as well as help drive an expansion of services to the ABU’s more than 300 member organisations across the region, including regional co-productions and capacity-building initiatives.
Flavia Voinea
Journalist, manager of Bucharest FM – Radio Romania Regional network, Flavia Voinea coordinates the editorial, the technical and the economic activities of the station, being also presenter for special programs. Former editor-in-chief and producer of Bucharest FM, she has a master in Public Relations and Communication and a Diploma in Journalism. She also attended the Deutsche Welle Academy‘s courses for Radio Management & Train the trainers and the International Program on Leadership in HEC University / Montreal, Canada. She was speaker and moderator for a series conferences related to radio and media. She was a member of jury for important media contests, the most relevant position being the president of the Final Radio Jury for the ABU Prizes 2021. She was involved as coordinator or trainer in repositioning/rebranding of regional stations.
RJ Sayema
RJ Sayema is an artist and a radio presenter. She has done both her M Phil in Social work from Delhi University. After clearing NET and JRF, she had a brief stint as a lecturer in DU. However, she chose passion over qualification. She started her radio journey with All India Radio as an English presenter and National News Reader (English). Some years after, she joined Radio Mirchi as the host of the much-acclaimed Hindi retro night show “Purani Jeans”. The show closed down in Delhi in April’2017 after staying at No.1 position for the last 14years. Now the same show goes to many cities of USA and India. She also hosts 12-3 in Delhi wherein a one experiences pure radio magic. As her show is called #SunoSayema, that’s what she does- Listens! To Delhi, who calls her and talks about anything and everything, she is the conduit between problems and resolutions.
An award-winning radio jockey, she has truly demolished the wall between generations and brought them together with her signature style of presenting the show the millennial way. Her twitter bio talks about the promise with her friends not ‘fans’ 😊
Radharani Mitra
Radharani Mitra, Global Creative Advisor, is widely considered to be a marketing and communications guru, with two decades of experience in advertising, where she was a creative director on big Indian and multi-national brands. She has spent the last 15 years at BBC Media Action, mining insights, developing communication strategies and designing impactful, award-winning creative solutions. Radharani tells stories using digital and legacy media to bring about social and behaviour change – from TV and web dramas to mobile services, from social media campaigns, graphic novels and songs to fast fiction and long format shows on radio. She has created brands and characters – now household names in many Indian states as well as in other countries across Asia and Africa – and has taught and published extensively on communication.
Valerie Geller
President of Geller Media International, Valerie works with more than 500 TV/Radio stations throughout the world, training broadcasters and podcasters to create powerful content and “NEVER BE BORING.”
After a radio career as a program director in New York, news director in San Francisco, and executive producer in LA, she turned to training and consulting and hasn’t looked back.
“It’s all the story business,” says Valerie.
In Australia, she has lectured at AFTRS, presented at CRA’s Radio Alive events and trained presenters and producers at SBS and the ABC.
Valerie is a board member of the New York Festivals International Radio Awards and is the author of five how-to books on growing and engaging broadcast and podcast audiences, her latest, Beyond Powerful Radio.
Named by Radio Ink as one of the Most Influential Women in Broadcasting, Valerie works one-on-one with individuals and holds seminars and workshops.
Jaime Chaux
Jaime is Head Of Digital – Commercial Radio & Audio
As such, he is a leader in the digital media, audio and content space. Focused on adding new digital value and connecting strategy & partnerships to where the new opportunities are.
His background in content creation and leadership combined with his more recent work at an all-of-industry level enables Jaime to be an active contributor to the new wave of growth for the audio industry in Australia. This growth covers content output, distribution, and monetisation.
Jaime is a firm believer in the role of radio and audio to tell stories of importance for Australian audiences and the value this can bring to publishers, content makers and advertisers.
Central to this is Jaime’s ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders of all levels to deliver new outcomes, as well as being a confident public speaker.
Abe Udy
Abe is the founder of the audio production company Abe’s Audio.
Originally specialising in production for radio, TV and online content, the business has expanded to provide podcast advice and production expertise.
From startup podcasts to well-established shows, Abe and his team have worked with podcasters large and small, helping them create shows their audiences love.
Del Fordham
Del was most recently the Head of Audio at News Corp Australia.
With over 20 years experience in audio content creation Del was the first hire into NewsCast’s on-demand audio team in late 2019.
Today, Del oversees the audio content creation for brands such as The Australian, news.com.au, True Crime Australia, The Herald Sun, Vogue Australia, kidspot.com.au and BODY + Soul.
The podcasts in Del’s network include The Front, The Teacher’s Trial, I Catch Killers, Browny’s Podcast, The Matty Johns Podcast, Something To Talk About with Samantha Armytage and Bikies Inc.
Del also oversees the integration of NCA’s content into smart speakers and the on-platform UX, windowing and locking strategies employed around NCA’s consumer first audio.
Sharon Taylor
Sharon Taylor, SVP Podcast Strategy & Product Operations, Triton Digital.
With more than 13 years of experience in the technology space, Sharon Taylor joined Triton Digital in 2019 through Triton’s acquisition of podcast technology company, Omny Studio.
Having worked closely with Triton since 2016 in her role as CEO, Sharon grew Omny Studio into one of the leading audio on-demand hosting and publishing platforms in the world.
Today, as SVP Podcast Strategy & Product Operations at Triton Digital, Sharon is at the helm of Omny, responsible for guiding the podcast development strategy for the company. In addition to leading the continuous advancement of the Omny Studio platform, maximizing its utility for both radio and podcast clients.
Sharon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and resides in Montreal.
Dave Carter
Dave is a creative producer, writer, interviewer and storyteller who’s spent more than 30 years’ leading the creation and production of award-winning podcast, radio, and television content.
With a wealth of experience both in front of and behind the mic, Dave’s been involved in the planning and creation of high-end audio and visual content for the likes of LiSTNR, MCM Entertainment, Granada, Crocmedia and more. As General Manger and Executive Producer at Media Heads, Dave is heavily involved with all of the company’s creative output, including the podcast titles ‘OPERATION ALLIANCE: 2002 Bali Bombings’, ‘ALWAYS LIVE’, and the multi-award-winning ‘Closing The Net’.
Grant Tothill
Grant Tothill is the Executive Head of Podcasting for LiSTNR.
Over the past six years, Grant has led the development and growth of Original Podcasting with PodcastOne Australia and in February 2021, the change to LiSTNR podcasts, driving the LiSTNR podcast network and playing an active role in the growth of LiSTNR.
As LiSTNR podcasts scales its original slate, Grant now oversees five major podcast verticals – Entertainment and Culture, Sport, News and Information, Factual and Drama and Parenting and Kids Entertainment.
LiSTNR Podcasts now has the biggest Podcast producing teams in the Southern Hemisphere.
Prior to LiSTNR Podcasts, Grant was the General Manager of Digital Audio SCA, the Head of PodcastOne Australia and the Head of the Triple M network, being an early member of the content team that developed the Rock Sport and Comedy format.
Natalie Pozdeev
As Program Convenor at AFTRS, Natalie Pozdeev is a media education specialist, with expertise in practice-based radio, journalism and digital content training. As Program Convenor of the Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting, she leads the School in delivering high quality, student centred and future focused education for the radio and podcasting industries.
Natalie joined AFTRS from her role of Head Teacher of Media, Radio and Journalism at TAFE NSW, a role she held for over a decade. This refined her educational leadership skills in delivering a range of highly practical media education programs, embedding innovative teaching, digital literacy, multi-platform and mobile media practice. Her industry practice has included a number of leadership and management roles, including Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA), the national peak body for community media. Natalie was also previously the Head of Radio at the AFTRS, and has had a long affiliation with community radio station 2RRR, most recently as Chair of the Board.
Natalie has a track record of holding multiple leadership roles simultaneously, and is currently also a Board member of the Community Media Training Organisation and a Non-Executive Director of the Financial Rights Legal Centre.
Kym Treasure
Based in Singapore, Kym Treasure worked at Spotify for several years before going out on her own as CEO & Founder of the first independent Audio Ad Network to launch across JAPAC.
I am passionate about audio technology, digital advertising, marketing, and collaborating with inspiring influencers. A big believer in a Growth Mindset!
Guy Dobson
Guy “Dobbo” Dobson has spent over 20 years in radio – most of it in content during the halcyon days at SCA where he rose to C-Suite level, finishing up as Chief Creative Officer. Today, he has his fingers in a number of media pies including Asian Radio Concepts and Great Southern Land Media.
Sarah Patterson
Sarah is one of Melbourne’s best known news presenters having worked on Eddie McGuire’s Hot Breakfast on Triple M as well as Fox FM, smooth FM, Nova, Gold 104.3, KIIS, SEN and RSN 927.
Today, she is News Director at Air News, Reporter at Radio Today and host of the Food Bytes podcast, now heard across the ACE Radio Network.
Jen Seyderhelm
Jen was most recently breakfast co-host with Paul Holmes at 2CA in Canberra and is currently a reporter for radioinfo.
Among her many talents, Jen freelances in providing services in Podcast Production, Design, Creation and Delivery. She’s also an experienced Educator in Broadcast, Podcast, Voiceover, Audio Editing and Writing for an Audio Audience as well as a Musicologist specialising in Australian Charting Hits from 1960 to current.
Peter Saxon
Celebrating 50+ years in radio, Peter started on-air at 2XL Cooma, went on to 2KA Katoomba before being hired as retail Sales Manager at 2WS when it launched in 1978 and then went on to become the station’s first Marketing Manager. He was co-founder of the multi-RAWARD/ACRA Award winning syndication company, Radiowise and has been Managing Editor of radioinfo since 2002 and now fulfils that role for Radio Today, radioinfo.asia and radioinfo.africa as well.
Blythe Moore
Blythe Moore has helped to develop a number of innovative podcasts for the ABC including the award-winning Innies + Outies, Schmeitgeist, Make Me Feel Good, You Don’t Know Me with Virginia Trioli, Let Us In! and the Newcastle Hunter Catch Up.
Elle Beatie
Elle is an accomplished Executive Producer and Managing Producer with extensive experience across radio and podcasting. She is currently Acting Head of Podcasts at Nova Entertainment. In this role, Elle is developing brand new podcast offerings, managing the organization’s current portfolio and re-signings, as well as working with all of the key stakeholders at Nova to ensure its commercial success.
Lauren Joyce
Lauren has spent two decades in the media industry, dedicating her time to assist brands convey their stories and establish connections with customers. Her unwavering passion lies in blending the power of audio with insight-led thinking, resulting in content worth spending your time on. Lauren was B&T’s Women in Media Marketer of the Year in 2022 and is currently ARN’s Chief Connections Officer, responsible for digital content, marketing, promotions and business intelligence. Prior to that, she was Head of Strategy for Mamamia. Her current must listen to podcast is ABC’s All In The Mind.
Lauren has spent two decades in the media industry, dedicating her time to assist brands convey their stories and establish connections with customers. Her unwavering passion lies in blending the power of audio with insight-led thinking, resulting in content worth spending your time on. Lauren was B&T’s Women in Media Marketer of the Year in 2022 and is currently ARN’s Chief Connections Officer, responsible for digital content, marketing, promotions and business intelligence. Prior to that, she was Head of Strategy for Mamamia. Her current must listen to podcast is ABC’s All In The Mind.
Judging Process
The Radioinfo Podcast ASIA Awards are organised by the Radioinfo and Radio Today group of websites: radioinfo.com.au, radiotoday.com.au, radioinfo.asia and radioinfo.africa
Judging was done online using the Awards Force platform.
The judges were chosen by us (the organisers) or recommended to us, due to their experience and reputation for excellence and integrity.
There were three judges assigned to each entrant, according to their expertise within the category.
None of the judges knew who the other two judges assigned to the same entrants were. Nor were they aware of the scores the others had given.
Judging assignments were allocated by the organisers to eliminate known conflicts such as voting for their own entries. And judges were encouraged to recuse themselves in the event of personal conflict.
We used a simple ranking system where each judge determined their top 5 picks from each category that they were assigned, ranking them 1 – 5: 1 being first place and 5 being 5th.
As in golf, the lowest scores win. The lowest overall score in each of the Divisions – Major and Indie – were deemed the winners of the Radio Today Podcast of the Year Awards. The winners for 2023, as chosen by our judges are:
The People’s Choice Awards: VOTE NOW (closing Friday, 1st September).
Winners in each of the Podcast categories (as opposed to the Individual or Organisation categories) as chosen by the Judges, automatically became “finalists” for the Radioinfo People’s Choice Podcast Awards. Readers are still able to cast their vote for their favourite podcast up until midnight Friday, 1st September.
People’s Choice winners will be announced at the Radiodays Podcast Day in Kula Lumpur (local time) on Wednesday, 6th September and posted on the Radioinfo and Radio Today group of websites.
Winners Certificates
All the winners will be sent a certificate suitable for framing.