Meet the Judges – The Industry Awards 2020
Entries into the The Industry Awards 2020 have now closed and our judges have been reviewing all of the entries to choose this year’s winners!
We’ll save our winners announcement for The Industry Awards event on 8 November at The Cordis hotel in Auckland. But in the meantime we’d like to introduce this year’s judges.
Our judges come from a wide variety of backgrounds and bring a wealth of experience across the hair and beauty industries. We have some experienced Industry Awards judges back on board and we’re also welcoming some brand new judges.
Now to introduce our judges for the business, training and creative categories.
Business awards judges
Audrey Hill – National Key Account manager, L’Oreal Professional Products
Audrey has been with the L’Oréal Professional Products division for 18 years. For the first 14 years she worked with Kérastase in a range of roles including Area Manager, Key Account Manager and Education Manager.
Following this, Audrey spent 18 months with the Redken brand in sales, before moving into her current national role encompassing Business Development for the division.
Audrey is passionate about working with salons to create the perfect client journey, to ensure the ultimate client experience and maximum profitability for the salon.
“It’s a huge honour to be on the judging panel and I’m super excited to be immersed in the passion of our industry.”
Seumus Cooney – New Zealand Regional Manager, Wella Professionals
Seumus started out in the industry in 1994 working for Combined Salon Supplies. He spent two years gaining invaluable front line warehouse and logistics experience. Making a move into sales, he worked for IMM Corp. Ltd whose hero brand was Nioxin.
A year later Seumus joined the Wella brand, and 2020 marks Seumus’s 22nd year with the company. During his time with Wella he’s had a number of roles, from Sales Consultant through to Senior Sales Consultant, Key Account Manager, and now for more than six years, New Zealand Regional Manager. He works with a wide number of brands including System Professional, Nioxin, Sebastian, SP, Wella Professionals and Clairol.
Supporting training and capability has always been a priority for Seumus and he feels his involvement with The Industry Awards is another way to do that. Seumus has judged the business categories many times, so he brings years of judging experience to the panel.
“I feel honoured to judge these awards and have an intimate view into just how exceptional our industry really is.”
Malcolm Gibbons – Business Coach, Salon Business Coach
Malcolm’s introduction to the hairdressing industry was through working with a salon specific product supplier. For around ten years he helped salon owners with products, and providing business advice and in-salon training.
Malcolm then ventured into salon ownership. For over 16 years he worked to triple the floor space of his flagship salon, added spa services and increased revenue by over 470% per week – all whilst buying, building and selling another salon and owning a computer and software supply company.
He’s been successfully coaching hair and beauty salons in sales growth, service delivery, time management, culture change and all other aspects of salon business ownership for over ten years. Malcolm also delivers regular business changing ‘salon owner retreats’ offshore and works with salon owners locally and internationally.
Malcolm has been judging the business categories for The Industry Awards for several years, that combined with over 30 years experience in the industry makes him a real asset to the 2020 judging panel.
“Once again I’m excited to judge the Industry business awards, it’s so good to see the bar being pushed higher each year. I’m always impressed with the quality of the entries and inspired by the actions the successful salons are taking in business.”
Training awards judges
Mana Dave – Blaze
Mana Dave is an award-winning hairstylist and platform artist from Auckland. Mana loves the creativity and people focus his career offers. He loves to make people look and feel good and has built a successful empire off doing exactly that.
He is the Artistic Director and owner of celebrated salon, Blaze, where he and his forward-thinking team are dedicated to training, upskilling, and mastering the latest trends.
His passion for hair colour and commitment to education and training has positioned him as a powerful figure in the hairdressing industry.
Owning two successful salon brands, Mana understands the significance of both technical skills and business acumen. For him, great hair colour is achieved through a good consultation and strategic colour placement.
Mana is a first-time Industry Awards judge and has loved seeing the ever-growing talent in our industries!
Kim Ryan – Owner, Advanced Derma Care
Trained nurse and beauty therapist, Kim Ryan, has a wealth of experience in beauty. Not only has she worked in the industry for over 25 years, she’s earned various awards for training and business development along the way.
Both her and her husband Paul later founded Advanced Derma Care, where Kim is now the lead in product selection and training, sharing her experience in advanced dermal therapies and dermal knowledge.
Kim is also former President of the New Zealand Association of Registered Beauty Therapists, striving for safe practice and continuous education for all beauty therapists.
She is a sought-after expert in her field, having written for numerous industry magazines, namely, NZ Beauty and Simply Beauty.
Kim has thoroughly enjoyed her second year of judging for the Industry Awards – this year was particularly exciting, with the introduction of the Beauty Therapy Apprentice of the Year award.
Rebecca Brent – Owner, Willis York
RRebecca Brent is one of New Zealand’s most influential hair colourists, with an impressive twenty years of styling experience under her belt.
She’s spent over ten years in L’Oréal Professionnel’s artistic team, carving out a niche for creative colour work and acclaimed, educational seminars.
Through her zest for experimentation and desire to push the boundaries with L’Oreal colour, she has majorly shaped the New Zealand colour scene with her hand painted pastel work, colour recipes and beautiful imagery.
Rebecca is also the director and owner of iconic salon Willis York in Wellington. With a loyal following, Rebecca and the team at Willis York are renowned for their inspirational hair work, and cultivation of award winning, innovative, hair experts.
She continually gives back to the industry by hosting and curating fashion and design events and can’t wait to judge on this year’s panel for the second time.
Katrina Herbert – Owner, The Capital Barber
Kat Herbert began her journey as a Hairdressing apprentice at just 15 years old. After completing her qualification under the tutelage of David Bendell, she became a contractor stylist in the Wellington region, later opening her own Salon in Petone.
Kat thoroughly enjoyed Hairdressing and the opportunities it offered, particularly training young professionals to help them gain their qualifications.
With a passion for cutting and styling men’s hair, Kat diversified her skills, training in barbering and men’s grooming by 2005 and positioning herself as Senior Barber at Monsignors Barber Shop.
In 2015 Kat opened her own inner-city Barber Shop in Wellington, The Capital Barber, offering corporate professionals a first-class barbering experience. With both barbering and hairdressing under her belt, Kat is the perfect trainer to her apprentices.
Kat is also judging for her second year and has very much enjoyed scouting new talent.
Creative awards judges
Tabatha Coffey
Tabatha is credited for her ability to transform struggling businesses and people’s lives, through her no-nonsense approach and savvy business expertise. She draws on her own life experiences, and her transformative coaching skills to offer straightforward advice and deliver her empowering message of inner beauty and strength. Her television show, speaking appearances and books inspire women and men around the world to take charge of their lives, their businesses and their futures.
Tabatha’s television presence includes her Bravo shows Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, Tabatha Takes Over and Relative Success, as well as appearing as an expert on numerous daytime TV shows including The Talk, Dr. Oz, The Rachael Ray Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show and Fashion Police. She has always shone on the red carpet as an award show correspondent and expert, critiquing red carpet looks for the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards and the Emmys.
Tabatha is also a contributing writer for People Style Watch and Pop Sugar, as well as Global Business Ambassador for Matrix Hair Care.
As a sought-after public speaker, she speaks at national and international beauty industry shows, and significant business and non-profit events around the world. Her most recent accolades include a successful TEDx Talk in St Louis and being inducted into the Australian Hairdressing Hall of Fame.
While she has made her mark on reality and daytime television, the red carpet and the best-selling author list, Coffey’s “roots” began in the hair industry. From the beginning of her career when she was 14-years- old in Australia to training with Vidal Sassoon and Toni and Guy in London, to owning her own salon in the United States.
While Coffey regularly travels around the world to educate stylists, she also works closely to help create the incredible hairstyles featured in advertising and trend collection imagery. Over the last 30 years, Coffey has worked with a veritable who’s-who of the industry in Australia, Great Britain and the United States.
Tabatha’s memoir It’s Not Really About the Hair: The Truth About Life, Love and the Business of Beauty is in its fourth printing, published by Harper Collins. Her second book Own It, also published by Harper Collins is in its third printing.
Lex Buckley
Lex Buckley, together with partner Sheryl, are the publishers of the well-known and well-read Images Magazine. Now in its 19th year, Images has earned an international reputation and was awarded an Intercoiffure Global Press Award Paris in 2009.
Lex says; “With a keen interest in photography, I have an eye for the “money shot” which is stunning enough for a magazine editorial or front cover. My focus while judging the submitted images this year will be on the total look and feel of the shot; for example, does it tell a story? is it visually exciting?”
This will be Lex’s fifth year judging the Editorial Stylist of the Year awards – as a stalwart of the industry and with a keen eye for detail, we’re excited to have him on board again this year and we truly value his experience and support.
Vivienne Mackinder
Vivienne Mackinder is one of the most highly respected international leaders and innovators in the hairdressing profession today. Vivienne is driven by her mission to continually hone her own artistry and creativity, and to uplift the spirit and image of her profession.
Currently based in the Hamptons, New York, Vivienne grew up in London where she attended the London College of Fashion. Upon graduating she immediately landed a position with Vidal Sassoon, eventually becoming Artistic Director. In 1990, she left London for the US and the chance to work with Trevor Sorbie as his International Creative Director.
Vivienne is an in demand featured guest artist/educator for events world-wide. Her passion for training, educating and creating innovative designs has lead her to collaborate with the likes of MTV, VH-1 and produce runway fashion collections in New York, Paris and London.
Vivienne produced and directed “I’m Not Just a Hairdresser”, a documentary film series designed to inspire new and seasoned hairdressers alike. She was also granted the North American Hair Styling Awards Honouree, “Life Time Achievement” Award in 2009, and is a six time winner of the North American Hair Styling Awards.
This is Vivienne’s first year judging The Industry Awards, and with her extensive experience in the industry, we’re honoured to have her on board.
Joey Scandizzo
Joey Scandizzo, industry leader and celebrity hair stylist, is the founder of Joey Scandizzo Salon and co-founder of Eleven Australia . Specialising in all aspects of haircutting and contemporary styling, Joey is one of the most awarded stylists the Australian hairdressing industry has ever seen.
Joey’s notable accolades include being named AHFA Australian Hairdresser of the Year twice, Hair Expo Australian Hairdresser of the Year twice, AHFA Men’s Hairdresser of the Year, and receiving the AHFA Australian Masters Award.