Corporate Communications/PR & Publications Awards Judging Committee
John Frederick Cruz
Senior Director – Head of Agency, BrandPlay, Inc, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Fritz Cruz is an award-winning communicator with 15 years of experience developing and implementing corporate and brand reputation campaigns for multinational corporations and conglomerates from various industries in the Philippines. He has also worked on tourism marketing campaigns for foreign tourism boards and advocacy campaigns for UN-funded programs. He currently leads a passion-driven team of storytellers and PR professionals who are dedicated to developing campaigns that yield lasting impact to clients and the communities they serve. With the majority of his campaigns having been recognized in the Philippines and abroad, Fritz brings in a wealth of experience in evaluating communication campaigns. He previously served as a judge for the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards and was a member of the esteemed IABC Gold Quill Blue Ribbon Panel Committee. Active in various advisory roles for government and public sector organizations, including membership on the Advisory Committee for Communication for the Prime Minister of South Korea and the chairmanship of the Advisory Committee of Korean Policy Broadcasting. Awarded the President's Commendation (1990), Service Merit Medal (1996), and Order of Service Merit (2000, 2023) by the South Korean government for contributions to national and social development. Selected by Seoul Daily Newspaper in 1994 as one of "Fifty Future Leaders of the Republic of Korea. Sean founded Amire with a vision to bridge the gap between technical SEO, content marketing, and performance advertising. His agency is known for developing customised marketing solutions, ensuring that every client benefits from a holistic and results-oriented approach. Sean believes in leveraging cutting-edge tools, analytics, and AI-driven insights to refine digital strategies, allowing businesses to outperform their competition in an increasingly competitive online landscape. In addition to SEO, Amire provides Google Ads, social media advertising, and programmatic advertising solutions. Sean ensures that his team stays ahead of industry trends by continuously testing and refining strategies to keep up with evolving search engine algorithms and digital advertising platforms. His commitment to data transparency and ROI-driven results has earned Amire a strong reputation in the industry. Amire also has a very strong focus on providing pro bono digital marketing services to support charities, having already provided A$500,000 in pro bono services. Sean is a sought-after consultant and speaker on topics related to SEO trends, paid media innovations, and digital growth strategies. His ability to break down complex digital marketing concepts into actionable insights has made him a valuable resource for businesses looking to scale their online presence. Outside of Amire, Sean is passionate about mentoring emerging digital marketers and staying at the forefront of marketing technology innovations. His leadership has positioned Amire as a trusted partner for businesses looking to navigate the complexities of the digital landscape and achieve sustainable growth.

Neha Arora
Head of Corporate Communications, Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd, NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh, India
Neha Arora is an internationally award-winning corporate communications leader with over 20 years of experience across industries like renewable energy, manufacturing, and F&B. As Head of Corporate Communications at Triveni Group, she specializes in brand positioning, investor relations, digital transformation, executive messaging, and strategic storytelling.

Kristel Artates
Consumer Campaign Publicity and Engagement Lead, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., Makati, National Capital Region, Philippines
A seasoned PR and branding strategist, Kristel has led campaigns for top APAC brands like Loreal, Unilever, Huawei, and Globe Telecom. Internationally accredited in crisis communications, she now leads consumer business publicity and engagement at Metrobank Philippines. Her work across agency roles at Ogilvy, and in-house positions has earned honors.

Mark Josef Dolor
Account Director, Ripple8, Inc., Taguig, National Capital Region, Philippines
An experienced communication and marketing professional with over a decade of experience. Mark specializes in social media and digital marketing, events management, video production, account management, and content production. Apart from his experience in project management and digital, Mark has also helped conceptualize and implement award-winning communication campaigns that gained major recognition.

Claire Lim
Growth Director, Golin, Brooklyn, New York, United States
With over a decade of experience in Marketing, Business Development and Growth Strategy, Claire is an award-winning professional with significant experience in markets from Asia to the vibrant cityscape of New York, where she continues to drive remarkable success for clients and companies. Her expertise includes digital marketing, PR, and strategy development.
Anne Michelle Pador
Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications, Nestlé Philippines, NCR, Quezon City, Philippines
tbd

Joe Thoma
Founder/CEO, Awareness Campaign Group, Oviedo, Florida, United States
Joe Thoma is an English language coach and business editor with over 40 years of experience in publishing and editing. He specializes in Business English coaching and editing. Joe holds a Master's in Political Science/Public Policy from Duke University and a Bachelor's in History from Rutgers University.

Vonj Tingson
President & Chief Operations Officer, PAGEONE Group, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
Vonj leads a global award-winning group of public relations companies that has already won 9 Agency of the Years, a Hall of Fame, the coveted Grand Anvil for four years, and a Platinum Award for three consecutive years, among other awards from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), and the Philippine Quill Awards.

Maria Hazel Velasco Miraflor
Senior Manager, GMA Network. Inc., Quezon City, National Capital Region, Metro Manila
Maria Hazel is a corporate communications professional with over 15 years of experience in strategic communications, creative development, publishing, broadcast media, sustainability, finance, and science communication.