The Judging Process

The judging process is in three stages: initial assessment, release of the shortlist, and the release of the final winners. See the “about” page for a list of FAQs on the Cloud Awards program. You may also see a complete breakdown of rules and costs here.

Judging is primarily based on the quality of the awards application, and no other materials need be supplied. Entrants are encouraged to write to the word count given for each question, to ensure sufficient evidence is given.

  • Your awards application is the most important metric in our assessment of your submission to either the SaaS Awards or Cloud Awards programs.
  • Supplementary materials such as presentations and extra data are also permissible, and you may share these at the point at which you upload your submissions form. If you exercise restraint in the volume of additional materials supplied, they will be more likely to be scrutinized.
  • Testimonials and case studies, whether illustrated on the submissions form or provided separately, can often be the deciding factor in a category — beyond your own assurances of excellence and innovation, having confirmation from your customers can be very persuasive.
  • Third-party or supplementary metrics such as net promoter scores and online reviews may also be used in some category assessments at the judges’ discretion.

All awards submissions are treated in the strictest commercial confidence by the judging team.

The Judging Panel

The Cloud Computing Awards program and the Software-as-a-Service Awards program aim to take a holistic approach in awards assessment, both geographically and in the measurement of success. The judges below head up an ever-growing global team who assist in the judging process, and represent a mix of technical, business, academic and marketing expertise. The Cloud Awards and SaaS Awards are the foremost recognition systems in the industry: if you would like to join the judging team, please contact us. We are seeking to increase our global representation and are particularly interested in applicants from Asia.

Neha Pattan
Neha PattanSaaS Expert
As a Senior Staff Software Engineer at Google, Neha leads a team of 40+ engineers to design and develop new and innovative ways to use cloud technology to solve real-world problems. As a long-time technical leader at Google, from designing and building cloud software for enterprises to figuring out how to build great cloud-based products and services for consumers, Neha has been fortunate enough to experience and lead the way for both enterprise and consumer-based needs. Neha has a master’s degree in software engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
Richard Geary
Richard GearyAlgorithms Specialist
Richard is an R&D engineer who has worked in the cloud computing and big data sectors since 2007. He has pioneered the use of distributed Machine Learning algorithms for sports predictions and has led development on a range of online tools, including data cleansing, route planning for mileage expense claim validation, and web-based vehicle scheduling solutions. He holds a first-class honors degree in Computer Science, which he was awarded before going on to study for a PhD in Algorithms and Data Structures.
Graham Beale
Graham BealeUX/UI Expert
Graham has specialized in User Experience Design since before the turn of the millennium, at organizations including BBC, Yahoo!, Symantec, Daily Telegraph, Vodafone and Yell. He’s provided consultancy to start-ups and also built and led teams in enterprise organizations. Graham specializes in outcome-driven methodologies such as Lean UX. He currently teaches UX/UI Design to international students at Flatiron School.
Annabelle Whittall
Annabelle WhittallSystems Engineer
Annabelle Whittall is a Quality Systems expert with over a decade of experience in design and technology. A certified Lean Six Sigma project manager, Annabelle specializes in quality management and continuous improvement. Annabelle has an exciting history of working in research and development with names including Rolls Royce, Boeing, BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin. More recently, Annabelle has been working on a state-of-the-art robust satellite navigation capability program. She is a member of the Women’s Engineering Society, Royal Statistical Society and holds a degree in Mathematics and Statistical Science. Annabelle is passionate about encouraging young people to pursue a career in STEM.
Jason Ford
Jason FordTechnical Educator
Jason is a former web designer, systems administrator and technical consultant. Now a technical trainer, he specializes in areas including CompTIA course track and Microsoft systems and applications.
Robert Bassett
Robert BassettEducation Specialist
Robert Bassett is a consultant who has worked on IT in government and education. He divides his time between London and California, providing organizational support with internet-based solutions. He specializes in issues surrounding public/private clouds, systems integration and cloud automation solutions. Robert graduated from Oxford university with a degree in PPE.
James L Williams
James L WilliamsDigital Marketing Expert
James L Williams is an ex-journalist and marketing/communications professional. James has helped to establish and grow several internet start-ups over the last two decades across a diverse array of industries, including technology dotcoms, the charity sector, and e-commerce. James specializes in the marketing of cloud solutions, forming and managing customer relationships, and inbound marketing.