Judging panel 2026
David Aynsley Smyth, Head of Global Crisis Management, Experian
Kristina Charles, EMEA Regional Head of Resilience & Business Continuity, Amazon
Colm O’Keeffe, Global Head of Business Resiliency, Barings
James Parrish, Head of Business Continuity & Resilience, London Stansted Airport
Roger Payne, Enterprise Resilience Director, Vocalink Mastercard
Helen Tang, Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Manager, SmartDCC
David Aynsley-Smyth, Global Head of Crisis Management, Experian
David Aynsley-Smyth is Experian’s Global Head of Crisis Management. A serving military officer with a background in global resilience and crisis leadership, David has guided organisations through complex disruptions with strategic clarity and composure. He brings a diverse blend of operational expertise and personal passion to the table. Outside of work, David is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys adventuring with his wife and their dog.
Colm O’Keeffe, Global Head of Business Resiliency, Barings
Colm O’Keeffe is Barings’ Global Head of Business Resiliency, based in London. He leads the firm’s global business and operational resilience programme, ensuring continuity and preparedness across all areas of the organisation globally. With over 20 years of experience in business resilience and continuity planning within financial services, Colm brings deep expertise and strategic insight to the field. He holds the AMBCI Certificate from the Business Continuity Institute and is an active member of the Investment Association’s Operational Resilience Committee. Colm earned an MSc in Facilities Management and a BSc in Real Estate Management from South Bank University, London. Colm joined the judging panel of the Business Continuity Awards in 2025 and is delighted to return for 2026, continuing to support and celebrate excellence in the industry.
James Parrish, Head of Business Continuity & Resilience, London Stansted Airport
James Parrish is an award-winning business continuity and resilience leader with a proven track record across major UK airports and critical national infrastructure. As Head of Business Continuity & Resilience at London Stansted Airport, he drives the integration of continuity, risk and crisis management into organisational strategy and governance. James has developed frameworks and programmes that strengthen preparedness and assurance, including the launch of the Stansted Resilience Academy, and the UK’s first CPD-accredited Aviation Strategic and Tactical Incident Command courses. He has played a strategic role in national operations and events such as Operation London Bridge and the Coronation of King Charles III. Winner of the 2024 Business Continuity / Resilience Manager of the Year award, James is recognised for shaping best practice and influencing resilience policy across the aviation and government sectors.
Helen Tang, BCDR Manager, SmartDCC
Helen has over 11 years of dedicated experience in resilience across a diverse range of regulated industries, including gaming, banking and financial services, and the energy sector. Prior to specialising in resilience, Helen worked with international organisations on strategic transformation programmes, with a focus on change management, performance optimisation, and leadership development. Her career shift into resilience began following a family relocation and in her first role. Helen applied her transferable skills for immediate impact, influencing technical teams and fostering a mindset shift toward service continuity to deliver significant, unplanned benefits that protected both revenue and reputation. Since then, Helen has expanded her expertise to encompass the full spectrum of risk management and business continuity management system capabilities. In her current role at SmartDCC, she is thriving in a technically-focused resilience position, collaborating with leading technology and service providers to enhance and evolve the resilience of the national smart energy network. Helen was presented with the 2025 Business Continuity/Resilience Manager of the Year Award, and is now proud to serve as a member of the judging panel for the 2026 Awards.
