Friends of Barbados
Meet the Friends of Barbados, the panel of judges who will be selecting the winners of the competition
Karen Blackett, OBE
The daughter of two Barbadian parents, one of whom quite fittingly with our campaign, was a nurse, Karen Blackett today is one of the most influential women in the UK. In the media and advertising sector she has established herself as a champion of women’s rights, equality, and diversity. She is currently Chair of MediaCom UK, one of the most powerful media brands in the UK.
Carl Cox
With his family having moved to Manchester from Barbados in the 1960s, superstar DJ Carl Cox credits his Bajan upbringing as the source of his musical inspiration and what has blossomed into a stellar career as an artist. A son of the soil who needs no introduction.
Tom Aikens
At the age of 26, this friend of Barbados became the youngest British chef to ever receive two Michelin stars. A stalwart in the culinary world, Chef Tom Aikens has long been a cherished fan of our island, even becoming the ambassador for the Barbados Food and Rum Festival for two years (2018, 2019).
Sue Springer
Sue is currently the Director for Corporate and Government Relations at The Caribbean Council. Sue’s career spans some 40 years in the tourism and hospitality sector. During this time, she was involved with managing a number of luxury hotels in Barbados; she was CEO of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association for a period of 16 years.
Angie Greaves
Angie Greaves, National Drive Time Presenter, Smooth Radio and Smooth Sunday Mornings, has one of the most soulful and distinctive female voices in UK radio today.
Angie is passionate about not only being recognised for her voice but also as a lauded British female spokesperson. A proud mother of two daughters, Angie fully encompasses the archetypal, positive role model for 50+ women throughout the UK and farther afield.
David Harewood, MBE
The son of a Barbadian couple who, like many others, migrated to the UK in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Harewood has established himself as a giant of film and theatre, making history in the process while shattering many glass ceilings for others in the field, such as becoming the first Black man to play Othello at the National Theatre in London.
His Excellency, High Commissioner for Barbados to the United Kingdom
Milton Inniss
With a background in, and unwavering dedication to social care and philantrophy, Milton is an avid member of Rotary International. He also is a lifelong member of the Barbados Cricket Association, the Barbados National Trust and the Barbados Museum. In 2018, he was appointed as High Commissioner for Barbados to the Court of St. James’s. He brings to this role a passion for matters relating to climate change, sustainability, trade, education and matters relating to the issues of Small Island Developing States.