Jury

Our jury comprises esteemed professionals who drive change and set trends within the industry daily. They possess the unique ability to approach matters both analytically and creatively. This year, the Competition's jury, consisting of 20 members, will help identify communication excellence. The panel includes five representatives each from Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, along with five international members drawn from business, public administration, academia, the creative industries, and non-governmental organisations.

Indrek Raudjalg

Board member at Estonian Public Relations Association

Indrek is a partner and management board member at Agenda PR, one of the leading strategic communications companies in Estonia. He is the first contact for crisis communications and advises clients across the financial services, technology, telecommunications, and real estate sectors. With communication experience dating back to 1997, he has headed the public relations department at the Ministry of Finance, managed the press office of the Police Board, and previously served as a board member driving growth at private PR companies.

Tomas Kirša

Freelance Fractional CMO & Growth Strategist

Helps companies grow smarter by connecting data with decisions, marketing with product, and creative ideas with measurable results. Over the years, has worked across B2B, tech, media, and consumer brands, helping businesses transform marketing from a cost center into a growth engine.

Janina Sabaitė

Behavior analysis specialist, certified mindfulness teacher, supervisor, communication teaching practitioner

Has over 23 years of professional experience in client behaviour and societal habit change. Works across strategic programme development, large-scale public initiatives, and long-term collaboration with organisations addressing environmental responsibility, sustainability, mental health, and stigma reduction.

Kristīne Mennika

Head of Corporate Communications at BITE Latvia, LASAP Board Member

Kristine is a senior corporate communications leader with experience in the telecom and finance sectors, overseeing reputation management, media relations, and CSR initiatives.

Renata Matkevičienė

Dean of the Faculty of Communication at Vilnius University and Professor of political and corporate communication

Leads the Faculty of Communication at Vilnius University as Dean and Professor of political and corporate communication. Chairs the Corporate Communication Research Group and contributes to the development of one of Lithuania’s key communication schools.

Kaspars Zālītis

Chair of Movement Dzīvesbiedri and the Latvian Diversity Charter, Head of the Strategic Communications and Development at COBALT Latvia

Few people in the Baltics can claim to have reshaped the conversation around equality, inclusion, and human rights as consistently as Kaspars Zālītis. Over more than 20 years, he has led advocacy campaigns, built movements, and crafted communications strategies that turn values into action.

As Chair of the Latvian Diversity Charter, he inspires companies across the region to embed diversity and inclusion at the heart of how they work. As head of Dzīvesbiedri, he led the movement behind Latvia's landmark partnership regulations, proving that persistence and purpose can change hearts and minds.

As Co-Chair of Riga Pride, he helped grow a once-threatened event into a joyful, region-wide celebration of human rights. Today, Kaspars serves as Head of Strategic Communications and Development at COBALT Latvia, where he brings his combination of advocacy expertise and strategic thinking to one of the leading law firms in the Baltics.

Aive Hiiepuu

Founder & Communication Director, PR Concept; Creative industries strategist

Highly experienced PR specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the PR industry for more than 20 years. Skilled in PR consulting, marcomms, events, lecturing, and moderating PR conferences. Strong PR professional, graduated from Tallinn University, the Estonian School of Diplomacy, and more than 100 PR and marketing courses.

Gabrielė Burbienė

Cannes Lions Representative, 15min Group

With 20 years of experience in media and marketing, Gabrielė Burbienė is passionate about creativity and initiatives that drive real change. As the official representative of the Cannes Lions Festival, she has witnessed outstanding global campaigns that move culture, businesses, and societies forward. As CMO and partner at 15MIN GROUP, one of the largest media groups in Lithuania, she has been at the forefront of rebranding, marketing campaigns, and social responsibility initiatives for brands such as 15MIN, M1, and ŽMONĖS.

Nele Normak

Senior Director Public Affairs, Communication & Sustainability, Coca-Cola Baltic States

Leads a multidisciplinary team covering Government Relations, Communication, and Sustainability for The Coca-Cola Company across seven CEE markets, including the Baltics, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Over a decade ago, pioneered an integrated communication approach for the region that fundamentally shifted how the company engages with its audiences. Their expertise lies in harmonising regional strategy with local relevance to drive both business growth and sustainable impact.

Prof. Dr. Ana Adi

Vice President & Professor of PR and Corporate Communications, Quadriga University of Applied Sciences

Her background spans multiple countries and cultures — she studied in Belgium, Romania, the UK, and the US as a Fulbright Scholar. In a world of easy answers and hot takes, she helps audiences engage with complexity and make better decisions because of it. She translates academic research into practical frameworks that can be applied immediately, without oversimplification or sugarcoating. Known for her straightforward style and cultural curiosity, she often uses serious games and interactive methods to help people learn through play, exploring resilience and uncertainty in ways that stay with participants long after the session ends.

Lucas Onofre

Managing Partner at Elespacio, Digital Marketing, Strategy & Growth, Leadership & mentoring teams for success

With over 15 years of experience in digital marketing, strategy, and business analytics, he helps brands such as Victorinox, Cricut, and Nespresso drive data-driven growth. As the main point of contact during projects, he ensures strategic alignment and impactful results for Elespacio’s global clients.

Charley Stoney

CEO of the European Association of Communication Agencies (EACA)

She became CEO of the European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA) in February 2025, where she leads the organisation’s mission to strengthen the communications industry across Europe, advocate for its members at EU level, and promote fair and sustainable business practices. A strong believer in the business impact of creativity, she also oversees the Effie Awards Europe, organised by the EACA, and serves as President of VoxComm, the global advocacy organisation for the agency sector. Previously, she was CEO of the Irish Institute of Advertising Practitioners (IAPI) for over six years, establishing it as the industry’s leading advocacy voice and nearly doubling its membership.

Dr. Ron Jabal

Chairman & CEO, PAGEONE Group

An award-winning global senior communications executive with over three decades of leadership experience across the Philippines, Asia-Pacific, and Western Europe. He is Executive Chairman and CEO of PAGEONE Group, one of the most awarded communication consulting firms in Asia-Pacific.

He has served as a senior adviser to international organisations including UN agencies, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, USAID, GIZ, and the European Union Delegation in the Philippines.

He was the inaugural recipient of the Global PR Practitioner of the Year award from the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management and has been recognised as a thought leader by leading international PR organisations.

Liene Ločmele

Lecturer at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, PhD candidate in Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA

She originally trained and worked in public relations. For more than 20 years, she has been helping students and professionals at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences learn and practice communication in its broadest sense, focusing on public relations, critical thinking, media literacy, and interpersonal, intercultural, professional, and public communication.

She holds a Professional Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences and a Master’s degree in Intercultural Communication from the University of Jyväskylä (Finland), and is currently completing her PhD studies in Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (USA).

Anda Boluža

Design and sustainability researcher and author; partner of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in projects on climate change and design; art and design critic

She is Head of Communications at WWF Latvia and an expert in the Architecture and Design sector at the State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia. She studied Art History and Theory at the Art Academy of Latvia and Critical Writing in Art and Design at the Royal College of Art in London.

She has worked at several art institutions, including the National Library of Latvia and the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art. In 2023, the exhibition “No Arkādijas līdz Marsam”, curated by her at the National Library of Latvia, was shortlisted for the Latvian Museums Association Annual Award, while its publication won the “Zelta ābele” book award in the Reference Literature category.

Solvita Denisa Liepniece

Director of Strategic Communication at the State Chancellery of Latvia

A communications scholar specialising in strategic communication and cognitive resilience. She is Head of the Strategic Communication and Coordination Department at the State Chancellery of Latvia and an Assistant Professor at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.

From 2022 to 2024, she worked at the United Nations Department of Global Communications, and from 2022 to 2023 she served as an elected member of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on Increasing Resilience of Media. In 2021–2022, she was a Visiting Scholar at the Jordan Center for the Advanced Study of Russia at NYU and previously an Associate Research Scholar at Yale University’s MacMillan Center Baltic Studies Program under the Juris Padegs Research Fellowship.

She holds a Doctorate in Communication Sciences from the University of Antwerp in Belgium.

Viktorija Urbonavičiūtė

Head of Communication for Lithuania’s EU Presidency 2027

She is a diplomat by profession and a communicator by nature, dedicated to ensuring that Lithuania is seen, heard, and understood internationally. She currently leads communications for Team Lithuania in Brussels, preparing for Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2027.

With more than 20 years of experience in diplomacy, she has worked as an analyst, spokesperson, and head of strategic communications, and most recently served as Director of Communications at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. She has also led award-winning communications at Lithuania’s competition authority, worked with the strategic communications team at the European External Action Service, and contributed to major international events, including the NATO Summit in Vilnius.

Renata Dantė

IKEA Corporate Services Manager Baltics

She is responsible for leading the enabling functions department at IKEA in the Baltics, with corporate communication serving as one of the key drivers of business and brand development. With more than 20 years of business experience, she is passionate about communication as a tool to engage people and drive business results.

Taavi Audo

Head of Communications, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications

Leads communications at the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, bringing extensive experience in shaping narratives for complex national and international initiatives. He has spearheaded strategic messaging for major transport and infrastructure projects, including Rail Baltica, while also managing crisis communications.

He notably led public communication efforts around historic societal milestones, such as the implementation of same-sex marriage in Estonia, as well as high-level diplomatic events like the JEF Leaders Summit.

Alessandro Nanì

Associate Professor of Cross-media, Co-editor of Baltic Screen Media Review Journal, PI of MeDeMap Horizon Europe Project

A media researcher and associate professor at Tallinn University with extensive international experience. His work explores cross-media, audience engagement, and media trust.

Beyond research, he has contributed to several Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) productions and is currently producing a documentary filmed between Sicily and New York.

Invoice Information

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