Ravinder Bhogal, Food Writer and TV Chef

Ravinder Bhogal is an award-winning food writer, journalist, stylist and television personality who was propelled into the culinary limelight when crowned Britain's New Fanny Cradock by Gordon Ramsay on Channel 4s The F Word. Her unique style helped her beat more than 8,000 women and has continued to set her apart in the food world. Her debut cookery book Cook in Boots (HarperCollins 2009) was published to rave reviews both in the UK and US. Packed with over 160 recipes of style and taste it's perfectly crafted for those who love and live to eat. Awarded the UK's Best First Cookbook by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards (December 2009) it was first runner-up in the worldwide competition and has set Ravinder in the company of established food heavyweights.

Ravinder is a regular contributor to GRAZIA magazine, The Sunday Times, The Independent, Waitrose Food Illustrated, Food and Travel, and BBC Radio.

Anjum Anand, Food Writer and TV Chef

Touted as 'the Nigella Lawson of Indian cuisine', Anjum Anand is a British Indian food writer and TV chef. She is considered one of the first food writers to create Indian recipes to cater for the health conscious cook.

Anand became a regular guest on UKTV Food's Great Food Live from 2004 to 2007, and featured in the BBC Two series Indian Food Made Easy broadcast in 2007. A regular contributor to The Times Online food pages since 2007, Anand also acted as a consultant chef to the Birds Eye brand to develop a range of healthy Indian ready meals and in September 2008 published her third recipe book Anjum's New Indian, which was followed by a BBC television series.

Anand became a regular guest on UKTV Food's Great Food Live from 2004 to 2007, and featured in the BBC Two series Indian Food Made Easy broadcast in 2007. A regular contributor to The Times Online food pages since 2007, Anand also acted as a consultant chef to the Birds Eye brand to develop a range of healthy Indian ready meals and in September 2008 published her third recipe book Anjum's New Indian, which was followed by a second Indian Food Made Easy television series.

David Jago, Mintel

With around 20 years experience tracking and analysing new product trends, David Jago brings a unique perspective on the marketplace and future new product development. As Director of Innovation & Insight at Mintel he is responsible for providing expert research and analysis in the fields of product development, market appraisal and competitor evaluation, to a broad range of food & drink manufacturers and agencies in Europe and Asia.

David has had numerous articles published in European trade press and professional journals, and is a regular speaker at conferences around the world, as well as industry groups and client-specific meetings in Europe, the USA, and Japan.

Simon Numphud FIH , Hotel Services Manager, The AA

The AA will be exclusively judging this year's Restaurant of the Year category. The AA inspectors will be led by Simon Numphud, AA Hotel Services Manager since 2006.

He is responsible for the AA Hotel Services Business which recognises over 10,000 establishments across various rating schemes, annual AA Hotel and Restaurant awards and the Quality Standards. Simon is responsible for the relationships with external trade and tourism bodies and oversees a professional team of hotel and restaurant inspectors. AA Hotel Services celebrated its Centenary Year in 2008.

Adam Leyland, Editor of The Grocer

Adam Leyland is editor of The Grocer, the bible of the food and drink industry. A lifelong 'foodie' and 'winophile', he's a passionate campaigner on behalf of healthy, natural food, while promoting the merits of a balanced diet and common sense in the ongoing debate about obesity. But in his regular appearances on the BBC, ITV, and other national media his expertise extends to consumer trends, food prices, alcohol promotions, the power of the supermarkets and more.

In a 20- year business journalism career, Adam has also edited Press Gazette, PrintWeek and Real Business, and launched the US edition of PRWeek.

Sheel Gill of KPMG

Sheel Gill of KPMG is on board to oversee the judging process and verify this year's results to ensure complete transparency. Sheel has over 13 years of financial and accounting experience, having qualified as a UK Chartered Accountant in 1996. She has been responsible for a range of audits and transaction services projects to a diverse portfolio of clients. Sheel has been a senior member of the KPMG transactions services team since 1999 in London and Germany.

Sheel said: "In my opinion, credibility and recognition for Awards that provide support to furthering business have to be underpinned by independent adjudication. In my capacity as a qualified accountant - having worked for the Big 4 for the last 17 years - I will provide the independence required for this year's World Food Awards."

Humayun Hussain, Editor Tandoori Magazine

As a highly experienced food and hospitality journalist for over 20 years, Humayun Hussain is the Editor of the UK's leading and longstanding Indian food and restaurant magazine Tandoori. He also contributes on food and restaurants to The Guardian.. He has written for a host of outlets including, The Financial Times, The Evening Standard, Time Out, The London Paper, What's On, Pub Chef, The Morning Advertiser, The Grocer, Restaurant, along with having been a Restaurant Inspector for The AA Restaurant Guide, the Deputy Editor of Fresh, and held the post of Restaurant Critic of The Voice and The Marylebone Times. Humayun has contributed regularly to such websites as 4Food.com, Virgin.net, BBC Online, Taste.com, UKTribe.com and Menus.com. Other than various TV and radio appearances on programmes ranging from Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, Market Kitchen and The Food Show, Humayun has also been a judge for various awards and competitions including, The British Curry Awards, Pub Chef Awards, Great Taste Awards and The Real Food Festival. In addition, Humayun has cooked as a guest chef in a restaurant, successfully offered consultancy and PR services to restaurants, and at last year's Too Many Critics charity event, beat off all his fellow critics – ranging from Charles Campion to Jay Rayner, Matthew Fort and Tom Parker Bowles, amongst others, with his pork stuffing recipe.

Tony Matharu, Managing Director, Grange Hotels

Tony is Managing Director of London's leading independent hotel group - Grange Hotels, where he is responsible for the design, building and management of 15 luxury 4 and 5 star central London hotels with over 40 restaurants and dining facilities.

He combines his passions for hospitality with philanthropy and sports, acting as founder and Chairman of IODR UK – a children's emergency relief and development charity with projects in the Indian Ocean Region, as London Chairman of the Lord's Taverner's "giving young people, particularly those with special needs, a sporting chance", and he continues to play and coach various sports, having played both cricket and hockey at representative and international levels.

Bob Fox, Managing Director of Nationwide Caterers Association

Bob has been involved in the catering industry for over 20 years both as a caterer and as a director of two of the county's leading food trade associations.

He has vast experience in just about all aspects of the catering business particularly the mobile and outside sector and is often called upon to give opinion to the media, government and standards authorities.

In 2004 Bob established the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS) which now boasts 1600 members and growing weekly. Membership of NCASS extends right across the catering sector from major multiples to independents and some of the biggest names in the supply chain.

Bob is an accomplished author of books and codes of practice, he edits a quarterly catering magazine and is passionate about the food industry, and in particular the independent sector which he still regards as his roots.

He has been involved in several TV and radio broadcasts as well as writing features for several trade magazines.