Meet the judges calling the shots for this year’s Gef 30 Under 30

Judges. They’re essential for keeping law and order, bludgeoning the dreams of wannabe pop stars to death with a verbal mallet, and picking the Gef 30 Under 30 winners. So, without further ado, it’s Gef’s pleasure to introduce you to the 2025 judging panel for 30 Under 30.

*Turns on massive spotlight*

First up: Nigel Simpson (Zurich Isle of Man)

Nigel’s relationship with Zurich began in 1991, before Jurassic Park had even come out and before all the Gef 30 Under 30 winners WERE BORN. During his time in the arms of Zurich Isle of Man, he’s had multiple senior roles across a wide variety of functions because he’s that sort of guy, talented. And for the past 16 years, he’s been instrumental in growing the employee benefits business, including launching Zurich’s market-leading International Pension Plan.

Now, as the Head of Zurich Integrated Benefits International, good old Nige oversees group savings, group risk, and domestic pensions functions in the firm’s Isle of Man office, as well as mentoring a team of talented young professionals.

With a passion for supporting and growing talent on the Isle of Man and celebrating our island as an exceptional place for young people to launch and grow their careers, Nigel is a perfect fit for our panel of judges.

And thanks a million to Zurich Isle of Man for coming on as the Innovation Category Partner for Gef 30 Under 30 for the third year running!

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Now, Leanne, if you would be so kind as to take to the stage.

Leanne Harker (Great Minds Marketing) 

It’s Leanne’s second year as part of the Gef 30 Under 30 judging panel, everyone say ‘welcome back Leanne.’ SAY IT. Thank you.

Leanne’s all about business, and she means business. A strategic marketer with more than 15 years of experience, she’s had senior roles across various sectors, including telecommunications, accountancy, and legal fields. She was an integral part in the rebranding of Estera post-management buyout and in managing award-winning campaigns at plan.com.

BUT WHY STOP THERE? Leanne has also launched her own business, Great Minds Marketing, where she helps businesses enhance their traditional and digital marketing activities. She also collaborates with MMC, providing digital content support to businesses in the tech, green, and finance sectors.

Leanne’s extensive marketing experience paired with her passion for mentoring and supporting young, aspiring marketing talent makes her the perfect addition to Media Isle of Man’s Gef 30 Under 30 campaign. Is there anything this woman can’t do? LEAVE SOME TALENT FOR THE REST OF US.

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Anyone else thirsty because of that ginormous, sweltering hot spotlight? Perfect timing, no doubt our next judge will help you out.

Jamie Lewis (Kiki Lounge / Extra Fancy) 

As well as being one half of an award-winning hospitality group, Jamie is also one of the OG founders of Gef itself. ‘DAD! YOU’VE COME BACK.’

Jamie is one half of Extra Fancy Limited, a local hospitality group that delivers exceptional food & drink experiences on the island. It used to own Peggy’s (RIP) and now owns and operates Kiki Lounge. You’ve probably heard of Kiki Lounge, it’s been plastered all over the news in recent years for being 1 PIN in the Pinnacle Guide, awarded #49 in the 2025 Top 50 Cocktail Bars, and the winner of Spirits Business Magazine’s Bar of the Year 2024. They’re kind of a big deal.

Out of the 19 years he’s dedicated to hospitality, Jamie has spent 14 of them refining his craft in the Isle of Man. Cut Jamie and he BLEEDS Manx hospitality (and Buckfast) as we found out one pretty raucous night.

Jamie’s drive is to make the island more fun, vibrant, and creative for people of all ages, but to give young people specifically the opportunity to find a long and meaningful career in hospitality, rather than seeing it as a sh*tty stop gap in their life.

Welcome back to the Gef 30 Under 30 fold, Jamie. And thanks for bringing the bevs.

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Right, I think we need some cool background music all up in this judging joint. Who better to sort that than another long-standing judge:

Martyn Cain (Isle of Man Arts Council) 

In his third year on the Gef 30 Under 30 judging panel, Martyn is a familiar face. He’s the Arts Development Officer at the Isle of Man Arts Council and is passionate about the power of design for change.

Over the past 20 years, Martyn’s design career has been diverse, having worked in the CSP, Gaming and Superyacht industries in branding, UX, service design, marketing and creative strategy.

With such a strong creative cohort of young, aspiring talents on the Isle of Man, Martyn’s input as a well-known representative for the island’s arts and creative industries has been invaluable to our judging panels. Good to have you back Martyn, you’re like a styley and sophisticated boomerang.

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It’s time for another familiar face!

Sam Jones (Media Isle of Man)

Sam is the Managing Director at Media Isle of Man, and therefore is Gef’s fearless leader. Leading a regional team of 30, she’s in charge of delivering content-rich audience experiences to the public, as well as working with a growing portfolio of commercial and strategic partners.

With over 13 years’ experience of leading successful high-profile strategic campaigns, partnerships, launches, and events across multiple sectors and disciplines, she’s now at the helm of the island’s largest media and marketing brand as it accelerates its transition in the digital and events spaces.

Her portfolio includes partnerships with brands such as PayPal, KPMG, Barclays, Pepsi, Google, Sunseeker and Ferrari, and she has operated alongside media and third sector organisations, including public campaigns overseen on behalf of Government.

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And finally, the King has entered the building. We would like to say a BIG, WARM, GEF WELCOME BACK to…

Les Coates (Capital International)

Les is the Managing Director of Capital Select Limited, responsible for overseeing the Group Services and Infrastructure teams, which support the Banking, Investment and Asset Management businesses at Capital International.

He has a BSc Hons degree in Mathematics from the University of Leeds and is a Fellow Chartered Accountant, having qualified with a Top 4 accountancy firm. He specialises in offshore Financial Services industry, with an impressive portfolio of positions held for high profile banks, corporate service providers, and law firms.

As well as having a brain the size of the Calf of Mann, good old Les also has a heart of gold and left locals all shook up last year after cycling around the TT course dressed as Elvis to raise money for charity.

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So, give a Big o’ Hunk of Love to Les and his fellow judges as they take their spot around the Media Isle of Man’s Gef 30 Under 30 judging table next week. Pray for them. They have a very hard task whittling down so many excellent nominations down to just 30 winners.

Good luck. And may the odds be ever in your favour.