HRUC (Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge Colleges) has announced the judges for the National Innovation Challenge.
The competition is aimed at empowering young people to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues. This growing initiative is now in its second year with submissions being received from schools, colleges and sixth forms across the UK.
Led by HRUC in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Industrial Liaison Program (MIT ILP), the competition encourages students to design practical, real-world solutions while developing key technical, creative and teamwork skills.
This year’s judges bring significant expertise and extensive global experience to the judging panel. The panel includes senior employees of global technology companies, including Amazon and BT, together with experts from education specialists such as MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Pearson Qualifications, and The Education Space.
Thiloshini Ellary-Bachu: Senior Chief Engineer, Amazon
Thiloshini is a Regional Chief Engineer at Amazon Web Services in London, with a background that combines electrical engineering, business, and hands-on industrial experience.
With a degree in electrical engineering, master's in engineering, and an MBA, Thiloshini spent over 15 years working across steel manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, and defence facilities management—including running operations at a naval dockyard for the Department of Defence.
She joined Amazon in Cape Town in December 2021, then moved to London 18 months later to lead their regional cluster. Her role involves developing strategy, building technical teams, and bridging the gap between engineering and business.
Thiloshini is passionate about showing how technical expertise combined with leadership skills can open diverse career paths in today's technology-driven world. She said, “I am thrilled to represent Amazon for this amazing competition and looking forward to the exciting entries from students this year”.
Sarwar Khan: Sustainability Director, BT
For the last six years as Sustainability Director at BT, Sarwar has been responsible for developing digital products, propositions and services that help business customers across the globe make the transition and turn sustainability into a competitive advantage.
Prior to joining BT, he spent nearly 10 years working in the energy sector to help customers decarbonise, with experience in developing large scale renewables and smaller decentralised solutions.
Steve Whitaker: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Industrial Liaison Program (MIT ILP) Program Director, MIT
Steve Whittaker is Program Director in MIT’s Industrial Liaison Program and focuses on building sustainable relationships between MIT researchers and global industry. He has a background in computer science and AI, coupled with very broad interests in emerging technologies and their impact on individuals, organizations, and society.
Before joining MIT, Steve spent almost 40 years in the telecommunications industry with a focus on R&D and strategy. He was recognized as a BT Accomplished Engineer within BT’s AI, Service, Security and Operations Research Directorate and was awarded BT’s prestigious Alan Rudge Award for Innovation for work on advanced interactive speech systems.
From 2000 onwards, Steve was responsible for BT’s partnerships with US research universities and business schools - including their long-standing relationship with MIT, including over ten years as a Visiting Scientist at the MIT Media Lab.
Prior to relocating to the US, Steve held various research, research management, strategy, and business development roles at BT's UK based research labs and produced reports on topics such as AI, cyber conflict, future of work, platform strategies and future skills.
Iqbal Vaza: Chief Executive, The Education Space
Iqbal is a dedicated advocate for the next generation. His career is driven by a single mission: ensuring the education ecosystem is robust enough to truly prepare children for the future.
Leading an organisation that supports over 400 schools, Iqbal works at the heart of the UK’s learning community to remove the barriers that stand between young people and their potential. He is a specialist in digital transformation and "future-proofing" school environments, ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has access to the tools and innovation they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
As a judge for the National Innovation Challenge, Iqbal will be looking for young visionaries who are not only dreaming of a better world but are building the practical, scalable solutions to create it. He is passionate about empowering young innovators to turn their ideas into lasting social impact.
Helen Walker: Vice President UK and International Qualifications, Pearson plc
Helen is passionate about education technology - its potential to transform learning and improve social equity.
Helen's career spans teaching, advising, senior civil service and the edtech industry. She started out in schools and moved into policy, strategy, and delivery roles at the UK government’s first edtech agency then at Qualifications and Curriculum Authority leading on pedagogy and ICT.
As CTO at the Department for Education, she led the department’s sector-facing digital services & internal tech, delivering a major cloud modernisation and digital transformation programme. More recently in commercial edtech, she has led Global Operations for RM plc and is now Vice President for UK and International Qualifications at Pearson plc.
Pally Randhawa: Director, One Care IT
Pally Randhawa is an IT leader and entrepreneur with 27 years’ experience. He founded One Care iT Limited at the age of 24 and has spent the past two decades growing the business. He measures success by people and impact rather than company milestones. Pally is dedicated to mentoring the next generation—running a hands-on apprenticeship programme with HRUC that gives young people real-world IT experience and the life and workplace skills to thrive. He combines practical technical coaching with frank conversations about confidence, responsibility and career choices.
Beyond the business, Pally is a Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce, where he keeps the Chamber’s strategy and vision on track, backs local businesses, and strengthens links between public and private sectors to support community growth. Known for a down-to-earth, approachable style, he advises organisations of all sizes—from FTSE100 firms to micro enterprises—focusing on the people behind each organisation.
Recognised for apprenticeship excellence and innovation, Pally is proud of his work supporting charities and community initiatives. He is driven by a simple mission: help people and organisations succeed through practical technology, honest mentorship and steady, values-led leadership.
Looking for young people’s ideas that showcase their vision
With a wide variety of expertise and extensive global experience, our outstanding 2026 judges are looking for young people’s ideas that showcase their vision and propose solutions to real industry challenges.
In 2025, nearly 200 schools and colleges took part. Winning students travelled to Boston, USA, where they collaborated with world-leading MIT researchers. It was an unforgettable experience which gave the winners unprecedented opportunities to gain new technical skills, work across borders, improve their personal thought processes and develop international networks.
Entries have now closed for the 2026 NIC competition and the winners will be announced in late June 2026 at a prestigious awards evening in central London.