Multi-lingual Thijs Stoffer has extensive international experience in US and European business development and strategic consulting, with success in numerous US and European based companies and organizations in the real estate industry, international horticulture and direct marketing. While developing his own growing business as managing director and owner of Dutch IT consultancy firm, eCommerce – plus web-based projects and assignments in the real estate industry and other sectors – Thijs has worked as consultant to ICREA since 2004 and became its CEO in 2007. ICREA is an alliance of 32 national real estate associations around the world representing more than 2million real estate professionals worldwide and $25trillion of GDP. The only organization of its kind, it has dedicated itself to the international promotion of its members’ businesses and has had great success in building a partnership that is improving in the way business is transacted across national borders.

• A champion of international partnership, with a wide network of contacts in real estate, Thijs Stoffer was selected as a judge across the partnership, product and media categories because of his background in cross-border strategy, business development, communications and brokerage technology.

A seasoned journalist, having put her time in as a sub-editor at the The Sun and Irish Sun at News International, Bernadette was tempted into B2B publishing for drinks trade weekly Off-License News and in 2006 became the editor of the Overseas Property Professional magazine - leading its relaunch with a new design, a dedicated news desk, and the first Spain Report. She also put a complete trade ban on the use of unrealistic property stats that were plucked out of the air without a credible source – a philosophy that inspired the creation of OPP Knowledge. In July 2008, Bernadette was shortlisted for both Property Editor of the Year and Business-to-Business Journalist at the Headline Property Awards and is now a freelance writer and sub-editor, covering features for national titles including the Sunday Mirror, the Irish Mail on Sunday, Square Mile magazine, A Place in the Sun magazine, Hedge and the Scotsman. Bernadette is now co-writing her first book and website for overseas property buyers with property journalist Andrée Frieze from the Sunday Mirror.

• As the former editor of OPP, Bernadette combines her understanding of the overseas property industry and its challenges with the demands and expectations of the consumer. Her independent perspective as a freelance journalist and editorial consultant also qualifies her as a judge of the various media platforms used by the wide variety of agents and developers she is in regular contact with.

John joined the Florida Association of Realtors as Vice President of Public Policy in 2004. The FAR, which aims to advance Florida’s real estate industry, is the largest trade association in the state with more than 150,000 members and more than 17,000 member firms. In his position, John sets the direction of current and future public policy activities, and he is charged with ensuring direct and positive contact with the Florida Legislature, Regulatory Agencies, Cabinet and other government officials.

• A keen networker and champion of Florida’s real estate industry, John Sebree was selected as a judge because of his experience of working with government to create a better environment for estate agents to trade in and the guidance he provides to ensure they work in the most professional and collaborative way.

Part of Chime Communications plc, integrated PR and marketing consultancy tta Group currently handles the property marketing for some £50billion of property assets around the world and works with leading estate agents, commercial and mixed use developers, destination developments and house builders in both the UK and overseas. Tricia has over 16 years of residential, commercial and planning experience, and has been involved in a range of projects including Imperial Wharf, St George Wharf, Caterham Barracks, Hither Green, Paddington Basin, Gargoyle Wharf, and a number of projects for housing associations. Tricia heads up a range of house builder accounts, providing unrivalled knowledge of community consultation work and branding for regeneration projects.

• As a highly respected property marketing consultant, Tricia brings qualified insight into the range of media used by international agents and developers as well as an understanding of the companies using it, and what they set out to achieve.

Paul has worked in the international property industry for over six years. Before taking on his current role, he worked for VEF, a UK-based company selling property in France, as their sales and marketing director. He joined the AIPP full-time from January 2006. The AIPP is a non-profit organisation set up in March 2006 to improve standards of professionalism in the international property market. It has quickly built a high profile in the industry and has ambitious aims to make fundamental changes to this market by the end of 2008.

• A high profile figure in the UK-based overseas homes industry, with a successful background in international property sales and marketing, Paul Owen was selected as a judge of the partnership, product and media categories because of his contribution to higher standards of practice through training, the promotion of due diligence as a fundamental part of customer service, and the various media alliances he has built since the launch of the AIPP.

A past National President of the National Association of Estate Agents, Ian set up the International Committee of the NAEA back in 1990 and is the current chairman of the NAEA International incorporating FOPDAC. He was also a founder and first President of the CEI (European Confederation of Estate Agents) - an association which has grown to represent over 60,000 estate agents throughout Europe. Ian is still very active in the CEI acting as their Secretary General for the last 10 years.

• Owner of a successful estate agency that is very active in overseas property sales, Ian Tonge was selected as a judge of the regional and overall partnership and product categories because of his contribution to a Europe wide code of conduct, his commercial understanding of what agents should expect from the developers they work with and how to maximise opportunities for sales and profit.

The founder of Reed Travel Exhibitions, Tom Nutley was recently appointed president of RTE in April 2008 after 25 years as chairman. Having developed 14 new exhibitions for RTE, and helping to establish the travel division’s flagship World Travel Market, Nutley is now helping new chairman Richard Mortimore and his team to drive the strategic direction of the division. RTE is the world’s largest global organiser of travel trade events, including Arabian Travel Market in Dubai for the Middle East and Pan Arab region and EIBTM in Barcelona, the annual global meetings and incentives exhibition. Nutley has been actively involved with leading travel and tourism industry organisations worldwide, including the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the Institute of Travel & Tourism (ITT).

• A pioneer in the world of international travel exhibitions, with impressive experience of launching a wide variety of events in a number of markets, Tom Nutley was selected as a judge in the media, partnership and product categories because of his knowledge of networks in the travel industry, his understanding of the elements necessary to create a successful exhibition and how to adapt to changing market and economic trends.

Graham Norwood is a property journalist who contributes regularly to the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, The Observer, The Independent, Financial Times, London Property, The Guardian and the Daily Mail as well as lifestyle and industry magazines including Estates Gazette. He also writes for overseas newspapers and is the author of four books about the residential property business. His latest title is Profiting from Property in a Recession, by Elsevier Books.

• Having built a high profile in UK media, Graham is one of the country’s most respected property journalists. The author of several books about residential real estate, focusing on the approach and activity of developers and agents, Graham will bring an informed and independent perspective to the judging panel based on his insights into the real estate industry and consumer criteria.

Paul is Chief Executive of the Resort Development Association (RDO) based in Brussels. The RDO is the European Trade body for the vacation ownership industry, namely timeshare, fractionals, condo hotels, private residence and destination clubs, an industry that in its latest survey turns over some 1.8 billion euro a year. A barrister by training, Paul has held a number of senior positions in UK and European financial institutions before joining RDO in 2007.

• Calling upon in-depth research into the global shared ownership market, with a particular focus on consumer satisfaction and the evolution of new models, Paul is eminently qualified to judge entries in this year’s fractional categories and will offer a fresh perspective on the approach of agents and developers in the whole ownership arena.

Since she began working for NAR in 2000, Janet has also served as the Vice President for Business Specialties, Executive Director for the Real Estate Buyers’ Agent Council and EVP for the REALTORS® Land Institute. For 13 years before joining NAR, Janet served as an association executive for three local real estate associations in South Florida, including the REALTORS® Association of the Palm Beaches, Marco Island Area Association of REALTORS® and the Naples Area Board of REALTORS®. She holds the prestigious Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives and the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation from NAR.

• Heading up the international division within the NAR, one of the biggest real estate trade associations in the world with over 1.2million members, Janet brings her comprehensive knowledge of global networks, strategic alliances and regulated sales processes to the judging panel.