WorldCC Student Connect Competition - Announcing Mentors and Judges

Learn, Innovate, and Compete! 

The WorldCC Student Connect Competition is officially underway, and we couldn’t be more excited! This is your chance to develop real-world skills in contract and commercial management, collaborate with peers, and gain valuable insights from industry experts. As you and your team, work through the challenge, you’ll have access to world-class mentorship and be evaluated by experienced judges from top organizations. 

Meet Your Mentors
We are excited to introduce an exceptional panel of mentors who will be guiding and supporting participants throughout the competition. These professionals bring a wealth of experience from different industries, offering insights that will help shape your understanding of contract and commercial management. 

 

Roy Anderson

Procurement Lecturer
Northeastern University

Chris Attenborough

Head of Contract & Business Management
BT

Srilatta Bolimpalli

Associate General Counsel
Verizon Business

Zuzanna Briant

CCM Lead
World Commerce & Contracting

Daisie Brown

Head of Central Government Contracts
BT

Suvi Hirvonen

Director
Aalto University

Andrew Jacopino

Senior Advisor
Ngamuru

Cecilia Middleton

Managing Director, North America Contract Management
Accenture

Felix-Anselm van Lier

Research and Policy Fellow, Blavatnik School of Government
University of Oxford

 

These mentors will provide focussed guidance, answer your questions, and help refine your strategies as you develop innovative solutions to the competition challenge. 

Meet the Judges 
As teams progress through the competition, their work will be assessed by a panel of judges from the global commercial management community. These judges will evaluate submissions based on creativity, problem-solving, and practical application of contract and commercial management principles.

Bill Deckelman

Executive Vice President
Howard Baker Forum

Simon Geale

Executive Vice President Procurement
Proxima

Majid Iqbal

CEO of Islamophobia Response Unit
Islamophobia Response Unit

Peter Jones

Commercial Director - Aerospace & Defence
DXC Technology

Rasmus Tønnies

Partner
ARC Contract Management

Joanne Walker

Head of General Counsel Capability Centre
Rolls Royce

 

Winners Celebrations 
The competition runs from February to May 2025, culminating in an exciting live announcement of the winners on May 19, 2025, during a special WorldCC webinar. Winning teams will not only gain recognition among industry professionals, but also have the opportunity to showcase their talents to a global audience. 

Why Participate? 
This competition is designed to be a learning experience, and no prior knowledge of contract management is required! By participating, you will: 

✔ Gain hands-on experience solving a real-world business challenge 
✔ Develop essential career skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and communication 
✔ Receive mentorship from industry leaders and experts 
✔ Expand your professional network within the global contract and commercial management community 

Don't Miss Out – Join Now! If you’re a student looking to elevate your skills, gain real-world exposure, and make meaningful industry connections, this challenge is for you. Gather a team of 3-5 members from your university and get involved! 

Sign up today and take the first step towards an exciting future in contract and commercial management! 


About the author

Kate Hodgins

Kate is an accomplished marketing and communications professional with over 10 years of experience attracting, engaging, and converting audiences. She is a natural communicator skilled in building brand awareness and generating leads through content creation and digital marketing campaigns. As Head of Marketing at WorldCC, Kate leads integrated strategies to engage the association's global community of contracting professionals. Her passion lies in understanding stakeholders and nurturing meaningful relationships that drive business success. With her extensive background in audience growth and digital marketing, Kate delivers innovative solutions to elevate brand visibility and performance.