INDEPENDENCE & INTEGRITY
Fairness, Transparency, and Professionalism
The Personal Estate Agency Awards are built on a foundation of absolute independence. Our judging panel consists of seasoned industry experts ensuring that every nomination is evaluated solely on merit, professional achievement, and the impact made on the UK independent estate agency sector.
Rob Brady
Rob is the elite performance coach at Iceberg Digital and co‑host of the Estate Agency X podcast. His work focuses on helping estate agents embrace modern technology and build resilient mind‑sets. Rob is known for pushing agents to go beyond their perceived limits and for his commitment to mental well‑being; he is a TEDx speaker whose talk “Unmasking the truth behind a smile” explores the hidden struggles faced by many professionals. He also raises funds for mental‑health charities through endurance events, sharing his story to break the stigma around loneliness.
Meet The Judges
At the Personal Estate Agency Awards, fairness and transparency aren’t just goals, they are the bedrock of our evaluation process. To ensure the integrity of every award, our panel consists of independent experts. This independence guarantees that every winner is selected based purely on excellence, innovation, and their impact on the sector.
Amy Shields
With over 16 years’ experience in estate agency, Amy's progressed from working at Romans and Davis Tate to becoming the commercial director at Smart Compliance, the UK’s only fully managed anti‑money‑laundering (AML) service for estate agents. Her frontline experience gives her a deep understanding of agent frustrations and the compliance pitfalls they face. Amy is also a committee member of Women in Estate Agency (WiEA) and speaks openly about cultural transformation and diversity in the sector.
Elaine Penhaul
Elaine founded Lemon and Lime Interiors, a multi‑award‑winning property staging company that works with high‑end agents such as Knight Frank, Savills and Fine & Country. Her book Sell High, Sell Fast (2020) became an Amazon number‑one best‑seller and she received the National Business Women’s Award – Micro Business (2021). Elaine’s team transforms homes to achieve faster sales and higher prices, and she is a recognised thought leader quoted by publications from Estate Agent Today to The Times. Before launching Lemon & Lime she was an executive business coach specialising in emotional‑intelligence coaching within corporate, public and voluntary sectors. She is also a property investor and mother of four.
Josh Rayner
Josh started his career working in an estate‑agency branch before founding Rayner Personnel, a specialist recruitment firm for the property sector. Over the years he has established two leading headhunting agencies and has placed more than 5,000 property professionals, from graduates to chief executives. In 2025 he launched Inside Talent, an AI‑powered subscription platform that helps businesses vet and qualify candidates by automatically rejecting unsuitable applicants and short‑listing those with the right behavioural and career fit. His innovation and understanding of recruitment trends make him a trusted voice in the industry.
Dan Firth
Dan has over twenty years’ experience in the property industry. He began his career armed with just a phone and an applicant box, and his belief that estate agents play a vital role in guiding people through life‑changing decisions has never wavered. Dan has worked across corporate, online and hybrid agency models and now leads Bid., a modern property‑auction platform that aims to give estate agents more choice and security when helping clients buy or sell their home. Alongside running Bid. he serves as a trainer and mentor with Agents Together, supporting the next generation of agents. His broad experience and independence from traditional agency operations make him a valuable and impartial member of the judging panel.
Jo Bourne
Jo has spent over thirty years in the property industry, working her way from sales negotiator to senior leadership and business ownership. She now runs Impact CTMD, a consultancy that delivers leadership training and coaching to estate agencies across the UK. Jo specialises in developing confident, high‑performing teams and empowering leaders to communicate with clarity; her sessions blend practical tools with an engaging, down‑to‑earth style. As a regional advocate for Women in Estate Agency she supports professional development and diversity initiatives. The Able Agent describes her as a thought leader who consults on all aspects of people and business development and delivers blended learning solutions.
Natasha Candeias
Natasha is a sales‑progression expert who has worked in property for over thirteen years. She runs Property Progressors, a business that assists estate agents by overseeing the progression of sales from offer to completion. Having handled thousands of transactions, Natasha emphasises the importance of keeping deals moving smoothly while supporting buyers and sellers. She prides herself on clear communication, problem‑solving and a proactive approach. Balancing business ownership and motherhood, she values organisation and teamwork.