Guidelines for Judges of The National AI Awards 2026
The National AI Awards judging process is central to ensuring we attract and reward the very best. The process has been developed to ensure it is robust, fair and independent. The awards are judged by an expert, independent panel, carefully selected and vetted to ensure no conflict of interests. Judges are required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for the purpose of judging the awards. Led by our Chair of Judges, a team of independent industry experts make up the panel of Judges assigned to various categories bringing a range of expertise, experience and balance to the judging in the written and interview rounds.
Our panel of judges will carefully review each submission against the provided judging criteria and are bound by our Code of Conduct for Judges. They come from a variety of specialities and backgrounds, and they are not compensated financially for their work. The judges are committed to ensuring fairness and impartiality in the awards process and have a deep knowledge and understanding of the criteria used to evaluate the submissions.
Process
1. Judges typically review between one and four awards, only after a careful review of conflicts of interests.
2. Scores are collated then combined using a balanced scorecard. They are challenged and discussed with groups of judges moderated by our Head of Judges. This is a critical part of the process as it enables full transparency. A winner and if deserving a highly commended is then selected.
3. Not all categories will attract a highly commended entrant, though some may be given multiple commendations based on merit.
4. We reserve the right to reallocate your entry if we feel an alternative category is more suitable. We will inform you if this is the case.
5. Judges will read and score all entry forms, considering any supporting materials submitted.
6. Judges will be asked to give a score for each question within the entry form. These will be combined to give an overall score for each entry.
7. All judges' pre-scores will then be combined and the highest-scoring entries will determine the finalists and winners. There will be a maximum of 5 finalists and 1 winner.
Code of Conduct
The National AI Awards (“Event”) is a celebration of excellence and innovation for those who are committed to artificial intelligence. To ensure a fair and transparent judging process and to maximise the potential for recognition of outstanding achievements, judges are required to adhere to the code of conduct. This code has been produced as a guide for judges of the The National AI Awards Awards and to provide a formal statement of how seriously we view our work.
We believe that the integrity of our judging community is exemplary and as such expect all to follow this code of conduct. This code is in place to protect the integrity of the The National AI Awards judging process, providing confirmation that all judges are working to a fair, transparent, and robust judging process. All The National AI Awards judges will be required to read and agree to the following code of conduct when applying for the role.
Any case of breach of this code of conduct will be considered by the Awards Steering Group (ASG). Sanctions may include complete removal from the judging role or discounting of individual results for a category. Matters reported under this code may also result in action against an entrant. In case of any dispute, the final arbiters will be The National AI Awards. alleviate concerns, we require all judges to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), and they will not be able to judge a category that their company has entered.
Any conflicts of interest are also challenged and disclosed before assigning them entries.
Impartiality and Fairness:
1. Judges must approach their role with impartiality and fairness, evaluating nominees solely on the merit of their work or achievements. They shall refrain from favouritism, bias, or prejudice towards any nominee or category.
Confidentiality:
2. Judges must maintain the confidentiality of the judging process, including discussions, evaluations, and voting outcomes. They shall not disclose any confidential information related to nominees or deliberations without proper authorisation.
Conflict of Interest:
3. Judges shall disclose any conflicts of interest that may arise from personal or professional relationships with nominees, sponsors, or organisers. They must recuse themselves from judging categories or nominees with which they have a direct or perceived conflict of interest.
Transparency and Accountability:
4. Judges should adhere to transparent and accountable judging procedures, ensuring that decisions are based on established criteria and standards. They shall be prepared to explain and justify their evaluations and selections when required.
Expertise and Competence:
5. Judges should possess relevant expertise, knowledge, and experience in the field or industry related to the awards ceremony. They must demonstrate competence in evaluating nominees’ work or achievements based on established criteria and industry standards.
Professional Conduct:
6. Judges shall conduct themselves professionally at all times, maintaining decorum, respect, and civility in their interactions with fellow judges, nominees, organisers, and attendees. They shall refrain from engaging in any conduct that may undermine the integrity or reputation of the awards ceremony or its organisers.
Independence:
7. Judges must exercise independent judgement in their evaluations and decisions, free from external pressures, influences, or inducements. They shall not allow personal preferences, affiliations, or external considerations to influence their judgments.
Ethical Standards:
8. Judges shall uphold high ethical standards, avoiding any actions or behaviours that may compromise their integrity, impartiality, or credibility. They must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines governing the awards ceremony and the judging process.
Respect for Diversity and Inclusion:
9. Judges should consider and respect diversity in perspectives, backgrounds, and approaches among nominees. They shall ensure that the judging process promotes inclusivity and equitable recognition of achievements across various demographics and communities.
Feedback and Improvement:
10. Judges should provide constructive feedback to nominees when appropriate, offering insights and suggestions for improvement. They shall be open to feedback from organisers, fellow judges, and stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness and fairness of future judging processes.
Adherence to Rules and Guidelines:
11. Judges shall familiarise themselves with and abide by the rules, guidelines, and procedures established by the awards ceremony organisers. They must follow prescribed timelines, criteria, and methodologies for evaluating nominees and selecting winners.
Continuous Learning and Development:
12. Judges should engage in ongoing learning and development opportunities to enhance their judging skills, knowledge, and understanding of industry trends. They shall stay informed about best practices and emerging issues relevant to the awards ceremony’s field or industry.
Promptness:
13. The dates for submission of scoring and feedback will be made available to all judges in advance and judges will be required to comply with these dates. In case of difficulty, judges must notify The National AI Awards immediately when a delay presents itself as a possibility. Judges must complete scoring and feedback on the judging platform by the judging closing date. If any judge is unable to complete judging, they must alert The National AI Awards as soon as they are aware.
By adhering to this code of conduct, judges of an awards ceremony can uphold the integrity, credibility, and prestige of the event while ensuring a fair and transparent recognition of nominees’ achievements. Judges are to refrain from communicating in any way with entrants or finalists prior to the Awards ceremony.
If a judge is contacted by an entrant or finalist directly, or through social media, please alert the The National AI Awards events team via info@thenationalaiawards.com immediately.
Judges must attend the judges training or alert the awards The National AI Awards if unable to attend, so alternative training can be given. All judges must address any concerns on outcomes and process (such as criteria and judging process) by giving feedback to The National AI Awards. A judges’ feedback survey will be made available to facilitate this after the judging has finished and we strongly encourage participation in this, so that we may continuously improve.