As part of our commitment to transparency, we publish the names of the judges for each competition. (If judges opt-in for their names to be made public.)

Each competition is judged by a panel of experts, food journalists, sommeliers and pastry chefs, including the names listed below. The competition is overseen by members of our international Grand Jury, who travel to each competition.

We would like to thank our judges for their hard work, including any who chose for their names not to be listed. You can find the full list of winners for this competition in our ‘Rounds & results’ section.

Cat Black (United Kingdom), Food Writer, Food writer

Jan Calkins (Canada), Calkins & Burke Ltd., Calkins & Burke Ltd.

Tracy Chapman (United Kingdom), Chocolate Voyage

May Chong (United Kingdom), Eat Cook Explore, EatCookExplore

Elle Coco (United Kingdom), Chocolate Expert, Elle Coco, Elle Coco

Natasha Collins (United Kingdom), Nevie Pie Cakes, www.neviepiecakes.com

Mireille Discher (United Kingdom), F&B Consultant

Anjul Dutt (United Kingdom), Food Journalist

Zelia Frangioni (Brazil), Chocolatras Online (Brazilian chocolate blog), Chocólatras Online

Nadine Fricker (United Kingdom), Accent…on speaking the same language

George Gensler (United States), Manhattan Chocolate Society, Permanent Grand Jury

Robert Hatfield (United Kingdom), Unemployed

Sunny Kleo (United Kingdom), Hotel Manager with Organic Chocolate Shop experience

Jeffrey Lee (Hong Kong), Cult de Choco Ltd. / Director, Cult de Choco

Jenny Linford (United Kingdom), Food Writer

Per Liss (Sweden), Chokladakademien, Chokladakademien

Cherrie Lo (United Kingdom), Fortnum & Mason – Business Development Manager, Cherrie Lo

Lynn Lockwood (United Kingdom), Le Club de Cacao / Madame Deroubaix

Bostjan Makarovic (United Kingdom), Aphaia

Stefania Marcuz (Italy), Food & Beverage Sensory Analysis Expert, F&B Taster & Consultant, Stefaniamarcuz.com

Janette Marshall (United Kingdom), freelance writer

Sue McMahon (United Kingdom), Freelance Cookery Editor (Woman’s Weekly Specials)

Kate McNally (Belgium), Project coordinator QCEA

Sarah McRitchie (United Kingdom), Editorial Director, Confectionery Production magazine/website, Confectionery Production and Sweets & Snacks World

Jackie Mitchell (United Kingdom), Freelance Journalist, www.jackiemwriting.com

Dipak Nayar (United Kingdom), Craft beer

Chris Osburn (United Kingdom), Freelance journalist, tikichris

Marianne Parry (United Kingdom), Chocolate Enthususiast, Doctor, Artist

Mariana Ponce de León (Uruguay), Independent Patissier and Cake Designer

Alex Rast (United Kingdom), Consultant, Reviewer, Seventy% , Permanent Grand Jury

Katie Smith (United Kingdom), Editor at Confectionery Production magazine, Confectionery Production

Sara Trioni (Italy), Food Copywriter and Communication Consultant

Terese Weiss (Denmark), Interpreter / Chocolate Educator

Sela Yair (United Kingdom), chocolatewalks, London Chocolate Meetup