2026 Judging Process


All entries will be reviewed by the Real Deals editorial team, who will identify a shortlist for each category.

In January 2026 we will contact all entrants to let them know whether or not they have been shortlisted, and the full shortlist will be published on our website.

Shortlisted entries are shared with a panel of judges comprised of senior representatives from leading LPs and PE firms. Judges will score all entries online before meeting in person for final deliberations.

The Private Equity Hall of Fame recipient is nominated by the Real Deals editorial team.

All winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 15 April 2026.


2025 Judging Panel


Michael Baster, Inflexion
Michael Baster
Partner
Inflexion
Nicola Gray, Epiris
Nicola Gray
Investment Partner
Epiris
Yohan Hill, Adam Street Partners
Yohan Hill
Director of ESG
Adam Street Partners
Liz Jones, Livingbridge
Liz Jones
Partner
Livingbridge
Wol Kolade, Livingbridge
Wol Kolade
Managing Partner
Livingbridge
Paul Lamarcroft, Schroders
Paul Lamarcroft
Senior Investment Director Private Equity
Schroders
Mirja Lehmler- Brown, Hayfin
Mirja Lehmler- Brown
Partner
Hayfin
Lorenzo Levi, CDPQ
Lorenzo Levi
Managing Director and Operating Partner
CDPQ
James Livingston, Foresight Group
James Livingston
Partner
Foresight Group
Neil MacDougall, Sophora
Neil MacDougall
Investor and Non- Executive Director
Sophora
Claire Madden, Connection Capital
Claire Madden
Connection Capital
Kirsty McDonald, GCP
Kirsty McDonald
Partner
GCP
Merrick McKay, Patria Investments
Merrick McKay
Head of Private Equity
Patria Investments
Marco Natoli, European Investment Fund (EIF)
Marco Natoli
Head of Sustainable Growth Division
European Investment Fund (EIF)
Mitesh Pabari, Hamilton Lane
Mitesh Pabari
Principal
Hamilton Lane
Mehul Patel, August PE
Mehul Patel
Partner and Investment
August PE
Cameron Payne, Federated Hermes
Cameron Payne
Co-Head of European Investment
Federated Hermes
Imogen Richards, Pantheon
Imogen Richards
Partner
Pantheon
Aiden Robson, Endless
Aiden Robson
Managing Partner
Endless
Nicholas Schellenberg, Cambridge Associates
Nicholas Schellenberg
Managing Director- Secondarie
Cambridge Associates
Dominic Slade, Alchemy
Dominic Slade
Co- Founder and Managing Partner
Alchemy
Valeriya Vitkova, Bayes Business School
Valeriya Vitkova
Senior Lecturer
Bayes Business School