Director of Innovation & Product Technology- URenew Beauty UK

Rinki Pramanik is a pioneering Product Innovation Specialist and Cosmetic Scientist with over 15 years of global experience in the beauty and personal care industry, spanning the UK, USA, and India. With more than 500 successful product launches across 14 countries, Rinki brings deep, cross-functional expertise in high-performance skincare, color cosmetics, bath & body, and home care.
A gold medallist process engineer and certified cosmetic formulator, Rinki blends scientific rigor with commercial strategy to lead multi-million-pound innovation projects from concept to shelf. Her work spans prestige, masstige, and mass markets, delivering award-winning formulas and scalable processes – from lab bench to 21-ton manufacturing.
An alumna of the MIT Sloan School of Management, Rinki holds an Executive Certification in Operations & Value Chain Management and multiple credentials in corporate sustainability, digital strategy, supply chain, and AI productivity. Her expertise spans Agile and Waterfall project management, Six Sigma and Lean methodologies, and global regulatory compliance.
Rinki has driven innovation for leading multinationals like Unilever Prestige, J&J, Walmart, and founder-led disruptors, building NPD pipelines, optimizing cost and quality, and leading cross-functional teams including suppliers, co-packers, regulators, and studios.
She is also the created of INCI with Rinki channel across Instagram & YouTube a fast-growing education-meets-community platform and podcast that demystifies cosmetic science. In just eight months, she has grown a global audience of over 70,000 followers and generated 500,000+ views, making ingredient science accessible, engaging, and empowering for formulators worldwide.
Known for her ability to turn complexity into clarity, Rinki champions innovation that is sustainable, inclusive, and impactful. Her mantra: #I’MPOSSIBLE – where curiosity fuels confidence, and science drives meaningful beauty.

Quality & Technical Manager at Superdrug

I currently lead the Quality and Technical team for all Own Brand development  at Superdrug , where I drive quality and innovation across all Own Brand categories. 

I joined the cosmetic industry over 35 years ago as chemist at Yardley of London and worked for various contract manufacturers before joining Marks and Spencer as a technologist in the beauty area. I worked for Marks and Spencer over 3 separate periods where I drove innovative skincare development , launching a skincare range based on resveratrol extracted from grape skins from M&S wine production.  I have was Director of Quality for Meuiyme where I developed the quality system to ensure customer was at the forefront of our developments. I was also Head of NPD for Bulldog the mens skincare brand, where I relaunched the whole range which saving costs and also bring the first sugar cane based packaging to the mainstream market.  

I was President of the SCS in 2023-2024 where I championed one of the key strategic goals of education . I am very proud to have launched the SCS mentoring scheme which aims to offer mentoring across all levels of SCS membership. 

Technical Director, PBS

Laura Kirkbride is a highly regarded chemist, formulator, and director with over 24 years’ experience working across a wide variety of formulation types and cosmetic chemistry specialisms. As Technical Director at PBS, Laura leads innovative development and oversees top-quality manufacture for private label clients and the wider PBS group, supporting a diverse range of brands and categories. Throughout her career, she’s created award-winning formulations and is passionate about mentoring and education in the industry. A committed member and Past President of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Laura draws on her broad experience to bring a fair and expert perspective to the judging panel. 

Freelance Writer, Beauty Expert, Past Editor of Cosmetics Business

Julia Wray is an award-winning beauty journalist, specialising in business-to-business news analysis and features writing. A veteran beauty editor, Julia was responsible for international trade publications Soap, Perfumery & Cosmetics from 2014-2020 and Cosmetics Business from 2020-2025. In 2024 and 2025, she also ran the editorial department at London publishing company HPCi Media, comprising seven beauty and health care publications. Julia embarked on her freelancing journey in 2025. 

Lead Consultant at Arthur Edward Associates

Joe entered the world of beauty recruitment in 2016, when he joined Arthur Edward. Through mentorship and hands-on experience he developed the knowledge, skills, and industry connections that supported his progression to Lead Consultant.  

Throughout his career, Joe has expanded his network by attending industry exhibitions and events, and as an active member of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists and the British Society of Perfumers. His deep understanding of the beauty industry, combined with his talent for matching candidates with ideal opportunities, makes him a go-to recruiter for top talent in cosmetic science and technical roles. 

“I’ve learned the importance of building strong, lasting relationships with supportive colleagues and mentors. A network of people who you can ask questions and seek guidance from, without judgement. These connections have supported my personal and career development, and helped me navigate challenges, proving that success is a collaborative journey.” 

European Correspondent, Allured Business Media & Director, Cosmetics Cluster UK 

During nearly 40 years in the cosmetic industry, mostly with the scientific trade journal, Cosmetics & Toiletries^️®, I have seen scores of development formulations, demonstrating the brilliant formulation expertise and market understanding of raw material suppliers and distributors to showcase their ingredients.  I am delighted to be part of this year’s jury and look forward to choosing the best of this year’s entries.

Leader & Senior Lecturer, London College of Fashion 

Diogo Baltazar trained as a pharmacist and started his career in cosmetic science in Portugal. He has been teaching cosmetic formulation at London College of Fashion for over 10 years. He is the director of the MSc Cosmetic Science and a researcher in cosmetic formulation technology. He is also highly engaged with industry projects.

Chief Scientist, SMINK Limited & President of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists UK & Ireland 

Daniel has worked in the personal care industry for over 25 years in a variety of roles including formulation, new product development, innovation, technical marketing, and claims testing. He has developed several patented technologies, been responsible for the introduction of several innovative claims into the beauty marketplace and has presented at numerous cosmetic science events. A regular contributor to industry journals, he has a passion for trends analysis, ingredient innovation and understanding consumer interaction with products. 

An extensive industry network including journalists, bloggers, consultants, brand owners and scientists gives him a unique insight into what the future may look like for the beauty industry. 

In his current role as Chief Scientist at SMINK Limited he combines a passion for discovering the latest scientific breakthroughs, with his knowledge of emerging trends, market insights and ingredients to ensure every product is thoughtfully conceived, highly efficacious and purpose led. 

Daniel also lectures on the BSc and MSc cosmetic science courses at the University of Sunderland.

Marketing Manager, Society of Cosmetic Scientists

Caroline leads the Society’s marketing function and oversees all related activities. As the primary contact for anything marketing-related, she brings a wealth of experience and a strategic focus on communications and events. Caroline plays a key role in shaping and supporting the Society’s outreach and engagement efforts.

Senior Lecturer in Formulation Sciences

Amanda Solaiman is a registered pharmacist, a Senior Lecturer in Formulation Sciences and Programme Leader for the BSc Cosmetic Science course at the University of Sunderland. Her expertise spans both pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. Her research focuses on enhancing solubility, developing fast-disintegrating drug delivery systems, and creating innovative skincare and haircare products. Amanda is passionate about translating science into real-world applications and supporting the next generation of formulation scientists.