About the Awards

The World Mail Awards were conceived through discussions at the internationally recognised World Mail & Express conferences – the unique forum for industry leaders and key decision makers to discuss strategy. As the industry developed much debate was focused on ways of encouraging and publicising best practice within the mail industry worldwide; out of this grew the concept of the World Mail Awards, which were formally launched in 2000.

The initial awards consisted of four categories – Internet Commerce, Innovation, Customer Service and Airline of the Year. The response to these awards was so positive that the number of categories was increased and in 2003 a further two categories were launched - Industry Leadership and Technology.

Further awards were added in the following years – Transformation (2004), Quality (2005), Corporate Social Responsibility and People Management (2006) and 2007 saw a total of eleven categories recognised with the addition of the new Retail Project award.

With the exception of the Industry Leadership Award, application, or nomination, for an award is open to any postal operator or service provider worldwide, whether public or private, small or large. All applications are reviewed by a prestigious panel of judges and, from a shortlist of entries, a winner in each category is finally declared. Winners are announced at a presentation ceremony and Gala Dinner held in conjunction with the annual World Mail & Express Europe conference where awards are presented by sponsoring organisations.

The Awards are highly respected and sought after, rewarding as they do, the pursuit of excellence. Now in the 13th year, they are rapidly becoming the Oscars™ of the postal industry.

The judging panel

Each award is judged by a global panel of experts whose deliberations are independent of the organisers and sponsors. It is the responsibility of each award panel, under the chairmanship of a distinguished industry leader, to ensure that all applications or nominations meet the criteria of the award in question. Judges of the World Mail Awards have included:

  • Dr Levente László, Executive Director of International Business, Magyar Posta
  • Botond Szebeny, Secretary General, PostEurop
  • Dr Jurgen Lohmeyer, Director, International Relations – Parcel & Express, Deutsche Post
  • Ken McKeown, Director of Markets, UPU
  • Susan Barton, Postal Industry Lead, Europe, Africa & Latin America, Accenture
  • Jeff Sibio, Industry Marketing Director, Transport & Logistics, Intermec
  • Paul Donohoe, e-Business Programme Manager, UPU
  • Derek Osborn, Commercial Director, E-Biss International
  • Ingemar Persson, Independent Consultant
  • Dirk Palder, Vice President, Capgemini
  • Charles Prescott, Principal & Editor, The Prescott Report
  • Dave Bowers, Security Specialist, UPU
  • Carlos Silva, Head of International Unit, Correios de Portugal
  • Gavin Macrae, Group Executive Director, Corporate Partnerships Worldwide, Neopost
  • Rod McDonald, Head of HR, Australia Post
  • Alex Walsh, Head of Postal Affairs, Direct Marketing Association (UK)
  • Jean-Paul Bailly, Chairman, La Poste
  • Ulrich Gygi, former CEO of Swiss Post 
  • Helge Israelsen, CEO, Post Danmark
  • Graeme John, Managing Director, Australia Post
  • John E. Potter, Postmaster General and CEO of the United States Postal Service
  • Klaus Zumwinkel, former Chairman of Deutsche Post World Net
  • Peter Bakker, Chairman & CEO, TNT Post