1. Purpose of the Policy

This Jury Selection Policy (“Policy”) defines the standards and procedures for identifying, evaluating, and appointing Jury Members (“Judges”) for the ECDMA Global Awards (“Awards Program”).

The jury must consist exclusively of professionals with outstanding, verifiable achievements in e-commerce, digital marketing, and related fields.

This Policy supplements the ECDMA Global Awards Terms & Conditions and the Terms & Conditions for Judges. All selected Judges must comply with those documents or formally withdraw from the jury.

2. Principles of Jury Formation

The ECDMA Global Awards jury is formed in line with the following principles:

  • Outstanding Professional Achievement: Jury Members are recognised experts with a track record of significant results and influence in their field.
  • Authority and Credibility: Each Judge’s profile must strengthen the credibility of the Awards Program.
  • Integrity and Independence: Judges act impartially, avoid conflicts of interest, and maintain confidentiality.
  • Diversity of Experience: The jury includes experts from different countries, sectors, and specializations within the digital and e-commerce ecosystem.

3. Eligibility Criteria: Outstanding Achievements
3.1 General Requirement

A candidate may be considered for the jury only if they demonstrate significant, documented professional distinction.

Job title, years of experience or seniority alone are not sufficient.

The candidate’s profile must show recognised impact, leadership, and professional authority.

3.2 Automatic Eligibility

The following category is considered sufficient proof of outstanding achievement:

ECDMA Senior Member in good standing, since this status already presupposes a verified record of professional excellence and contribution to the industry.

3.3 Achievement-Based Criteria

Other candidates must satisfy at least three (3) of the following criteria (or provide comparable evidence of distinction):

  • Major Industry Awards or Distinctions: Receiving significant professional or industry awards (international, regional, or national) in marketing, e-commerce, technology, product, communications or related areas. Being a winner, finalist, or shortlisted participant in reputable professional competitions or rankings.
  • Selective Professional Memberships and Titles. Holding membership or senior grade in respected professional associations or institutes where admission / advancement is based on peer-reviewed achievements and professional merit (not just fee payment or open enrollment).
  • Published Material About the Candidate: Presence of profiles, interviews, feature articles, or expert commentaries about the candidate in reputable business, industry, or professional media, demonstrating recognition by the professional community.
  • Judging / Expert Roles in Reputable Programs: Serving as a judge, expert, mentor, or evaluator in other respected professional awards, accelerators, grant committees, industry councils, or advisory boards.
  • Original Contributions with Proven Impact: Creation or leadership of innovative products, platforms, programs, or methodologies that have demonstrably influenced the market, the professional community, or the development of e-commerce and digital marketing practices.
  • Expert or Scientific Publications: Authoring expert articles, reports, or scientific publications in respected professional outlets, journals, or major industry platforms, which are cited, referenced, or widely used in practice.
  • Leading or Critical Role in Distinguished Organizations: Holding a leading or critical role in a well-regarded company, agency, organization, or institution, with clear evidence of business or market impact (revenue growth, transformation programs, successful launches, market expansion, etc.).
  • Other Comparable Evidence of Distinction: Any other documented achievements that clearly indicate that the candidate is among the leading professionals in their field, subject to evaluation by ECDMA.

The ECDMA Council may request additional documents, links, or references to verify any of the above.

4. Jury Selection Process
4.1 Identification and Nomination of Candidates

Candidates for the jury may be:

  • proposed by ECDMA Council Members or ECDMA Senior Members,
  • identified through independent research and market monitoring,
  • recommended by current Jury or ECDMA Members,
  • invited based on their publicly visible track record of achievements.

4.2 Preliminary Assessment

  • The ECDMA Organizing Committee conducts an initial review to verify that:
  • the candidate fits the outstanding achievement standard,
  • there is sufficient public or documentary evidence of their distinction,
  • the candidate’s expertise matches current or planned award categories.

4.3 Additional Expert Evaluation

If necessary, the Council may involve additional experts (for example, Senior Members or external authorities) to:

  • review the candidate’s achievements,
  • provide an expert opinion on the significance and credibility of their track record,
  • make a recommendation to the ECDMA Council.

4.4 Decision by the ECDMA Council

The final decision to invite a candidate to the jury is made by the ECDMA Council at a formal meeting.

The Council may approve or reject a candidate at its sole discretion, based on the totality of evidence.

Internal deliberations and detailed motivations of the decision are not subject to disclosure.

4.5 Invitation and Acceptance

Candidates approved by the Council receive a formal invitation.

To become a Jury Member, the candidate must:

  • Formally accept the invitation.
  • Confirm that they have read and agree to ECDMA Global Awards Terms & Conditions and Terms & Conditions for Judges.
  • Confirm their readiness to follow this Policy and to complete assigned evaluations within deadlines.

5. Compliance with Judge Rules

All Jury Members are obliged to follow:

  • ECDMA Global Awards Terms & Conditions;
  • Terms & Conditions for Judges (including confidentiality, conflict of interest and ethical provisions);
  • This Jury Selection Policy.

Any Jury Member who is unwilling or unable to comply with these requirements must withdraw from the jury.

In case of breach, ECDMA may remove the Jury Member from the panel in accordance with the Judge Terms & Conditions.

6. Conflict of Interest and Integrity

Integrity is a prerequisite for both selection and continued participation:

Candidates with a history of professional misconduct, unethical behavior, or reputational issues may be declined.

Jury Members must immediately disclose any potential conflict of interest in relation to assigned nominations.

The presence or non-disclosure of a conflict of interest may be grounds for removal by the Council.

7. Policy Updates

ECDMA reserves the right to modify this Policy.
The latest version will be published on the official website of the Awards Program.

Continued participation as a Jury Member constitutes acceptance of the most recent version of this Policy.