Celebrating excellence: Highlights from the Think Global People and Relocate Global Awards
The prestigious Think Global People and Relocate Global Awards 2025 brought together international leaders, mobility experts, educators, and HR professionals in the beautiful and historic venue of the Glaziers Hall in London to celebrate innovation and excellence across the industry. Hosted by Relocate Global’s Managing Editor, Fiona Murchie, the event began over two decades ago and has since expanded its reach with the launch of Think Global People.
18 June 2025
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This year’s awards were held against a backdrop of significant global change and complexity. Fiona Murchie encouraged attendees to engage in meaningful dialogue, share insights, and make the most of networking opportunities throughout the evening. She explained how important it was to build connections, especially in difficult times. Fiona referenced the thought-provoking discussions held earlier in the day during the Global Leaders Forum, which had debated the future of global mobility with a distinguished panel of thought leaders and experts across the industry, facilitated by journalist Marianne Curphey. Highlights from the Forum are available via video and now feature on both the Relocate Global and Think Global People platforms and are included in a magazine supplement.Attendees at the awards dinner represented a wide variety of global mobility, international leaders, entrepreneurs and educators, with many coming from the United States, Spain, Ireland and other parts of Europe to receive their award. The awards were facilitated by Jayne Constantinis, experienced BBC TV announcer and business reporter on BBC World.
A night of celebrating excellence and innovation
The Think Global People and Relocate Global Awards continues to champion outstanding achievements, fostering a community committed to purposeful leadership, innovation, and the wellbeing of globally mobile professionals and their families. Starting off the awards, Jayne Constantinis noted how the original building Glaziers Hall was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, and it then took 300 years to relocate to the current building close to London Bridge. The venue was steeped in history and had spectacular views over the River Thames towards the City of London and Fishmongers Hall, having originally been sited at Fye Foot Lane near Cannon Street before it was burned down.The first award of the night—Excellence in Global Mobility, Global Policy Design or Implementation—set the tone for an evening of inspiration and recognition. This category honours the critical role that effective domestic and international relocation strategies play in enabling business success, talent mobility, and return on investment. The award was open to HR Global Mobility teams, Relocation Management Companies and others that offer specialist mobility services to employers relocating their businesses, employees and families domestically or internationally. Tosin Adenrele, Global Mobility Regional Lead EMEA, IQVIA and a member of the judging panel presented the award.“I was particularly impressed with the quality of the entries for this category,” she said. “That actually made it quite challenging from a judging perspective to narrow it down. I was inspired by the innovation, the cultural and organisational values, as well as a strong focus on customer service delivery, which was impressive. So all of the entrants you should be proud, and thank you for entering.”A Y & J Solicitors, a leading expert in UK immigration, won the Award thanks to their innovative use of technology, commitment to staff development, and exceptional client service. The judges described their “bold vision and leadership in UK immigration” which marked them as true pioneers in the sector. The award was collected by Yash Dubal, Founder and Director of A Y & J Solicitors.“I am very proud of this award,” he said. “On behalf of the entire team at A Y &J Solicitors, I would say thank you, and thank to Relocate Global. We have been doing this for over 15 years and it has not been an easy journey but I am very, very grateful for the amazing team we have. They made all this possible.”
Winner of the Award for Destination service provider of the year - Global
Santa Fe Relocation was the winner of the Destination Services Provider of the Year award, which recognises quality and professionalism in the provision of destination services that are operated by service suppliers that focus on a specific country or at local level, regionally or globally. The judges praised Santa Fe Relocation’s “unique, human-focused approach to relocation” and said they had delivered “real innovation, cost savings, and outstanding care for clients globally; showcasing a truly supportive and forward-thinking culture.”Tosin Adenrele, Global Mobility Regional Lead EMEA, IQVIA and a member of the judging panel presented the award, which the judges said had been hotly contested because of the quality of the entrants.“There was a very high quality and calibre of destination services,” she said. “It is a tough one to be in, so this is an amazing feat. We had to narrow it down as well between global and local categories, so this award is for global services.The award was collected by Fruzsina Hodson, Senior Manager Group Destination Services, Santa Fe Relocation.“I would like to thank all of our teams in 39 countries and everybody in this room and the judging panel for this award,” Fruzsina said. “Thank you very much.”Winner of the Award for Destination service provider of the year - Local
NYC Navigator won the award, and the judges said it stood out for its “personalised, empathetic approach to relocation, led by a passionate, female-led team”. Their focus on community, philanthropy, and authentic, multilingual support creates a truly meaningful and successful relocation experience for clients and their families, the judging panel said.The award was collected by Brenda Levis, President of NYC Navigator.“It is a pleasure to be here from New York today, and I'm going to volunteer to be relocated to the UK, and London in particular, after walking around these past couple of days,” Brenda said. “It has been a real pleasure to be here. I also want to thank the judges for your consideration of our entry, and then also to my peers that I very honoured to be in the same category with. They're all outstanding providers, and I'm really excited to bring this home to my team, who put a lot of heart and dedication into caring for our transferees.”
Winner of the Award for Best Serviced Apartment Provider
The Destination Services Provider of the Year award recognises quality, professionalism and innovation in the provision of serviced apartments. The judges explained why Synergy won the Award: "Synergy Global Housing impressed the judges with their commitment to secure, sustainable, and high-quality serviced apartment solutions. Their innovative, client-focused approach, operational excellence, and global crisis support team showcase true leadership and forward thinking in today’s complex world."Fiona Murchie, Managing Editor Relocate & Think Global People presented the award, explaining that this industry sector had faced many changes and challenges recently.“This award is particularly important because serviced departments, business travel and corporate housing is a sophisticated and fast growing industry sector,” she said. “In the last couple of years they have really had to accelerate and go into a lot of new locations, as we heard in our afternoon session at the Global Leaders Forum. At the same time, they have got to ensure they adhere to governance. They are also responsible for well being and looking after business travellers, as well as relocation and global mobility assignees.”The award was collected by Sofia Oragano, Senior Director International Sales of Synergy, who was a panellist for the afternoon session of the Global Leaders Forum and had spoken of the challenges and opportunities of finding accommodation in new countries and locations across the globe.“Thank you to Reocate Global, and thank you to Fiona,” Sofia said. “I have enjoyed every minute of today. I have enjoyed seeing how diverse the people here are and being able to have such interesting conversations. Thank you for this accolade. We work hard, we work with purpose, and we are truly delighted to bring this home. I'd like to thank my team more than anything for this.”Read related articles
- Human relationships and collaboration – the key global mobility trends highlighted at the 2025 Think Global People and Relocate Global Awards
- From apathy to engagement – how to make changes that benefit your organisation and your employees via the Management Shift
- Charting the road to 2030: what does the future hold for global mobility?
Winner of the Award for Excellence in technology or analytics
The Excellence in Technology or Analytics award recognised the effective and innovative use of technology by a relocation organisation or HR team to bring about business and corporate benefits within the context of global mobility. This category reflected the innovation across global mobility and relocation support as organisations continue to respond to the new world of work and the challenges of mobility.Olu Euba, Associate Director, Global Talent Mobility, WPP and a member of the judging panel presented the award.“At my company, AI is very important because we work in the advertising industry, and AI has taken over the industry. So AI is at the heart of everything we do, from sparking new ideas and driving innovation to enable seamless collaboration across the globe,” he said. “In terms of this award, I am truly grateful to be part of the team that is giving this award, because technology is very important in mobility and AI has been inspiring what we are doing in terms of creativity and innovation for the transformation of the future of mobility.”He said that for all the entrants, AI was a very big factor in their innovation, and that the standard was so high that it had been difficult to choose the winner.This award category recognised that there has been a significant rise in AI application and the growth of new platforms and analytics tools across the sector. The range of solutions entered was also broad indicating the wealth and appetite for digital advances and the importance of analytics.The judges explained that The Cozm won the Award because its AI-powered platform transformed global mobility compliance and combined “cutting-edge innovation with inclusivity and industry collaboration” which could free up global mobility for a much more strategic role.The award was collected by Benjamin Oghene, CEO and Founder of The Cozm. “This company is only two and a half years old, so we are a startup,” he said. “It is amazing. I am a computer scientist by background, and when I used to tell people what we do, they would walk off in different directions. So AI has become more popular recently and this is a bit strange for me. Our whole team has worked really, really hard over the last two and a half years and we really appreciate this award, so thank you very much.”
Winner of the Award for Excellence in talent management
The Excellence in Talent Management award recognises excellent global leadership initiatives or a leader across the wide spectrum of people management functions that result in outstanding people management outcomes.The judges explained that Icon won the Award due to its “strong commitment to employee connection and inclusion across remote and office-based teams”. Icon had brought together both office-based and remote workers and it was clear that senior leadership within the business listened to their people and are prepared to support employee-led initiatives. The judges said this should be recognised and “held up as an exemplar for other businesses”.Paul Williamson, Group Head of Talent Development, ATG Entertainment and a member of the judging panel presented the award.“So many businesses say that ‘people are our biggest asset’ and this is an award for an organisation that is walking the walk in terms of that,” Paul Williamson said. “Because, you know, to come back to Vlatka’s point earlier on in her keynote speech, it is all about culture and how you create positive cultures in the workplace that encourage retention. Talent development is really at the heart of this, and it is a passion of mine, so it is a real privilege to be able to judge this and to give out this award.”The award was collected by Vanessa Szmagara, Quality & Supply Chain Director of Icon.“Icon stood out for its strong commitment to employee connection and inclusion across remote and office based teams with high retention and outstanding client feedback,” Jayne Constantinis said. “It is clear that people feel valued and their supportive ‘people first’ culture sets a powerful example for the industry.”Jayne said Icon was “living and breathing” everything that Professor Vlatka Hlupic had talked about in her keynote speech about fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace culture.Vanessa Szmagara of Icon said: “Firstly, I just want to say thank you to the judges for those lovely comments. It is an honour to be able to represent Icon and collect this award. It is a reflection really on the hard work that the team have done. And ultimately, that Icon really values the people, and we put people first in everything that we do, and it is part of our culture, so thank you.”From helping to support families and create a vibrant school community that benefits students, staff and families, to language tuition and research into mobility and relocation policy, the award entrants demonstrated excellence and attention to family and community. Once again, it was hard for the judges to choose winners out of such a strong field of companies, and the judging panel commended all the shortlisted organisations for their outstanding contribution to their role in relocation, education, global mobility services and research.Winner of the Award for Excellence in education – Schools
The Excellence in Education Schools award recognises quality education for mobile families and reflects how, a successful, timely and stress-free relocation supports talent retention, promotes employer brand and delivers employee engagement for best practice organisations. Pam Mundy, Executive Director of advisory and international education consultancy Pam Mundy Associates, an experienced educator and a member of the judging panel presented the award.The judges explained that the International School of London won the Award because of its “commitment to excellence with and for their students and families.” They commended ISL on its approach to relocation including the “highly effective and authentic community connections”.“This is a really important category, and as an educator myself, I feel that it is critical that we have people in this world who are still focusing on the main thing, which is our children,” Pam Mundy said. She explained how the standard of entries had been very high, and there were “incredible people” on the shortlist and that it had been difficult to pick a winner from such high calibre entries.The award was collected by Claudine Hakim, Head of Transitions Care and Student Support, International School of London.“On behalf of the team here at ISL, with my colleagues and the whole community, we would really like to thank the judges,” she said. “We would love to thank Fiona Murchie and the team for a truly wonderful evening. The event is always so special, and what matters to us is that this is a category that you consider. On many occasions, schools are forgotten, but it is so important to put the children first. It is very much part of our DNA to look after our community and the well being of our community. So thank you, and congratulations to the other schools who are on the awards list as well.”
Winner of the Award for Excellence in education – Education consultancy
The Excellence in Education Consultancy award recognises quality education for mobile families and reflects how, a successful, timely and stress-free relocation supports talent retention, promotes employer brand and delivers employee engagement for best practice organisations.Pam Mundy, presented the award, and Jayne Constantinis explained what the judging panel had praised in Quintessentially Education’s entry.“You were praised for offering a creative solution of home schooling to ensure a bespoke service specifically tailored via a committed and passionate workforce to a small number of students in diverse location,” she said.Jayne also mentioned the emphasis on pastoral support for each student, the flexibility, and the staff who were skilled in relocation and education and with worldwide connections and links. This meant there was “a focus on ensuring the very best educational outcomes for students” and makes this a holistic and practical solution for relocating families.The award was collected by Amelia Buckworth, Education Manager of Quintessentially Education.“Relocation and global mobility is very much at the heart of everything we do,” she said. “As we said before, children really need to be considered and are very much at the heart of everything to do with relocation. So there is no better honour than to be considered and to have this award. So thank you so much.”Winner of the Award for Excellence in family support
The Excellence in Family Support award is important in response to skill shortages and the value of supporting international employees and their families and dual career couples to settle successfully in their new location and thrive. It is a keystone for employee engagement and supports the culture of organisations that put people at the heart of their global mobility initiatives and policy.The judges explained why BiCortex Languages & Translations won the Award: “This is a highly responsive company that addresses the need for language tuition and translation effectively and quickly. BiCortex relocation support looks to combine personal care, local expertise, and shows proven results to make moves smooth and stress-free.”Kelly Blackaby, HR Director, Europe & Middle East, Mavenir and a member of the judging panel presented the award.“I have absolutely loved judging across multiple categories,” she said. “I love seeing the passion and the innovation and the creativity that you provide to all of your people who are relocating. In particular this category is really important because it is about supporting the whole family to integrate and settle into their new environment, so I am excited to share the results.”The award was collected on behalf of BiCortex Languages & Translations by Brenda Levis, President of NYC Navigator and Board Chair of the TIRA Network, as BiCortex could not be at the awards in person. Brenda said a few words on behalf of Inigo Lopez, CEO of BiCortex Languages & Translations.“I am honoured to accept the excellence and family support award on behalf of team BiCortex Languages, and thank you so much for this incredible recognition. BiCortex are passionate about supporting families throughout every stage of the relocation process with personalised care real time, human solutions and a truly human approach. This award reflects the dedication of our amazing team and the trust of their clients. Thank you for celebrating the work that they love to do.”
Winner of the Award for Best research contribution
The Best research contribution award is for contributions to global people management research and thought leadership. Innovative contributions which have practical implications, impact and contribute to advancement of knowledge or theory.The judges explained why Santa Fe Relocation won the Award: “This award recognises a deeply insightful and practical research report, 'Taking Care of Global Mobility Professionals.' With a strong research culture and practitioner-led approach, this firm is shaping the future of global mobility by providing tools that drive transformation and meaningful change across the industry.”Siobhan Cummins, seasoned global mobility professional and a member of the judging panel presented the award, which was collected by John Rason, Group Head of Consulting of Santa Fe Relocation.“Thank you very much, first of all to Relocate Global for being here tonight for this fantastic event,” John said. “I have really enjoyed it, and also the Global Leaders Forum in the day, which has been great.“I would also like to thank the judges, because I know the rigour that you go through to evaluate who is going to win an award,” he added. “This research that we do, we see this as putting back into the industry. You know, it is not just about competing, it is about how do we take the industry forward? And it is about being evolutionary, and so I am delighted. I work because I enjoy what I do, and it's a collaboration. We talked about that earlier on during the Global Leaders Forum. So thank you very much indeed. I am absolutely delighted on behalf of Santa Fe relocation to accept this award. So thank you.”Winner of the Award for Best book
The Best book award is for contributions to global people management research and thought leadership. Innovative contributions which have practical implications, impact and contribute to advancement of knowledge or theory. This category was won by Force for Good: How to thrive as a purpose-driven leader by Dr John Blakey.Siobhan Cummins, seasoned global mobility professional and a member of the judging panel presented the award.“I am really delighted to present this award because I think research is so important to global mobility teams,” she said. “There is so much going on in the world at the moment that it is very hard to keep up to date with what is going on. So for all of us having good research that we can benchmark against best practice in the industry, and to hear what is going on from our peers is really important.“From a personal development point of view, it is also important because unlike many disciplines like accounting or HR management, mobility does not have a set of exams. So research is one way that we can personally keep up to date by reading some of the great research that's out there.”The judges explained why Dr John Blakey won the Award: “‘Force for Good’ stood out as an inspiring and practical guide to purpose-driven leadership,” they said. “Well-researched and accessible, it offers a powerful framework for ethical, impactful leadership—and delivers a message of real change that resonates with audiences worldwide.”The award was collected by Dr John Blakey.“Thank you for this award, which motivates me and encourages me to carry on doing what I am doing and what I am passionate about, because we all need that little bit of encouragement, don't we, on the tough days,” he said.“So thank you very much and thank you to Fiona and to everybody at Relocate Global. Thank you to the judges. Thank you most of all to my clients who inspired this book through all their work over the last five years, and it has been a tough five years for a lot of leaders.”
Winner of the Award for ESG excellence – environmental, social & governance (ESG)
The ESG Excellence award recognises excellence across environmental, social and governance initiatives that result in outstanding people outcomes and sustainable growth of an organisation or contribution to an industry sector’s advances. This category reflects the importance of ESG across the corporate and service supplier sector.Fiona Murchie presented the award, which was won by Eres Relocation Europe.“This is a very important award because it recognises the importance of environmental, social and governance issues, particularly in these challenging times,” Fiona Muchie said. “It is a real pleasure to present this award on behalf of Dr Sue Shortland, has a special interest in this award but unfortunately cannot be here this evening.”The judges explained why Eres Relocation Europe won the Award: “This company impressed the judges with its deep commitment to ethical, sustainable, and socially responsible practices. With a strong ESG ethos across global operations—and standout initiatives like pro bono immigration consulting—it sets a powerful example of purpose-driven business."The award was collected by Coline Michaux, Communication, Marketing & Sustainability Manager of Eres Relocation.“I'm very honoured to be here tonight and to represent my company Eres Relocation,” she said. “I would like to say that we have made a lot of effort in 2024 in terms of ESG and sustainability, and so we really appreciate this award. I would also like to say thank you to Relocate, to Fiona, and to my team who have made continuous efforts during the last years. Thank you.”People first: Emerging trends in global mobility from the 2025 Relocate Awards
The 2025 Relocate Awards have once again spotlighted the outstanding individuals, organisations and comanies shaping the future of global mobility. Across all the categories, from education, relocation, research, ESG, family support and destination and accommodation providers, the trend is clear. People are at the centre of every successful relocation, and while technology can augment the service, it is the human tough and building human relationships which make the difference.Taken together, the 2025 Relocate Awards reflect an industry that is changing rapidly, but still prioritising human connection, collaboration and innovation. Global mobility is about supporting families, enabling organisations and leaders to act with purpose as well as for profit, and about building sustainable futures.These leading trends in terms of family support, community and continuity in education, and the use of technology to complement rather than replace human connection, are likely to accelerate over the next 12 months. As the industry adapts to new expectations from assigneess and clients and continues to operate in a global climate of change and uncertainty, it is our personal and professional relationships which will sustain us. The Relocate and Think Global People annual awards are a reminder that with the backing of a strong community, a real purpose, a willingness to embrace change and collaborate, we all make a difference.Think Global people is the community for thought leaders across the arenas of International Management, Global Mobility and Education. Our purpose is to support ambitious individuals and organisations to grow and ensure companies and people achieve their potential. We are the leading online and multimedia partner for those managing and delivering global mobility and supporting international teams and business. Join us and continue the conversation!
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