Standpoints: Meet our 2026 judges

David Knies is a technology and innovation specialist at PA Consulting. He works with organisations to design and apply emerging technologies to solve complex real-world problems.

David was the expert featured in the lesson “The Winter Games: talent or technology?

He will be looking for clear arguments, strong evidence and thoughtful comparisons.

Rob Gifford is a Senior Editor at The Economist. He has reported on politics and global affairs from around the world.

He will be looking for balanced viewpoints, real-world examples and careful reasoning.

Christopher Lockwood is Asia Editor at The Economist He specialises in politics, trade policy and international relations across the US, Europe and Asia

He will be looking for practical ideas, strong examples and clear explanations.

Sophie Pedder is the Paris bureau chief for The Economist. She reports on European politics and international relations.

She will be looking for nuanced arguments, historical understanding and well-supported opinions.