Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks business announced the panel of judges for the eighth Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards to take place on 30 June 2011. These annual awards were launched in 2004, as a practical response to encourage more prolific reporting of economic opportunity in Africa and to celebrate excellence in business journalism.

This year sees the return of several esteemed judges drawn from the media, business, government and development sectors. The 2011 panel consists of:

Dr Shantayanan Devarajan is the Chief Economist of the World Bank's Africa Division and maintains 'Africa Can', a widely read blog on topical issues relating to the socio economic development on the continent. He has lectured in business schools across the globe on stimulating the private sector in Africa.

Zeinab Badawi is an international news broadcaster and presenter on BBC World News Today, as well as a trustee of the BBC World Service Trust.

Baroness Shriti Vadera is a former government minister for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Cabinet Office. Baroness Vadera was formerly a Minister in the Department for International Development and a member of the HM Treasury's Council of Economic Advisers, as well as a special advisor to Gordon Brown. In December 2010, she was appointed to the Boards of BHP Billiton and AstraZeneca as a Non-Executive Director.

Stephen King is an Investments Partner at The Omidyar Foundation. Prior to this position, he was Director of the BBC World Service Trust and worked for more than 15 years with international development agencies in Asia, Africa and in North America.

Dr Alhaji Bamanga Tukur is the Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group. He is also chairman of BHI Holdings Limited and executive president of the African Business Roundtable.

Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu is the former CEO of New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). He is currently chairman of Pan-African Capital Holdings (Pty) Ltd, and a director of Old Mutual PLC, Kagiso Trust Investment and Virgin Atlantic South Africa.

The judging panel will be chaired by Diageo's Chief Executive, Paul Walsh. The panel will select the winners across all eleven categories:

Best ICT feature
Best Finance Feature
Best Infrastructure Feature
Best Agribusiness/ Environment feature
Best Tourism Feature
Best Use of New Media in a Story
Best Business News Story
Best Business Feature Story
Best Newcomer
Media of the Year
Journalist of the Year

The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on 30 June 2011 at the Landmark Hotel, London.

More information about the categories, entry criteria and entry details are available at www.diageoafricabusinessreportingawards.com or http://www.diageoafricabusinessreportingawards.com

The awards are free to enter and the deadline for entries is 21 March 2011.