In May, we announced the 18 people who would judge in this year’s BikeBiz awards.
To allow you to get to know the judges better, we’ve asked them all to give us insight into who they are, what they do and a little more about them.
Next, we hear from Hannah Dobson. For many years, she could be 
found at Singletrack Magazine in many guises, most recently as Managing Editor. Now, she’s swapped mag deadlines for pump tracks, recently joining Velosolutions UK as Business Development Manager, bringing her passion for creating bike-friendly environments to more people.
You’re on a call or you meet someone at an event, when introducing yourself (and having to sum up many years in a few words), you say?
I’ve had my fingers in a lot of pies over the years. If it covers health, transport, bikes, infrastructure or equality, I probably know someone who can help you solve your problem.
Everyone in this industry has a unique ‘origin story’ that set them on this path. What was that for you, and how did that initial spark evolve into the professional journey you found yourself on?
I’ve always ridden bikes as transport. A running injury made me see them as sport and fun too. And then I got burnt out in public policy and project management, tired of endless meetings and 12-hour days. I quit, looking for something that felt like it hit a better work/life balance and found my skills could be useful in the world of bikes. Each job just seemed to add another layer of experience that lead to the next one.
Given your role as a judge for the BikeBiz Awards, if you could pinpoint one innovation or trend within the cycling world over the past decade that you believe has been truly transformative, what would it be, and why does it stand out to you?
The industry is finally waking up to the idea that it needs to work to attract new riders, rather than just selling more shiny things to the same people. We’re not there yet, there’s plenty more to do, but it feels like a conversation that’s not just being had on the fringes.
Delving a little deeper into judging, what are you going to be looking for when looking at the shortlists for each category, regarding who you might vote for?Â
I’m interested in people, companies and technology that are changing the status quo. Whether that’s rethinking how and where things are made, changing who is in the market for a bike, or making the world a bit more bike-friendly.
Looking five to ten years down the road, what’s a ‘blue sky’ idea or a radical shift you love to see happen for the cycling industry that you believe has the potential to truly reshape how people move and interact with bikes?
Getting organised! We need the bike industry to lobby on the big picture stuff: access to the countryside, safe places to play and ride for fun, normalising infrastructure for bikes as transport, effective insurance cover, and planning regulations that support bike ownership.
Among your many contributions to the cycling industry, are there any projects, initiatives, or achievements that stand out as your absolute proudest, and what made it so personally significant for you?
I think I’ve mostly been the mouthpiece for repeating the achievements and contributions of others, so I’ll not claim any glory yet. If I can get things so there are more pump tracks than tennis courts, I might chalk that up as a win.
Throughout your career, the industry has likely undergone significant changes. Have there been any shifts you’ve personally experienced that required you to adapt, and how did you navigate that change?
The media landscape was constantly shifting, with income streams changing repeatedly and unpredictably and frequent demands for different types and formats of content. I tried to react and adapt by always staying honest. I never wrote anything I didn’t believe.
If you could offer some advice, whether something you were told, or a hard-won lesson you learned, to those working in the cycling industry that you believe might resonate or help them in their role, what would it be?
If you’re working in the cycling industry, I’ve got to assume you’re here for love, not money. Yes, you’ve still got to survive and keep the roof over your head, but if you wanted riches, you’d be doing something else. And if you’re doing it for love, I’ve got to hope you’ve got a moral compass. So, stay true to that. If it feels wrong, don’t do it.
