2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the second Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction. We’re delighted to introduce you to the ten judges that make up the two judging panels. From academics to composers, authors and journalists, these impressive women are at the top of their respective professions, united by a love of reading.

The Women’s Prize for Fiction

Chair of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Judges, author Kit de Waal, is joined by novelist, journalist and inaugural winner of the Orange Award for New Writers (the Women’s Prize for debut novelists in 2006), Diana Evans; author, journalist and mental-health campaigner, Bryony Gordon; magazine editor, most recently Editor-in-Chief of Glamour UK, Deborah Joseph; and musician and composer known for award-winning film scores, Amelia Warner.

Kit de Waal, chair of the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction judging panel, commented:

“What an honour to be the chair of the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction – and in its 30th anniversary year! Not only do I get to read the most brilliant novels by women around and hear what they have to say about our world, but I’m judging with such interesting fellow judges.”

The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction

Chair of the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction Judges, journalist, author and broadcaster Kavita Puri is joined by the writer and broadcaster, Dr Leah Broad, whose work focuses on women’s cultural history; novelist and critic, Elizabeth Buchan; writer and environmental academic Dr Elizabeth-Jane Burnett; and author and writer of The Hyphen newsletter on Substack, Emma Gannon.

Kavita Puri, chair of the 2025 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction judging panel, commented:

“It’s an enormous privilege to chair the second year of the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, to celebrate outstanding female writers who are creating original work, across a broad range of genres, from history to science and nature, and beyond.”