As promised last week, today we’re revealing the finalists for the greatest contribution from an individual category in the Reputation Online Effectiveness awards.

Who do you think has contributed heavily to shaping the online comms space in the UK over the past year? We’ve whittled down the nominations and have opened the public vote for the list below – now it’s up to you to decide the winner.

To cast your vote, text ‘RO’ followed by a space and the number of your chosen person to 82100. You will receive a confirmation message in return (from us via Sponge, the mobile marketing specialists working with us to make this possible) and you can only vote once per mobile number.

You’ve got until midnight on Wednesday 18th August 2010 to make a decision, and the winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday 23 September 2010.

Speaking of which, we’re also announcing some special ticket packages for the awards night. Tickets are £95 + UK VAT each, but you can get a pair (when booked together) for £160 + UK VAT at a saving of £15 a ticket. Or,  five tickets (also when booked together) for £380 + UK VAT, which means a saving of almost £20 per ticket.

Congratulations to our finalists, and let the voting commence!

RO 1: Stephen Waddington, managing director, Speed (@wadds)

If you know PR, you know Stephen. He has 15 years of experience as a managing director, non executive director and governor, with his current role as managing director of Speed Communications the latest in a line of heading up top agencies. He is also non-executive chairman of Admiral PR & Marketing. A trained journalist, he knows how the media landscape works and champions good practice as an avid blogger in his own right.

RO 2: Ben Ayers, head of social media and community, ITV.com (@benayers)

Ben has been integral in driving ITV.com’s social media efforts, having been with the company for over five years. An open approach as well as an acute understanding of web strategy, makes him a rising star with so much already under his belt from previous roles at Comic Relief, the BBC & Science Museum. Over the past year his work on the X Factor has seen online engagement rocket to a level never before seen by the channel.

RO 3: James Poulter, digital director, Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster (@jamespoulter)

James looks after strategy and planning in the UK for top brands from RBS to Kimberley Clarke. He previously worked within the digital team at Ogilvy Public Relations in London, championing online comms for the likes of Coca-Cola, Virgin Media, Nike and IBM. His mixture of experience in terms of understanding and using the technologies that support good social media activity is what sets him apart, and he’s a poet to boot.

RO 4: Tracy Frauzel, head of digital communications, Greenpeace UK (@greenpeaceuk)

Tracy has been working with Greenpeace for the past eight years, developing online communications both in the office, on ships and in the jungle. Her involvement in arguably one of the most high-profile charity campaigns of the past year in relation to Nestle shows a willingness to make brave decisions in the face of strong ethical beliefs and act calmly when others panic.

RO 5: Francis Ingham, chief executive, PRCA (@prcaingham)

Francis has transformed the PRCA (the trade association that represents PR consultancies and in-house communications teams in the UK) over the past three years. Previously assistant director general at the CIPR (chartered institute of public relations), senior policy advisor at CBI and political advisor for the conservative party.