• Swindon & Wiltshire Events
• Tuesday January 30 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Allergy campaigner to give keynote speech at BusinessWise open event

Allergy campaigner and food entrepreneur Julianne Ponan MBE will be the keynote speaker at an open business networking event hosted by BusinessWise in Swindon.

The not-for-profit business group, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, is holding an open event for business owners and directors from 6.30pm at Basset Down Complex, off J16, Swindon on Tuesday, February 6.

It’s the first large-scale event that the established group has run since lockdown and more than 70 people are already booked.

BusinessWise chairman John Lewis said: “We’re so thrilled to be able to hold this event which is open to any and all business owners from Swindon and Wiltshire.

“It’s an opportunity to make new connections, listen to Julianne’s amazing story and raise money for charity.”

Julianne Ponan was just 22 when she took a failing business and turned it into a challenger brand in the food and drink sector – Creative Nature.

The company offers snacks, baking mixes and sweet treats which are all free of the top 14 allergens. Julianne has severe allergies herself and suffers from anaphylaxis.

She was awarded an MBE a year ago in honour of her work for small businesses especially around import and export and for her advocacy for the allergy community.

She said: “I’m thrilled to be coming to Swindon to join this BusinessWise event. I’ve visited Swindon many times in the last decade and it was one of the places where I first tested out our products as we were just getting established.”

Money will be raised at the event for BusinessWise’s charitable partners – Swindon Night Shelter and RENEW CIC – with a raffle on the night.

Ticket are £35 a head and are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/businesswise-open-networking-evening-2024-tickets-776973457527