JULIANNE PONAN MBE SHORTLISTED FOR PRESTIGIOUS ‘WOMAN WITH EDGE’ NATIONAL AWARD

Award-winning businesswoman and allergy campaigner Julianne Ponan MBE has been shortlisted as a finalist for The Freeths Woman With Edge Award at the 2024 Women of the Year Awards.

Julianne’s journey is one of resilience and innovation. In 2023, she was honoured to be given an MBE for Services to Business, Exports, and People with Allergies, an accolade she received from The Princess Royal, Anne, at Windsor Castle.

Yet this major life achievement has not stopped the businesswoman from powering forward in her business Creative Nature, which is a leading light in providing food products, including snack bars, confectionary, savoury snacks, baking mixes and superfoods, which are free from the top 14 allergens. Julianne herself as serious and life threatening food and drink allergies.

Founded by Julianne in 2012, Creative Nature emerged from her personal experiences with severe food allergies and anaphylaxis. Her vision was simple yet profound: to create delicious, safe, and inclusive food options that everyone can enjoy.

Under her leadership, Creative Nature has become a trailblazer in the industry, offering products that are not only free from the top 14 allergens but also vegan-friendly, lower in sugar, and packed with superfoods.

Earlier this year, Julianne was awarded the Free From Hero Award at the Free From Food Awards, presented by Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE, founder of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation. Tanya’s daughter died due to anaphylaxis after consuming a sandwich containing sesame seeds.

This award recognised Julianne's advocacy and her significant contributions to the free-from community. Creative Nature also took home two product awards at the same event, further cementing its reputation as a leader in the market.

The Women of the Year Awards, now in their 42nd year, are renowned for celebrating the exceptional achievements of women across the UK. This year, the awards have expanded to include 20 finalists, doubling the number from previous years due to an overwhelming number of high-calibre nominations.

Julianne expressed her excitement about being shortlisted: “It’s an incredible honour to be recognised alongside such inspiring women. My journey with Creative Nature has always been about making a difference, and to be acknowledged for that is truly humbling. I’m looking forward to the ceremony and the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of all the finalists.”

Julianne's nomination places her in a remarkable lineup of women who have made significant contributions to their fields in a diverse range of industries including media, healthcare, engineering, and more. Past winners at the Women of the Year awards include influential figures such as Baroness Karren Brady and Dame Julie Kenny CBE, and this year’s event promises to uphold the tradition of recognising women who are pivotal to society.

The judging panel, which includes representatives from core sponsors such as Aldermore Bank, Freeths LLP, and previous award winners, gathered in Manchester to meet with finalists for the final round of judging. The awards ceremony on Friday October 11 will reveal the winners of three prestigious categories: Businesswoman of the Year, Freeths’ Woman with Edge, and the newly introduced Emmeline Pankhurst Award: Woman of Achievement. To find out more about Creative Nature visit www.creativenaturesuperfoods.co.uk