Julianne Ponan MBE

Food Allergy Advocate, Social Entrepreneur & Award-Winning Business Leader

Introduction:

Julianne Ponan transforms how we understand food allergies through powerful advocacy and innovative entrepreneurship. Diagnosed with severe anaphylaxis at age two, Julianne’s life has been shaped by multiple life-threatening allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, chickpeas, and more. After 14 emergency hospital visits by the age of eight, Julianne channelled her experiences into founding ‘Creative Nature’, a top 14 allergen-free food brand. Her mission extends beyond business success to educational advocacy, calling for allergy awareness to be included in school curriculums nationwide. Recognised with an MBE in the 2023 New Year King’s Honours for her contributions to business, export, and allergy advocacy, Julianne bridges the worlds of entrepreneurship and public health to create safer spaces for the allergy community.

Expertise & Impact:

As CEO of Creative Nature, Julianne stands at the forefront of ‘free from’ innovation, developing nutritious allergen-free products that are now available in major UK supermarkets including Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Co-op, Asda, and Tesco. Her business acumen has driven international expansion into 16 countries, including the UAE. Recently appointed as the first Medic Alert ambassador in the charity’s 65-year history, Julianne leverages her platform to highlight that two children in every thirty in UK classrooms have food allergies, and this is a number that is on the increase. While challenging perceptions about what a person with allergies ‘looks like,’ her TEDx talk “Would you eat food labelled ‘may contain glass’?” has garnered over 80,000 views, bringing crucial visibility to the daily anxiety and challenges faced by those with severe allergies and food intolerances.

 

Speaking Style:

Julianne delivers compelling presentations that blend personal vulnerability with actionable insights. Her approach combines powerful storytelling from her own life-threatening experiences with practical advocacy strategies, making complex allergy issues accessible and relatable. Each talk balances the emotional reality of living with severe allergies with optimistic pathways for systemic change, leaving audiences both moved and motivated to take action.

Signature Topics:

  • Living with Severe Allergies: Navigating daily life with life-threatening food restrictions
  • Inclusive Food Innovation: Creating allergen-free products without compromising on taste
  • Women in Business: Breaking barriers as a female entrepreneur
  • Global Exporting: Expanding an allergen-free brand internationally
  • Travel Safety: Navigating global travel with severe allergies
  • Educational Advocacy: Implementing allergy awareness in schools and universities
  • Entrepreneurship with Purpose: Building a business from personal challenges
  • Breaking Barriers: Women of Colour Transforming Business Landscapes
  • Inclusive Spaces: Creating environments where everyone belongs, regardless of dietary needs

Additional Expertise:

  • Allergen-Free Product Development
  • Supply Chain Management for Special Dietary Needs
  • Regulatory Navigation for Food Safety
  • Consumer Education on Food Allergies
  • Cross-Contamination Prevention
  • Public Speaking on Health Advocacy
  • Media Engagement for Health Causes
  • Building Inclusive Brand Communities

Perfect For:

  • Health & Wellness Conferences
  • Food Industry Events
  • Educational Institutions
  • Diversity in Business Summits
  • Entrepreneurship Forums
  • Corporate Inclusion Initiatives
  • Medical & Healthcare Symposiums
  • Export & International Trade Events

Career Highlights:

  • Awarded an MBE in the 2023 New Year King’s Honours for business, export and allergy advocacy
  • Founded and scaled Creative Nature into a multinational multi-million-pound allergen-free food brand
  • Delivered a viral TEDx talk on living with severe allergies
  • Expanded business exports to 16 countries globally
  • Appointed as the first Medic Alert ambassador in the charity’s 65-year history
  • Successfully placed allergen-free products in five major UK supermarket chains
  • Advocated for improved allergen labelling and safety measures across industries
  • Transformed personal health challenges into a purpose-driven business
  • Pioneered allergy-safe snacks across five major airlines
  • Named Export Champion for the Department for Business & Trade and the Federation of Small Businesses
  • The youngest Non-Executive Director for GS1 UK (maker of barcodes)
  • Member of the Small Business Council, set up by the UK government to help drive meaningful change
  • Founding member of ‘Buy Women Built’, a coalition of successful female founders including Deliciously Ella, Pip & Nut, and Little Moons, dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs

Key Message:

“To every young girl out there: dream big. Whether it’s becoming an Olympic champion, a footballer, an entrepreneur, or a changemaker. You CAN do it!”

Impact Story:

“Julianne’s consistent drive and commitment to helping the allergy community is how she ensures Creative Nature keep evolving their products, making them ever more suitable for the ever-increasing allergy community – many allergy reactors express joy in their Magibles, bars and baking mixes, because they trust that the company take extreme care to make sure their products are free of the top 14 allergens, making a real difference for people with allergies.”
– Cressida Langlands, Director FreeFrom Food Awards