This year, we have two hosts looking after us on the night in the shape of Jonny Douglas and Pennie Raven.
Jonny is a Concept Designer, a discipline that lies at the intersection of business, design, and social sciences. He works with clients on a wide range of projects from office interiors to marketing campaigns, websites to creative events; delivering both physical products, services and ecosystems. He also works as a leadership skills trainer in both the educational and corporate worlds.
An accomplished and inspirational change catalyst he also dedicates time to being at the heart of a diverse range of cultural and strategic initiatives. He is passionate about the environment, sustainability and humanity for good. He also mentors and supports start up entrepreneurs, international business students and works widely with young people in schools and colleges.
Pennie is best known locally as the Founder of
Sheffield Soup and the Global Soup Foundation, as Co-Curator of
PechaKucha Nights Sheffield and for her work on the Inspiring Women Board. She is a persuasive speaker, an influential leader, experienced change and growth manager who shares her knowledge and experience generously through her training and leadership workshops.
Pennie is owner of HR Guardian Angels a training, HR and recruitment consultancy and a Visiting Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Enterprise and UTC Sheffield and a CoFounder of the
ThrowStarfish podcast.
From humble beginnings Pennie has had an inspirational personal and career history. She was homeless by the age of 15, a Director by her mid 20's and has experience in manufacturing, engineering, finance and contact centre industry, in the U.K., USA, Europe and Sheffield. She is an advocate of fairness and equality, and has dedicated the last 6 years of her career to making a difference to Sheffield people and local start up entrepreneurs and small business owners.