Speakers Biography

Jo Ashburner

Jo AshburnerRecently awarded the title of UK National Businesswoman of the Year 2006, and Regional Businesswoman of the Year for Wales, Jo is the designer and MD of The Noonoo© Design Company which produces the innovative Noonoo© comfort blankets. Her company also independently owns and runs a short-order manufacturing capability in Vietnam, which manufactures textile-based products for other small UK businesses.

Jo graduated with a First Class Hons in Surface Pattern Design from the University of Wales in July 2004, and won a scholarship to do a Masters in Enterprise at the University of Manchester, where she is now a visiting lecturer and entrepreneurship mentor. She splits her time between Wales - where her family and registered office are, and Lancashire - where her son attends school full time and she and her partner, Jonny, live and work.