NIA PARRY BA SPANISH AND WELSH, CLASS OF 1996. BROADCASTER
Culture changer: Merthyr-born Jonny Owen is a BAFTA Cymru winning producer, actor, and writer, and was awarded an honorary doctorate in Swansea in 2023. He has recently founded Day Fever, a series of daytime clubbing events. A BBC investigation found that more than half of all UK clubs shut down between 2005 and 2015 and Jonny wants to show that some people still want to dance and party, just a bit earlier than they used to. He said: “For me now, it’s all about going out on a bit of an all-dayer - and I thought there’s a real market for people with a similar vibe.” RENEE GODFREY BA ANTHROPOLOGY, CLASS OF 2003. FOUNDER OF FREEBORNE MEDIA Culture chronicler: As well as being the place that Renee could hone her champion surfing skills, Swansea University was where Renee made her first anthropological film. Now founder of Freeborne Media, in partnership with James Honeyborne, Blue Planet creator, Renee continues to make films that share important messages across the planet. She said: “I have been lucky enough to travel to some of the most remote places on earth and spend time filming and telling stories. The ‘Blue Planet 2 effect’ has been so powerful and far
reaching, its impact still goes on today with our awareness of plastics and the health of our oceans. Freeborne is now in creative partnership with Netflix, and together, we intend to continue to tell powerful stories in captivating ways.” JAMIE TAGG BA POLITICS AND HISTORY, CLASS OF 2009. OWNER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF EAST CREATIVE Cultural champion: Jamie’s business specialises in LGBTQ- friendly events including Mighty Hoopla, a London pop music festival that welcomes 25,000 revellers every Summer. He said: “Little moments can totally change opinions and views for the better; it’s crazy to think that outside only a handful of postcodes in the UK, two people of the same sex holding hands in public is still an act of defiance. Hoopla provides a platform for emerging and established LGBTQ+ artists and performers, as well as delivering a safe and welcoming event for diverse audience and attendees.”
Culture custodian: Nia’s work on cariad@iaith an S4C reality television series in which members of the public, and later, celebrities, attempt to learn the Welsh language, was her dream job combining everything she loved - teaching people a language, presenting and producing. She said: “There are all sorts of challenges facing the Welsh language today…There is a need for language planning, we need to continue with all the great work that is happening across Wales. In the end, passionate and enthusiastic people with extraordinary energy and tenacity and conviction are the ones who have the ability to change things.” JONNY OWEN BA HISTORY, CLASS OF 1999. PRODUCER, ACTOR, FILMMAKER AND FOUNDER OF DAY FEVER
Read the full profiles here: swan.ac/fhssprofiles
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