About...
Tina Newman is the creator of the award-winning Vivi the Supervegan brand and co-founder & CCO of Peace in a Pod Productions Ltd. She is a writer and qualified Animal Nursing Assistant living in Suffolk, UK. Tina is a passionate ambassador for Animal Justice Project and an expert contributor for the Vegan Society's Vegan Education Network. In 2022, Tina won the Vegan Choice award and she received a Global Vegan award for Best Vegan Children's book series in 2023 and 2024.
Tina's journey...
Tina became a vegetarian at the age of 11 after visiting 'Hillside Animal Sanctuary' in Norfolk. After making the connection between the animals she loved so dearly and the food she had been eating, Tina then spent the next 21 years as a vegetarian, believing she was no longer contributing to animal's suffering.
However, in September 2017 she stumbled across a video entitled 'This speech is your wakeup call' on social media by Australian animal rights activist James Aspey. The speech challenged everything she had previously thought and believed, especially her knowledge and understanding of the dairy and egg industries and she went vegan overnight.
What does Tina do in her spare time?
Tina loves to spend time with her family and friends. She enjoys various hobbies, including dancing, playing the violin, piano, learning new languages, and is also part of an all female Acapella choir that sings to raise money for various local charities.
How did the books come about?
The idea of Vivi the Supervegan came about when Tina went to buy her daughters some vegan books. She soon realised that there was a lack of children's stories out there with a vegan-friendly message. She had already bought some educational books but felt there was a place and a need for a children's story book. So she created the 'Vivi the Supervegan' series, with the hope that it will encourage children to take a stand, empower them to be compassionate and kind. She hopes it will help them understand that they have power with their choices and in educating and inspiring others to make changes.
What's next for Vivi?
Tina has teamed up with Animation specialist Lindsay Watson to launch the world’s first digital community dedicated to connecting global vegan brands with a fast-growing children’s audience to help tackle climate change. In a world where environmental issues are increasingly urgent, the decision to focus on veganism wasn’t just a creative choice; it was a conscious commitment to promoting sustainability, raising awareness and inspiring positive change. The story of our show, Vivi and the Planet Protectors, began as a collective vision between us evolving into a powerful movement with a dedicated team. They are seeking investment for their forthcoming children’s media company which promotes the philosophy of veganism. The pair also want to become the world’s first BCorp, SDG, and ESG-qualified children’s media company dedicated to promoting the philosophy of veganism through edutainment. The digital presence will include a dedicated Vivi and the Planet Protectors app and YouTube channel, while books, games, licensed merchandise, consumer products, music, podcasts and live events are also planned.
