The Revd Penelope Swithinbank loves encouraging women to reach their God-given potential, and is a widely recognized international conference speaker, both for Alpha International and for women's conferences and retreats. Author of "Women By Design" she has been involved in ministry for over 25 years, as pastor's wife, volunteer, and now as an ordained Anglican clergy. As a young mother she started her own business, "Bumpsadaisy" which she developed into a successful national franchise across the UK, hiring out designer maternity wear. Later, whilst working virtually full time as a volunteer in the church, she ran a flourishing Bed & Breakfast business to help pay the bills! She has three children(all three are married, but no grand kids yet!) and she and her husband recently moved from the USA to north London. Penelope divides her time between her own "Ministries by Design" (speaking on women's conferences, writing, leading pilgrimages) and helping her husband with the church at St James Muswell Hill where he is now the Rector. She has led Retreats for several churches, spoken at the annual MOPS convention in Nashville, TN and led Pilgrimages in Europe. Penelope has a Masters in Theology from St Andrews University, Scotland, and degrees in both Education and Pastoral Theology from Cambridge University, England. She prefers to be with the family, travel, read, sunbathe, cook or walk!