Dr Jess Venner is an ancient historian, archaeologist and writer, and world-leading expert in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Renowned for her insightful exploration of past civilisations and with a knack for revealing the hidden gems of history, Jess is an award-winning researcher dedicated to sharing the allure of ancient worlds with contemporary audien... Read More

Dr Jess Venner is an ancient historian, archaeologist and writer, and world-leading expert in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Renowned for her insightful exploration of past civilisations and with a knack for revealing the hidden gems of history, Jess is an award-winning researcher dedicated to sharing the allure of ancient worlds with contemporary audiences. She also specialises in the dramatic tales of Roman female history and the wonders of Roman art.

In 2021, Jess was selected as a TV PhD candidate for the Edinburgh TV Festival and this year (2024) is up for a Future Presenter Award. In the digital sphere, Jess has cultivated a substantial following on TikTok (over 65k followers), where she distills complex historical narratives into digestible snippets. She is especially well known for her 'Breaking Archaeological News' videos. Her influence extends beyond social media, as she's sought after by leading cultural institutions, publishing houses, and radio stations for collaborations.

From London to San Francisco, Jess has captivated diverse audiences with her engaging talks on ancient Roman history. Beyond the lecture hall, she's a prolific author, with a collection of articles and publications that showcase her passion for her subject. She has an extensive amount of experience in museums and cultural heritage, and from her time in academia and at the British School at Rome in Italy, she has many 'ins' into archives and collections. She currently has a monograph in the works.

Always open to new opportunities, Jess is poised to continue bridging the gap between the past and the present with her infectious passion and expertise. Read Less