Weaving art & science to reimagine how we build the future.

Weaving art & science to reimagine how we build the future.

A woman sitting with her hands folded over a closed book, in front of a display case with model ships and vehicles.

Jess Coldrey at the University of Warwick School of Engineering, by Stuart Hollis

Biography.

Leadership | Jess Coldrey is an international sustainability leader and coach currently serving as Partner Engagement Lead at the World Green Building Council. In this role, she builds and nurtures strategic partnerships to advance green building initiatives and global decarbonisation in the built environment. Guided by a values-driven approach, Jessica works across continents to align diverse stakeholders with WorldGBC’s mission, fostering collaboration and innovation.

Her contributions to the field have earned significant recognition. Jessica was named one of edie’s 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders and selected as a United Nations UNLEASH Global Talent for her innovative approaches to sustainable development. She has also been honoured among the Top 50 Women in Engineering (UK) and featured by The Australian newspaper as one of the country’s brightest young people, underscoring her impact across disciplines.

What I’m up to right now

A narrow European street lined with colorful buildings, with signs for restaurants and shops, and people walking along the cobblestone pavement in daylight.

Reading…

Super-communicators by Charles Duhigg

Working on…

Translating sketches into digital embroidery

Living in…

Annecy, UK

Daydreaming about…

Dog sitting by the beach

Working at…

World Green Building Council - Global Partner Engagement Lead

Committee Member - Australian French Association for Innovation and Research

A woman (Jess Coldrey) holding a badge stands near a river with boats and a city skyline in the background during sunset.

Creative Practice | Beyond her corporate leadership, Jessica is an interdisciplinary creative and researcher who bridges art, technology, and science. Her photography and textile works exploring humanity and technology have been exhibited in seven countries - from the Tate Britain to the Australian Museum of Photography – and even at the United Nations COP26 climate summit. She shares her expertise through peer-reviewed research and university guest lectures, and her work has been featured in cultural publications such as Frankie Magazine and Australian Photography Magazine.

Mentorship | As a systems thinker, Jessica is passionate about social impact and supporting others. She mentors young women, coaches emerging professionals in sustainability and STEM, and contributes to the community through creative residencies and advisory roles. She’s passionate about fusing innovation, creativity, and purpose to inspire future leaders and shape bold, inclusive solutions for a more sustainable future.

A woman (Jess Coldrey) with long dark hair smiling while looking at a red mannequin torso dressed in a white shirt in a brightly lit room.
Modern building with large digital screen showing colorful images, located in an urban area with high-rise buildings in the background, under a clear blue sky.
A young woman (Jess Coldrey) flying a drone outdoors with a remote control, surrounded by green trees and foliage, smiling and looking at the camera.
A cluttered wooden desk with open notebooks, pens, papers, a mouse, and a laptop displaying 'Driving your business.' There are potted plants and an iMac on the desk, with windows and greenery outside in the background.
A young woman with long brown hair, wearing a floral dress with a black turtleneck underneath, smiling and gesturing with her hands in an art gallery or exhibition space.
An art gallery with a white wall displaying eight small framed artworks, with two vent panels and an electrical outlet near the floor, and a red wall on the right side partially showing a mannequin dressed in a silver outfit.

Shaping Fashion Futures

“I’ll be delving into the future of fashion and I’ll be creating an exhibition with students from local schools,” said Coldrey.

“The main idea around the series was trying to imagine a more sustainable vision for the fashion industry, but using technology, science, and engineering to project what that system could look like on a large scale.”

With Coldrey’s guidance, students who engage with the residency will get the chance to learn skills in digital fields like artificial intelligence and virtual reality.

The Bendigo Times, 2024

Artist Video - Bendigo Tech School Residency | Hear about the project and impact