Weaving art & science to reimagine how we build the future.
Weaving art & science to reimagine how we build the future.
Jess Coldrey at the University of Warwick School of Engineering, by Stuart Hollis
Biography.
Leadership | Jess Coldrey is an international sustainability leader, creative and coach serving as the Board Secretary at the United Nations Association of Australia (Victoria Division). Through her career, Jess has focused on building and nurturing strategic partnerships to advance green building initiatives and global decarbonisation in the built environment. Guided by a values-driven approach, Jessica continues to work across continents to align diverse stakeholders, 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
Reading…
Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game by Walker Diebel
Working on…
Season two of my podcast Art Strategy Impact exploring the people and ideas shaping Melbourne
Living in…
Melbourne, Australia
Daydreaming about…
Lillies
Working at…
Board Secretary - United Nations Association of Australia (Victoria Division)
Committee Member (Victoria) - Australian French Association for Innovation and Research
Advisor, Disaster Response - Algal Bloom Shed
Creative Practice | Jess Coldrey is an interdisciplinary artist, researcher and sustainability strategist based in Melbourne. Her work has been exhibited across seven countries, including at Tate Britain, the Australian Museum of Photography and the United Nations COP26 Climate Summit. She is the recipient of the Agendo Art Prize and has received support from organisations including Arts Council England, the Australian French Association for Innovation and Research, and Kings College London.
Her practice has been featured in Frankie Magazine and Australian Photography Magazine. She is currently an Industry Advisor to Creative Australia, previously serving as a Youth Advisory Board Member at Melbourne Science Gallery.
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.
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