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 currently 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.

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 people 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.
Explore Recent Press Features
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.
Get in Touch About a Project
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.
Be Inspired by Art Exhibitions

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