Meet Jess

On council, she serves as the Deputy Chair of the Transport, Heritage & Planning Committee,  Central Sydney Planning Committee, and is a member of the Cycling Advisory Panel and Co-Chair of the Nightlife & Creative Industries Panel. A former TEDxSydney curator and board member, Jess is also a board member of the National Art School. 

 

Jess’s mission is to transform the City’s “lazy spaces” into places of collaboration and gathering for people across Sydney, by introducing reforms to turn unused property into affordable housing and retail, and new spaces for the creative industries.

 

An entrenched advocate for green spaces, she also focuses on the adaptive re-use of commercial buildings, and the urban greening of public spaces and laneways. 

 

Looking at Sydney’s place globally, Jess investigates which climate and resilience planning reforms will be required to fund adaptation strategies in cities, in order to protect communities from the worst impacts of urban heat and floods. 

​

She has also co-led reforms that saw Sydney's 24-hour economy rebound and thrive in the wake of the lock-out laws and COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Professionally, Jess brings 20 years’ experience in strategic communications working in the climate and sustainability movement. Through agencies like the Republic of Everyone, and Finding Infinity, Jess has designed and implemented strategic collective impact projects that address waste and promote a circular economy, increase urban greening, and enable communities to take meaningful action on climate in practical, fun and creative ways. Some of her favourite projects include the Garage Sale Trail, GreenUps, Grow it Local and A New Normal Sydney. 

 

Jess lives with her family in Glebe, is a black belt in Ukidokan kickboxing under Sensei Benny 'the jet' Urquidez, is learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu , and is a fervent supporter of the Melbourne Demons and GWS AFL teams.