Do you have a guiding philosophy or of personal mantra?
I am unbothered, I am a tree.
What does the concept of urban sustainability and community empowerment mean to you in 2025? How do you see your role in driving these ideas forward for the city of Sydney?
Increasingly I think it's about how we get along with each other and creating spaces where people can belong. I see part of my role as making sure that there are no lazy spaces in the City, and the space that we do have is conducive to building good relationships with ourselves, with the planet and each other.
Can you share some highlights from your journey in public service? What were the key experiences that led you to this position, and how have they shaped your approach to city governance?
Partly it's been about 'following the charm'. The path hasn't really been charted or expected but instead I think it's about having a sense of clarity about what needs to be done, who needs to be involved with doing it, and making that experience a good one. The highlights have definitely been getting to know the people who live and work and play in the City. The City itself is an organisational miracle that is always calibrating - it's never boring, the work is never done, but you don't realise how big your heart can expand until you have to consider the experiences of a million people.
Tell us about your background—where you grew up, your early experiences, and how they may have influenced your passion for sustainability and community building?
I grew up on a wholesale plant nursery in Somerville on the Mornington Peninsula. It was pretty rough, and my first experience of leaving that place was to go and live in Sao Paolo, Brazil, when I was 17. That was probably the most formative in terms of coming to terms with the absolute beauty and energy a big city offers, but it also revealed how the story might go when systems collapse. I've never experienced such degradation of a river (Tiete) or everyday hardships.
Sydney has undergone significant changes in recent years. How do you envision the future of the city, especially in terms of sustainability, inclusivity, and livability? What key initiatives do you believe are needed to make this vision a reality?
We're at a pretty critical juncture in terms of the story of the City. In recent years so much has been done to repair and calm the city - there are more trees, parks and beautiful green spaces, swimming spots, pedestrian and cycling routes now than there have been in the past 50 years. But deciding who gets to live here is a question of what you can afford, and I think the biggest challenge I'll need to overcome in the coming years is to fight those big fights that make it possible for more people to call the City home. We need that diversity of people – there’s a lot of value and beauty in tension. Without it, I worry the City will become dull.
You seem to have a special magic. How do you foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders—residents, businesses, and government agencies—to achieve meaningful progress on sustainability goals? Is there a particular process or approach you use to create alignment among different groups?
That’s very kind, thank you. Part of it, I think, is being sensitive to what people need, where they're at and what they want for themselves. I never want to have to tell someone what to do, but if I can light them up in a way that they can see how they 'think' benefits or enriches their lives, it's a powerful incentive to collaborate. And humour - if you can't find the joy or funniness in it, then what's the point?
Reflecting on the past decade, what are some of your proudest achievements, personal or professional? What have been the most challenging moments, particularly when facing resistance to change?
I think getting my black belt has definitely been one of the best - it was incredibly hard and something that I gave a lot to, and don't at all take for granted. I have been rejected more in the past four years than in my whole life - that is definitely hard, but I'm proud that I continue to want to do big things in spite of that. There was a time where I had a post-it note on my wall that said ‘success is 99% spite' - I knew myself well enough to know that was the fuel I needed to get over the difficult things, but it's not a useful default setting. Being married and staying married is a huge achievement - again, nothing worth doing is easy, but we've been in each other’s orbit since I was 20 and that's a long time to grow with someone. There's no big moment or award, for me it's showing up and grinding especially when things aren't going my way - the resistance is the challenge, the rewards are those moments when everything is in alignment, and feels effortless.
END
ABOUT JESS
Jess is an urban leader and thinker who works at the intersection of creativity, culture and regenerative urban systems. With a background in sustainability and behaviour change communications, she has served as the Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney, is on the Board of TEDSydney and worked across culture, business, local and State Government. Jess' contributions to urban life include advocating for urban green space, creative uses of buildings and the 24-hour economy. Currently, she leads the New Normal initiative for Sydney - a creative 'do tank' fast-tracking solutions to achieve urban liveability.
