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Jessica Edwards

Head of Cultural Development at Nesta

Jessica Edwards is the Head of Cultural Development at Nesta, an innovation foundation in the UK.12 She joined Nesta's Arts practice in July 2023 to support the development of innovation projects and partnerships within the sustainable future mission.13

Background and Experience

Jessica has a diverse background spanning television, documentary film, and non-profits.1 Some key points about her career:

  • She spent the first 15 years of her career producing documentaries and factual television.1
  • She later worked in strategic communications, leading projects for prominent NGOs.1
  • For 5.5 years, she was the Director of Impact & Partnerships at Doc Society, where she initiated and led many key partnerships and projects.2
  • At Doc Society, she helped establish the Climate Story Fund, supporting over 25 non-fiction film projects to maximize their creative and impact potential.2

Expertise and Focus

Jessica's work focuses on:

  • The change-catalysing properties of culture and storytelling1
  • Bridging the worlds of film, television, and non-profits2
  • Cultural and narrative strategy, particularly related to climate storytelling and impact2
  • Enabling cultural work that makes a tangible difference in people's lives2

Additional Roles and Qualifications

  • Completed a Clore Fellowship in cultural leadership in 20222
  • Tutor and member of the selection committee for Documentary Campus Masterschool2
  • Qualified yoga teacher and relational dynamic coach2
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)2
  • Member of the newly formed Documentary Film Council2

In her role at Nesta, Jessica aims to apply new perspectives and disciplines to explore how culture can have a social impact, particularly in addressing challenges related to sustainability and climate change.12

Highlights

Aug 21 · linkedin

Just landed at the Edinburgh TV Festival - Supported by Screen Scotland, here until Friday💥

If you are here and want to chat about all the brilliant work of Nesta - creating a more sustainable future by accelerating home decarbonisation, supporting more healthy lives by reducing obesity and creating a fairer start for the under 5’s - and how it can translate on screen, plse get in touch! 💚

Jul 2 · linkedin

Home is where the heart is 💚

Producers, content creators, on-screen storytellers, this one's for you!

Delighted to share the Greener Homes Content Handbook. A free online resource created by Nesta in collaboration with Picture Zero Ltd to inspire and enable new on-screen stories relating to reducing emissions from our homes: https://lnkd.in/d-khxWPM

In this online handbook you will find:

  • insights about how to tell more effective climate stories, particularly narratives relating to the home
  • a wealth of impartial information from trusted sources, be that government guidelines, financial support and easy-access explanations about greening our homes
  • the opportunity to ‘ask an expert’ about home-related questions.

Get in touch if:

  • You'd like to find out more about the Greener Homes Briefings. Free, inspiring and information-rich sessions, created specifically for creative content production and development teams, delivered by Picture Zero with on-hand expertise from Nesta.
  • You have a creative project in development or production that may have synergies with Greener Homes, we’d be very interested to explore if there are ways for Nesta to collaborate and support your work.

We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]

Serious kudos to Ark - Design Agency and Bigfork Limited for a slick and very good looking website 🤩

#greenerhomescontent #greenerhomes #sustainabilityonscreen #climatenarratives

Related Questions

What are some of the key projects Jessica Edwards has led at Nesta?
How did Jessica Edwards' experience at Doc Society influence her role at Nesta?
What is the Climate Story Fund, and how does it work?
Can you tell me more about the Clore Fellowship in cultural leadership?
What are Jessica Edwards' main goals as Head of Cultural Development at Nesta?
Jessica Edwards
Jessica Edwards, photo 1
Jessica Edwards, photo 2
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Experience

Head of Cultural Development at Nesta (July 2023 - Present)
Director of Impact & Partnerships at Doc Society (January 2017 - August 2022), Hope Street Films (2015 - 2017)

Education

Clore Leadership Fellowship (September 2022 - June 2023)

Location

United Kingdom