Recently we met up with the creative and eclectic, Jess Scully. With a CV that includes magazine editor, awards judge, curator and festival director, she’s a vibrant, dynamic business woman with a personality to match.

You’ve worked as a magazine editor, you’ve worked as a curator, you’ve worked as a judge (SOYA). Where did your career begin and what did you study to start it?

I studied journalism and law... careers do take interesting and unexpected turns! I fell in love with Australian fashion while I was at Uni, and as I discovered more about the world of design my curiosity about the work and world of makers led me into writing about design, the arts, music, and editing a succession of magazines in those fields.

As I told these stories, I realised there was a commonality of experience in this thing called the creative industries, which I see at the forefront of what our future economy will be... That led to running a mentorship program (with SOYA), working in policy (as an adviser to the Minister for the Arts in NSW), curating projects and art in public spaces, and directing Vivid Ideas. It's a mixed bag, but it all makes sense to me: it's about putting creativity front and centre!

You are so passionate about bringing creatives together – across the globe. Did you have a really creative upbringing? What inspired you to trek this path?

I am so excited by the fact that we live in the Information Age, and that it's ideas, innovation, creativity and personality that will fuel this knowledge economy: I think my passion comes from having the opportunity to experience the transformative nature of creative work. What I mean by that, is that thoughtful design changes the streetscapes of our cities, and how people use the spaces around them; accessing music and art from the places they live helps people feel more connected to their communities; learning to create empowers people to shape their own worlds.

My upbringing was creative, in that my parents are both curious optimists who love telling stories and exploring the world… they’ve both ended up working in design these days, but they’ve both had jobs in many, many different fields to get there.

I’m driven by the understanding there are bigger forces like the policies of governments and the built form of our cities that shape our opportunities to create - and as fans, access - innovative, new products and ideas. I think creative makers need advocates and intermediaries in the worlds of government and business to help us push those forces in more progressive and supportive directions.

Jess Scully at our Creatives Collide Dinner

You are such a strong woman, which we love. Who are the women who inspire you with their ambition, strength and creativity?

Oh wow, there are so many! I'm inspired by Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who I think has done more than anyone to reshape Sydney as a global capital, a place that can live up to its potential to be a creative, vibrant, sustainable world leader. I love the way Nell Schofield has brought together a passionate coalition of country and city women to campaign for clean land, water and air. My friend Emma Scott-Child, who has created a fabulous online community, This Is Ladyland, which inspires women to tap into their creativity while managing complex lives as mothers, friends and workers.

And I get to collaborate with dozens - maybe even hundreds! - of visionary creative women in my work every day: architect Felicity Stewart, curator Anne Loxley, iManifest founder Jo Pretyman, Sydney Film Festival CEO Leigh Small, FBi radio director Clare Holland and 2SER radio director Melanie Withnall, and Edwina Throsby, one of my awesome colleagues at TEDxSydney... this list could go on and on!

Photo by DANIEL BOUD

You have great style and have worked with fashion in so many roles throughout your career. What does style mean to you and who are your favourite designers?

Style is about expression: it's a form of storytelling you get to construct every day. I love knowing the stories of the people who designed my favourite pieces, the stories of how I came across them, places my favourite pieces have travelled with me... I could probably tell you a story about everything in my wardrobe!

You recently shot with your mum for MIMCO Mother’s Day. What’s your fave piece in the May collection?

I'm completely obsessed with the She's A Mod boot: I wear flats everyday and so I always snap up sharp, shiny flats whenever I can!

You’re right in the midst of VIVID craziness. Who is coming out this year and, if people, could only buy tickets to 2 shows, what would you recommend?

The program is our biggest and I think most exciting yet: Vivid Ideas is all about connecting us with people who can inspire and guide us to create the careers and businesses of the future. It's for anyone who works, or wants to work, in design, communications, technology and content, those sectors that are driving the knowledge economy... there are also some fun events that are about tapping into your own creativity for fun, not just work.

I'm really thrilled to be hosting a conversation with Tyler Brule, who I see as an absolute visionary when it comes to the worlds of retail, publishing, branding and communications. He is the founder of Wallpaper and Monocle magazines, and is a person who has built a career out of understanding how sophisticated and global audiences are today... he's definitely someone to learn from!

As a passionate fan, I am so intrigued by the way television shows are becoming such complex and nuanced forms of storytelling: they're almost works of art, drawing on the talents of so many creative practitioners to engage audiences in these ambitious works. Matthew Weiner is a pioneer in the field: he's the series creator and lead writer on Mad Men, and a person who has crafted some unforgettable characters, and a show that has had such an influence stylistically over the past seven years. I'm pairing him with Australian actor and playwright Kate Mulvany, to have a conversation about how all kinds of storytellers can learn from his experience.

Tyler Brule (courtesy of J Crew )

Matthew Weiner and John Hamm (Photo by Nanette Gonzales)

You could work anywhere in the world but you’ve remained true to Australia. What’s kept you here?

I think, in Australia, we are in a brilliant position to thrive in a world of disruptive thinking, new ideas and storytelling. Also, we really do have such a beautiful lifestyle and positive attitude here, as well as incredible potential to lead the world in living, learning and working: while I've loved spending stretches of time working in different places around the world, that's what's always drawn me home.

What’s next for Jess Scully?

I have a big couple of months in May and June, working on TEDxSydney and Vivid Ideas, and then I’ll be presenting a public art intervention at Circular Quay in July, before having some time off in August… beyond that, who knows? There’s always an unexpected, exciting project around the corner...

Follow Jess on Instagram here and twitter here