Even though Jess Scully is Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney, that doesn't stop her using emojis in official communications or wearing Converse sneakers to important meetings.
That's why we love her. She's a bit of a rebel, and makes a helluva lot of sense.
Jess is a pollie on a mission to encourage agency of thought and diverse voices that are heard in all their humanness. She cheers for inclusivity and creativity, sustainability and community. All things Futuresteading.
As a published author, mother, politician and relentless advocate for creating a better world, she's quick to acknowledge her ‘invisible’ supporters and vulnerabilities with words that are strong, true and fair.
While politics doesn't always attract such visionary empaths, Sydneysiders are lucky to have Jess on their side. Listen in for her deliciously actionable advice on how to be a force for good in your local community.
SHOW NOTES
- Her optimistic childhood filled with wonder
- Growing up with the idea that she deserved to have her voice heard
- Why she thought local government might be something she did in retirement but why the time was suddenly NOW
- Using emojis in official communication
- Contributing to a more representative, inclusive community
- Bringing a human lens that doesn’t exclude people to politics
- How do we bring other voices to the table?
- Speaking to governments in a way that gets heard
- Working with the system to bring change via feedback
- The power of supporting initiatives; not just endlessly knocking efforts
- Building invisible support infrastructures
- Transformative helpers on the sidelines
- The toxic adversarial nature of political life which makes it harder to build a fairer world
- Sharing vulnerabilities and being honest
- The amazing people who fill her with hope via their commitment to positive change
- Standing up for the elements of our culture which are critical but not always economically viable
- Avoiding arguments that end up back at economics rather than the truly valuable stuff
- The constant tussle between the things that are the guts of society and the daily references to GDP
- Why her utopia is a place that values and includes everyone
- Universal basic services says “let's fund things people need such as transport, housing education -- in a way that speaks to individual regions”
- Creating “enabling” architecture
- Creating a culture of inclusivity
- Not living our lives as though we are disempowered and disconnected, but present and with agency
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