About Jessie

Jessie joined Innovation Unit in 2019 and leads the organisation’s Justice and Reducing Violence

She brings many years of experience working in and with the voluntary and community sector, with a particular focus on building the capacity of organisations and their staff to work in communities that are disproportionately affected by violence.

Jessie’s approach is shaped by a long-standing interest in how change happens across complex systems. She believes that new solutions to entrenched societal challenges can be unlocked through dialogue between the different actors involved, and that, when held carefully, disagreement and diverse perspectives can act as a catalyst for learning and creative change. This perspective underpins her interest in reimagining the justice system so that it treats all those who use it equally and respectfully, and in finding new ways to reduce violence so that people feel safe in their communities.

Jessie’s career began working with young people serving prison sentences in the United States. Prior to joining Innovation Unit, she was Director of Innovation and Impact at Leap Confronting Conflict, where she pioneered a distinctive approach to reducing gang-related conflict. She is an experienced facilitator, researcher, project manager, and programme and curriculum designer.