Jessica Leigh Jones
| |
|---|---|
| Born | (1994-07-22) 22 July 1994 (age 29) |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Willows High School |
| Alma mater | Cardiff University (BSc) |
| Occupation(s) | Engineer and Director |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Sony University of Wales Trinity St David Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education |
| Website | www |
Jessica Leigh Jones MBE (born 22 July 1994)[1] is a Welsh engineer and astrophysicist from Cardiff. She is credited with becoming the first female to win the UK Young Engineer of the Year Award in 2012[2] for her work designing a portable uterine contraction monitor which cut manufacturing costs by 99%.[3] She was later rewarded for her efforts to commercialise the technology, receiving the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Intel Inspiration Award for Entrepreneurship in the same year.[4]
Jones was born in Cardiff on 22 July 1994.[1] As a young child, her father worked at MOD St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, as an aircraft electrician.[5] Jones attended Willows High SchoolinTremorfa, Cardiff until age 15, where she was taught electronics at GCSE level by Keith Allen, whom she described as one of her role models.[6] She studied AstrophysicsatCardiff University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2015.[1]
From January 2016 Jones has been employed at the Sony UK Technology Centre, Pencoed, Wales, leading the development of advanced manufacturing technology with Japan for which she was recognised in The Telegraph Top 50 Women in Engineering under 35 list 2017.[7] She also holds positions as Director, Engineering Education Scheme Wales and Patron, Alton Convent School, Hampshire, England.[8][3] Jones is a Liveryman (by Servitude) of the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers, the 84th Livery Company in the City of London.
In 2020, Jones left Sony to create iungo Solutions,[9] a technology startup company aiming to help people affected by COVID-19 to upskill, retrain and secure re-employment.[10][11] In 2020 she was appointed as a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.[12] In February, 2021 she was awarded a place on the Royal Society's Entrepreneur in Residence Scheme.[13][14] She serves on the board of directors of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.[15]
In May 2021, Jones was appointed Global Focal Point for Upskilling Migrants for Employment at the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth.[16] She is the youngest Welsh citizen under the age of 30 to receive this diplomatic honour.[17]
Jones was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to women in engineering in Wales.[18] Other awards and honours include:
