Jessica_Leigh_Jones

Jessica Leigh Jones

Jessica Leigh Jones

Welsh engineer and astrophysicist

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]

Quick Facts MBE, Born ...

Early life and education

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 School in Tremorfa, 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 Astrophysics at Cardiff University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2015.[1]

Career

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]

Awards and honours

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:

References

  1. [1]
    Anon (2020). "Jones, Jessica Leigh". Who's Who (online Oxford University Press ed.). Oxford: A & C Black. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U292351. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. [2]
    "Jessica Jones – UK Young Engineer of the Year". STEMCymru. 20 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  3. [3]
    "Jessica Leigh Jones". Welsh Government. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  4. [4]
    "JESSICA LEIGH JONES, 2012 INTEL INSPIRATIONAL AWARD FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP WINNER". Talent 2030. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  5. [5]
    "Sony staffer listed in The Telegraph's Top 50 female engineers". The Cowbridge GEM. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  6. [6]
    "Women in Science, Engineering and Technology, by Jessica Jones". Medical Plastics News. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  7. [7]
    The Daily Telegraph (23 June 2017). "The Top 50 Women in Engineering Under 35" (PDF). The Telegraph. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  8. [8]
    "Patrons". Alton Convent School. Archived from the original on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  9. [9]
    "Home". iungo.solutions.
  10. [10]
    "Jessica Leigh Jones | iungo solutions limited - TechWomen100 Shortlist". WeAreTechWomen - Supporting Women in Technology. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  11. [11]
    "Jessica Leigh JONES - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  12. [12]
    "Press Releases 2020 | University of Wales Trinity Saint David". uwtsd.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  13. [13]
    "Press Releases 2020 | University of Wales Trinity Saint David". uwtsd.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  14. [14]
    "Entrepreneur in Residence | Royal Society". royalsociety.org. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  15. [15]
    "Institute Board". instituteforapprenticeships.org.
  16. [16]
    "Welsh Start-up iungo Solutions to Represent the UN Major Group for Children and Youth". News from Wales. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  17. [17]
    "Press Releases 2021 | University of Wales Trinity Saint David". uwtsd.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  18. [18]
    "No. 63135". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 2020. p. B19.
  19. [19]
    "Jessica Leigh Jones, Technology Translator at Cardiff University, Astrophysics Student and UK Young Engineer of the Year 2012". ESTnet. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  20. [20]
    "Welsh people who change lives". Institute of Welsh Affairs. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  21. [21]
    "Sony engineer Jessica Leigh Jones named rising star in technology awards". Wales Online. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  22. [22]
    "We welcome new members to the Company". Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2017.[permanent dead link]
  23. [23]
    "The top young business and professional women in Wales in 2016: The 35 Under 35". Wales Online. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  24. [24]
    "St David Award Winners and Finalists 2017". Wales.com. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  25. [25]
    "Top 50 Women in Engineering under 35". Women's Engineering Society. 23 June 2017. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  26. [26]
    "A record 19 people join the company". Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.[permanent dead link]
  27. [27]
    "The 35 Under 35: These are the top young business and professional women in 2017". Wales Online. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  28. [28]
    "Awards hat-trick for Sony engineer". The Barry Gem. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  29. [29]
    "Jessica Leigh Jones". Forbes. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  30. [30]
    "Chwarae Teg Womenspire Awards 2020 Winners Revealed". Business News Wales. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  31. [31]
    Barry, Sion; Pyke, Chris (9 December 2020). "The WalesOnline 35 Under 35". WalesOnline. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
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