The Real YouQ
Meet Jess Pattison, the startup specialist helping regional communities thrive
"The core benefit of something like Ventures at UQ is demonstrating the different paths you can take in your career, outside of the traditional box."
Welcome to The Real YouQ, a Contact Q&A series offering a glimpse into the real lives of members of the UQ community – from alumni to students and staff.
In this edition, we catch up with Jess Pattison – a UQ alum and co-founder of agricultural venture studio Dirt Lab.
After graduating from UQ with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Business Management in 2012, Jess worked around the world in consulting and on a number of startups before settling in Queensland’s Southern Downs a few years ago to build a grazing business – with a small vineyard on the side.
Through Dirt Lab, Jess is creating and accelerating businesses that support food and fibre producers to improve their resilience, profitability, sustainability to help regional communities thrive.
But who is the real Jess Pattison? Keep reading to find out.
Image: Dirt Lab
Image: Dirt Lab
Image: Dirt Lab
Q: What is your favourite UQ memory?
A: I don’t think I have one particular memory that is a favourite – I loved getting to meet new people and travel (on exchange). Weirdly, I also loved the last-minute study and assignment sessions spent with friends late at night in the library.
Q: Is there a place on campus you feel most connected to and why?
A: Definitely the Great Court area. I loved sitting with friends between lectures and tutorials. It brings almost a sense of relaxation to the hustle and bustle of the rest of uni life.
Q: Looking back to the day you first set foot on campus, is there anything you wish to tell that person now?
A: Just to take advantage of the opportunities available and to take the time to find what you enjoy, rather than feeling like you need to follow a well-trodden path.
Q: What’s one fact that people wouldn’t know about you?
A: I’m a big sci-fi nerd. I love to watch and read sci-fi.
Q: Is there a skill you wish you had learnt, or one that you’re currently trying to master?
A: I now live on a small farm west of Brisbane, so I’m constantly having to learn new skills, such as basic carpentry, and I really enjoy it. I’m spending a lot of time learning about pasture and livestock management, and I’m potentially heading back to UQ later this year, or next, to better learn this.
Q: What are 3 things you can’t live without?
A: My leatherman (multi-tool) – I carry this with me everywhere to be able to quickly fix things on the farm if needed. Soda water – I’m addicted and have a soda stream both in our house and in the other shed on our farm, just in case I need some bubbly water while there. The outdoors – now that I live in the country, I get antsy if I have to be in the city for more than 2 nights.
Q: What are you currently reading?
A: A Clive Cussler book called The Oracle. I love reading adventure books before bed to chill out.
Q: Who are your real-life heroes?
A: My parents. They’ve always supported me, and I’ve been inspired by both their careers and the way they give back to their community.
Q: Tell us about Dirt Lab and the role you play in the venture studio?
A: Dirt Lab is a venture studio focused on the agricultural, food and fibre sectors. I am one of the co-founders and have played a part in its establishment. We look to build a portfolio of ventures from the ground up. We have a hypothesis for how the future of agriculture and food will look (and how we would like to see it). We then identify the drivers and enablers for this and work through identifying problems and opportunities. We then follow a process to validate new businesses and get them to a predefined traction point, before hiring in a team to run them going.
Q: Tell me about your experience in the ventures space as a UQ? Why is Ventures at UQ such an important avenue for students and how did it the experience set you up for your career?
A: I actually didn’t really start interacting with Ventures at UQ until a few years after I’d graduated, once I’d left consulting and joined the start-up world. It’s been great to follow along with the various accelerators now happening and the interesting businesses spinning out. I think the core benefit of something like Ventures at UQ is demonstrating the different paths you can take in your career, outside of the traditional box.
Entrepreneurship at UQ
At UQ, Ventures reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of our community, to be bold and adventurous in working together to find opportunities and solve challenges that create positive change locally and globally.
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