Meet Jet
Growing up on Kilphysic, a seventh-generation Swain and the first daughter of Neville and Kate, I was raised on our merino wool property in northwest New South Wales. Under Gunnedah’s vast skies, I learned the land’s secrets — and its hardships. Summers brought relentless heat, red dust swirling in the air, and the constant echo of sheep bleating across sun-soaked paddocks. Life on the farm instilled resilience and resourcefulness in me early on, but it was the strength of my matriarchal lineage that left an indelible mark.
The women who came before me were the true backbone of our family — caretakers, nurturers, storytellers, and trailblazers. Often overlooked in the official histories, these women were rarely acknowledged yet deeply woven into every corner of Kilphysic, as well as into me.
When I went to boarding school, I carried this heritage with me. Those years helped me grow in independence and broadened my perspective, but they also sharpened my connection to home. In that new environment, I came to understand the values the farm had instilled in me: resilience, stewardship for the planet, and a deep respect for the life around us.
At 18, I left the bush for Sydney, wide-eyed and ready to tackle the world, embarking on a Fine Arts degree in Darlinghurst. The city was worlds away from the dusty paddocks of my childhood, yet it was there I found my calling, blending my heritage with a vision for human-centred design that embodies the values the farm instilled in me. Growing up caring for the land and animals taught me the resilience to face challenges, the importance of protecting the planet, and a commitment to working sustainably. These are the same principles I bring to my work today, leading from the heart with empathy and purpose. As a creative and design leader and founder of the Affection Economy, I carry forward our family’s legacy, where human connection and a deep respect for our world sit at the center of everything.
Now, as a mother of two remarkable daughters who amaze me daily with their courage and boldness, I see in them the same grit and strength of the women who came before. They are proof that our roots hold us steady, even as we reach forward, honouring those who blazed the quiet paths before us and carrying their stories into our own lives and legacies.