Mr Stephen Jacobi

Biography

Stephen Jacobi is the Executive Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum (www.nzibf.co.nz).

The New Zealand International Business Forum provides leadership to enable New Zealand business to exploit new opportunities in international markets. NZIBF works with businesses and other business organisations to implement key projects, including working to develop New Zealand's key international business relationships.

NZIBF is also responsible for providing policy advice to the three New Zealand members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). Mr Jacobi also serves as Alternate ABAC Member for New Zealand.

Mr Jacobi grew up in Auckland and was educated at Auckland Grammar School and Auckland University. He has a First Class Honours degree in French and German and is a graduate of the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA) in Paris, as well as the Leadership Seminar of Georgetown University in Washington DC and the New Zealand Institute for Strategic Leadership (Millbrook). He was a Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Researcher at Georgetown University in 2013.

Mr Jacobi has broad experience in industry and trade development . He was formerly Chief Executive of the New Zealand Forest Industries Council and Executive Director of the NZ US Council. Mr Jacobi is a frequent media commentator on industry and trade issues.

Mr Jacobi also has extensive diplomatic, trade and government experience including posts as Deputy High Commissioner in Ottawa, Assistant Trade Commissioner in Paris and adviser on trade and diplomatic issues with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He was formerly Private Secretary to the Minister for Trade Negotiations, Hon Jim Sutton, advising on trade policy, international affairs and government-to-government negotiations.

Mr Jacobi is an accredited director, the Chairman of the St John’s College Trust Board in Auckland, one of the country’s largest private trusts with diverse commercial property and financial investments, and the Te Aute Trust Board which is the proprietor for two Maori Anglican schools in Hawke’s Bay. The Te Aute Trust Board also operates two farms. He serves concurrently as Managing Director of Jacobi Consulting Ltd, a consultancy offering advice to public and private sector clients in the fields of international trade, government relations and industry development.

Mr Jacobi is married to the Reverend Dr Helen Jacobi, and has two children. He lives in Auckland.