Stephen Jacobi

Executive Director, New Zealand International Business Forum

Biography

Stephen 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 and the Institute for Strategic Leadership (Millbrook).

Stephen has broad experience in industry and trade development. He earlier served as Chief Executive of the New Zealand Forest Industries Council, a national pan-industry body representing the forestry and wood processing sectors, the country’s third largest exporter. Earlier he established and led the New Zealand Trade Liberalisation Network – a business organisation aimed at building broad public understanding and support for trade. In both roles he has been a frequent media commentator on industry and trade issues. Stephen ran the NZ US Council as Executive Director 2005-2014. In these roles he has been a frequent media commentator on industry and trade issues.

Stephen 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.

An accredited director, Stephen chairs the St John’s College Trust Board, an endowment for the Anglican Church, the Te Aute Trust Board, the proprietor of Maori Anglican schools in Hawke’s Bay. He was formerly Deputy Chair of Fulbright New Zealand, Chair of Napier Girls’ High School and a director of Anglican Care (Waiapu) Ltd.

In 2013 Stephen was the recipient of a Fulbright award and spent three months undertaking research on US trade policy at the Center for Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Studies at Georgetown University, Washington DC. Stephen is an alumnus of the Georgetown Leadership Seminar.

In 2014 Stephen was admitted as a member of the World Class New Zealand Network and was a finalist in the AUT Business Support Awards Leadership category.

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

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