About Jacobi Consulting
Jacobi Consulting Ltd offers advice to business and government clients in the fields of international trade, government relations and economic development. Stephen Jacobi fulfills the role of Executive Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF), serves as Alternate New Zealand Member for the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and as New Zealand Director of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF).
Stephen Jacobi
Managing Director
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 an alumnus of the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA) in Paris, the Georgetown University Leadership Seminar (Washington DC) and the Institute for Strategic Leadership (Millbrook).
Stephen had 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.
Stephen also has broad experience in industry and trade development. He 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.
Stephen established Jacobi Consulting Ltd in 2005. He ran the NZ US Council as Executive Director 2005-2014, building New Zealand’s relationship with the United States and launching the US NZ Partnership Forum. He helped establish the NZ International Business Forum in 2007 as a collaboration of senior business leaders interested in New Zealand’s integration in the global economy. He has led a number of significant relationship-building events in Japan and Korea. In 2009 he was appointed Alternate Member of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and continues to advise New Zealand’s ABAC Members.
In 2022 Stephen was appointed a Member of the Business Advisory Council for the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) Agreement (RBAC), the world’s largest free trade agreement.
In March 2024 Stephen assumed the role of New Zealand Director of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF), a role he had fulfilled in the period 2011-2018. ANZLF is a business-led initiative aimed at providing business input into the economic agenda with Australia.
Stephen is a frequent media commentator on trade and economic issues with many TV, radio and press appearances to his credit. He is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars.
An accredited director, Stephen is a former Chair and current Trustee of the Te Aute Trust Board, the proprietor of two iconic Maori Anglican secondary schools in Hawke’s Bay and operator of two farming businesses. From 2006-2016 he chaired the St John’s College Trust Board, an educational endowment for the Anglican Church. 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 while resident at the Center for Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Studies at Georgetown University, Washington DC.
In 2014 Stephen was admitted as a member of the World Class New Zealander Network and was a finalist in the AUT Business Support Awards Leadership category. In 2016 Stephen received a commendation from the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs for his work in promoting understanding between New Zealand and Japan.
From May 2016 to December 2019 Stephen served as Executive Director of the NZ China Council, a organisation comprising government, business and community leaders focused on promoting a strong and resilient relationship between New Zealand and China. Stephen advocated for New Zealand’s interests in the relationship, led work programmes on China’s Belt and Road Initiative and led a conference in June 2019 exploring the building of the “Southern Link” between China, New Zealand and South America.
From December 2020 until December 2021, when New Zealand chaired APEC, Stephen served as Executive Director of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).
Stephen is married to the Reverend Dr Helen Jacobi and has two adult children. He lives in Napier.