In today’s fast-paced world, we are often encouraged to strive for work-life balance. Mother of three and Gallagher Global General Manager Animal Management, Lisbeth Jacobs, has embraced the best of both as she has forged a global career that has led her to the Mighty Waikato.
Lisbeth (51) believes the notion of having to choose between work and life is forcing people, particularly women, to sacrifice their personal lives for their careers and vice-versa.
“The idea of work-life balance implies that working is not living,” she says. “I don’t think it’s about having to choose. It’s about fitting in all the different things you do in your life, of which working is one.”
You could say Lisbeth has found the winning formula. She joined Gallagher’s senior leadership team in 2021 and is based at the agri-tech company’s global HQ in Hamilton.
She is charged with leading a team of around 300 people, who are based in Hamilton and in key markets around the globe. This team is delivering world-leading agricultural management solutions – from physical and virtual fencing technology to animal weighing and electronic identification systems, including software applications – that are enabling farmers’ businesses to thrive.
Lisbeth’s career has been truly global and her roles varied, from strategy, business development and technology management roles in Belgium and China with global steel wire company Bekaert, to international strategy with New Zealand’s business and executive development group, Icehouse.
Lisbeth was also Executive Director at UniServices Ltd, the commercialisation arm of The University of Auckland, helping to bring its services, consultancy and intellectual property to markets around the world.
Before joining Gallagher, Lisbeth was General Manager Innovation and Sustainability at Fletcher Building. She is also a member of the NZ Institute of Directors and holds non-executive directorships on BRANZ and NorthPower. Lisbeth has a PhD in materials engineering from The University of Auckland and has been Honorary Consul of Belgium since 2013.
An engineer’s daughter
Originally from Antwerp in Belgium, Lisbeth is the middle daughter of an engineer and a historian. The positive outlook and determination she inherited from her parents are values she has tried hard to instill in her three daughters.
Her youngest is boarding at St Paul’s Collegiate in Hamilton. Her two eldest daughters are twins – one is studying medicine in Belgium and the second engineering at The University of Auckland.
They all share their mother’s strong sense of character.
“I’ve got three strong minded daughters who have their own firm opinions, which I enjoy,” says Lisbeth. “I’ve always encouraged them to be clear about what they want, because I think it’s important to have purpose, and work hard to achieve it.”
While Lisbeth has always worked in typically male industries, Lisbeth is adamant that, whether you’re male or female, it should simply come down to who is the best candidate for the job.
Her determined nature means she is always striving for constant improvement from both herself and those around her.
“I’m always asking; how can we make that better, bigger or faster? How can we do this differently? How can we adapt to the changing environment? I think this curiosity has naturally led me into roles with a link to technology or to innovation or sustainability.”
Finding her niche
Gallagher is focused on customer-led innovation and development. And it is where Lisbeth has found her niche. She splits her time between Hamilton and her family home in Auckland, which she shares with her husband, a telecommunications engineer.
“Gallagher is a truly global company home-grown in New Zealand. The team here are dedicated to innovation and always wanting to do things better. The company’s vison to protect what matters most and the values that underpin its strategic direction are very much aligned to my own. I feel at home here.”
Lisbeth believes there is an increasing understanding of the role agriculture plays in New Zealand’s sustainability and environmental protection efforts.
“There is growing recognition that agriculture can and needs to be part of the solution. In my mind, this is where the future of farming lies. Moving back to a more holistic agriculture-type approach where farming is part of the ecosystem of life on the planet.”
She believes Gallagher is well positioned to keep working alongside farmers and help them be part of the solution.
“Our team has enormous value to add through our innovative agri-tech solutions and expert advice, which is helping farmers work more productively, more sustainably and use real data to drive their business decisions.
“New Zealand’s agricultural industry is ready to tackle change head-on,” says Lisbeth. “Gallagher is already playing a crucial role in making that happen and I am proud to be part of the team leading the charge.”
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