Cath Jacobs

Cath is the Associate Director of Consultation & Engagement (C& E) at Abley. She is responsible for managing Abley’s C & E portfolio, working collaboratively with Abley’s technical team and clients to communicate and execute tactical consultation & engagement initiatives.

About Cath

Leading the C & E team, Cath is based in Wellington. Cath is passionate about delivering C & E strategies, bringing them to life through storytelling and tactical engagement planning and delivery.

After completing a bachelor’s in Political Science at Victoria University, Cath put on her backpack and spent time across Europe and Asia for 19 years. While overseas, Cath worked in Senior Communications, Public Relations, and Engagement roles including for New Zealand Trade & Enterprise in Singapore and the Daily Mail in the UK and Singapore.  This provided her the opportunity to work with diverse clients delivering on projects in evolving environments, resulting in Cath being able to quickly grasp client’s requirements and applying the right C & E strategy for the best outcomes.

A born and bred Wellingtonian, Cath returned to Wellington in 2019 where she worked for Transpower in Communications & Engagement, followed by The Zealand Transport Agency, where she led the Communications & Engagement for the rollout of the Asset Management Data Standard, a national programme implemented by all New Zealand councils.

Bringing 25 years of consultation, and engagement experience in government and professional services organisations, Cath joined the Abley team in 2022. During her time at Abley, she has successfully led the C & E delivery for several strategic programmes, including Let’s Get Wellington Moving, Department of Transport & Planning (DTP), Victoria, Network Safety Plan and Compact Roundabouts programmes, Queenstown Lake District Council Travel Demand Management Business Case, and NZTA SH2 Remutaka Safety improvements. Cath has also grown Abley’s C & E team to three professional and works with diverse clients in New Zealand and overseas delivering communication strategies.

Communicating and engaging are Cath’s passions. She particularly enjoys the challenge of developing and implementing a tactical engagement strategy, bringing concepts, plans, and business cases to life through storytelling, and no day being the same working with a diverse range of clients and an inspiring team of Abley professionals.

Cath loves to network and is involved with several business and community groups. She loves to get out and about with friends and is often found working out at her local community fitness and dance clubs, at the theatre, or eating out at one of Wellington’s hotspots. Cath is a self-confused Koreaphile and enjoys a night out with Korean BBQ and Karaoke.  She likes to travel to Asia and Europe and is also fond of exploring New Zealand in her spare time with her husband.