Meet the Maestro - Jacqui

Fractional Expert Sydney, Australia

Jacqui - Board Chair, Advisory Board, NED

At Maestro, we know there’s more to life than work. In fact, it’s the experiences, relationships and pursuits we have outside of work that can often give us an edge in what we do each day. We host an interview series called “Meet the Maestro” where we interview our Maestros and get an insight to who they really are and what makes them tick - beyond the CV.

Jacqui has spent her career in the places most people avoid talking about: money, power, succession and what actually happens when families and businesses try to pass wealth from one generation to the next. A former Deloitte partner and now a trusted advisor and NED across property, construction, retail, tech and financial services, she brings more than 30 years of experience helping high-net-worth families, founders and business owners make smarter long-term decisions about wealth and governance.

Her edge is simple but rare. She says what others won’t: no one wants to talk about money, but they need to. Whether she is guiding families through succession, chairing boards through IPO or M&A readiness, or helping next-gen leaders step into responsibility, Jacqui has a gift for bringing clarity to emotionally charged, complex situations and getting everyone aligned on what actually matters.

She co-founded Maxima Private after two decades at Deloitte, where she helped build Deloitte Private across APAC and launched the Best Managed Companies program. Today she is also an author, speaker and money mentor, focused on one thing: helping people stop avoiding the conversation and start making better decisions about wealth, legacy and the future.

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1. Tell us about a career highlight to date…

25+ years at PWC(Incl Coopers) & Deloitte was pretty awesome, launching new growth programmes for Deloitte to the whole firm eg Best Managed Companies. 

- Setting up Westpac’s “Businesses of Tomorrow” and running it successfully

- Setting up CBA’s “Women in Focus” and running it successfully 

- Studying at INSEAD, not once but twice. (second time as a Board Chair)

- Selling a 100 year old business to a listed company and getting a great outcome for the family shareholders

- Winning a few international book awards is pretty cool!!

‍2. Talk us through an unusual career choice you’ve made along the way…

Many people would say it was gutsy to leave a high paying leadership and partner role at Deloitte after so long.  

3. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Initially a teacher but I didn’t think it would pay, I have always loved the idea of being a meteorologist. I love the weather…ask me, any day what to expect this week, this season, I will likely be across it. ‍

4. What are your passions outside of work and how do you make time for them?

Adventure… cycling – actual e-biking off road preferably, skiing. Always trying to read more, I have always enjoyed learning. The only way is to plan, make a time to do it. Planning in advance works best for me. ‍

5. If you could instantly master any skill or hobby, what would it be and why?

To play the guitar – so soothing. I played the piano for a long time but never really mastered the guitar. I think it’s a great skill to have. I like the idea of a fire in the great outdoors and playing the guitar with a few good singalongs.‍

6. What’s a personal value or belief that guides the way you live your life?‍

Flexibility – maybe that’s because having a big family (5 sons) and loving my work has meant that in my “corporate career” I was very focused on work and there was little flex – even as a boss. ‍

7. What’s a challenge you’ve overcome outside of work that shaped you?‍

Divorce, that’s pretty hard when you’ve got young kids and a career but at the same time built my resilience. Then later, blending a family with 5 boys has been crazy! 

In the past 3 years I became a published author which created a new world for me. At the same time both my parents passed which was a shock and unexpected.  

8. What do you think your job will look like in 10 years time? ‍

I'm fascinated by this question and concerned about the potential collapse of systems as we know them, whether by individuals or AI. I'm curious as to what it will look like. 

9. If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and what would you do?‍

Easy one, anywhere with big mountains. Maybe Europe and I’d like to explore Scandinavia’s slopes. Of course I’d ski. 

10. What does success look like to you?‍

My version of success has rapidly altered as my career trajectory has changed. Finding meaning in what I do is success. Helping people has always been at the core of what I do and when I feel like I have helped someone – that’s success!

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