At the College of Law, we’re celebrating our 20th anniversary by showcasing the inspiring career paths of our alumni.
Today, we spotlight Jackson Rowland is the Director of the Aotearoa New Zealand Stewardship Code and an Obama Scholar.
Jackson’s career path shifted after he joined a community service effort in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake. The experience opened his eyes to the impact he could make, steering him towards a future in sustainable finance.
We sat down with Jackson to discover what drives him to create positive change.
Q: Hi Jackson! Why did you decide to go to law school?
Growing up in a small town in New Zealand, I initially wanted to be a Detective, and thought doing a law degree would make me a great Detective. Then my older and wiser sister suggested that if I was going to study law, I should instead become a lawyer.
She had recently finished a law degree at the University of Canterbury and the advice seemed pretty sensible, so I decided to instead focus on becoming a lawyer.
But my journey took me down a path I never expected!
Q: Can you tell us about your journey from law to sustainable finance?
During my studies at Canterbury, the Christchurch earthquake happened.
A friend of mine started the student volunteer army, and over 10,000 students – including me –came together to volunteer and help clean up. I really enjoyed this volunteering and the feeling of giving back to the community, which made me start to question my current career goals and sparked my interest in a career with social impact.
I continued my studies and started practicing law, working on a number of large M&A transactions. Through this I saw the power that business has to deliver change, and continued volunteering on community projects, seeing the positive change this also creates. And decided to look for a career that enabled businesses to create positive change.
This led me into finance, impact investment, and now sustainable finance more broadly.
Q: You recently pursued further studies in sustainable finance. What motivated you to do that?
After earning my bachelor’s degrees in law and science, I worked in a law firm. But I eventually transitioned into sustainable finance.
My passion and work in this field led to me being selected as an Obama Scholar, and moving to the US for a year to complete graduate studies at Columbia University.
I was blown away to be accepted into that programme. It was incredible to be based in New York City for a year. It helped me understand global sustainable finance activities, and what New Zealand can learn from this, preparing me for my current work.
Q: Can you tell us a little more about your role today?
I’m the Director of the Aotearoa New Zealand Stewardship Code. The Stewardship Code is a framework that guides investors on how to use their influence to support companies to navigate critical ESG risks.
While this is about maximising long term value, investors are increasingly realising that this also requires tackling environmental and social risks along the way. It’s fundamental that investors use their influence to support the outcomes of their portfolio, and stewardship provides a framework for investors to do this
This is just one example of how finance can be a powerful tool for positive change, particularly environmentally and socially. It’s all about building a better, more sustainable future, which is something I’m passionate about.
Q: Have you had any significant mentors along the way?
Yes, mentors have been incredibly important to me.
One of my first mentor was Gavin Ward, my manager at my first job, Pizza Hut, who taught me so many valuable lessons that I still apply today. Another pivotal mentor was, Rebecca Mills, who gave a fledgling lawyer opportunities that led to me attending the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting and a number of other great opportunities.
The opportunities these mentors provided were significant steps on my path. I highly recommend that law students and graduates form similar connections wherever they can.
Q: What advice would you give to law students and recent graduates?
I would say to figure out what you care about and chase that down. The fulfilment you’ll receive from that, the quality of your work, and the places it’ll take you, will all be exponentially higher if you do. Not to mention the positive difference it might make for the world.
Law offers many opportunities, so don’t be afraid to explore and experiment until you find the area that excites you.
One of my most valuable learning experiences was completing the College of Law’s Profs course. Its practical nature prepared me for the real-world aspects of being a lawyer.
Q: Where’s next for you?
As I look ahead, I’m open to whatever the next few years may bring.
Just a few years ago, I couldn’t have predicted the journey that took me from New Zealand to New York and now Sydney, and the many experiences in between.
I believe finance is a critical lever for improving the world. I’m passionate about enabling investors to maximise long-term value, and addressing social and environmental challenges along the way.
I look forward to continuing my work in sustainable finance and helping investors understand and harness their influence for the betterment of us all.
Interested in completing a Profs course with the College like Jackson? Learn more today.