Meet the leaders: Jacqui Loustau

Jacqui Loustau is the founder and executive director of the Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN). Here, she shares the important lesson she learned when a leadership coach gave her a spoon. 

What is the best piece of feedback you’ve received?
Best advice: Imagine your values are printed on your t-shirt. Always act and behave publicly as you would internally.

What advice would you give to anyone juggling work and other life commitments?
It’s cliche, but know your boundaries and let those who work with you know them. 

Block out time in your diary for important things you don’t want to give up (like kid drop-offs) and try to encourage your team to have a no-meeting day, so they can get work done during the day and not in the evenings/weekends.

My job share Erica and I got a spoon once from a leadership coach. She said you both need to stop digging people out of their problems. If you spend time trying to solve other people’s work then you will burn out.

Was there ever a time when you felt stuck in your career and if so how did you work through it?
When I was in France [working as a consultant], I had a job where I had to travel and work a lot. When you have a young family, that is difficult, so I had to have a discussion with my manager about finding me local work.

Who do you most admire?
[Australia’s eSafety Commissioner] Julie Inman Grant: It is inspiring what she has achieved at the e-safety office and her vision. [Women’s rights activist] Manal al-Sharif, for her bravery and unwavering advocacy work.

What if anything would you like to see change for women in the workplace?
For more women to be seen for the “glue work” that they do. Many are doing the tasks that need to be done to keep a team together or are needed for a project, but are not getting recognised for it.

For workplaces to see the potential, value and different perspectives women can bring to a project, job or problem.

What brings you joy?
Being with family and helping people.

If you were elected Prime Minister what is the one thing you would change?
Education. It is the core of everything. How society thinks and progresses. The first step for changing poverty … [I want to make it more] inclusive of the different ways people think, learn and work.