Patrick Hill on Global Growth, Leadership and the Power of Infrastructure

For Patrick Hill, president of global operations, serving as an executive leader at Jacobs is about staying grounded while focusing on the future. A Melbourne native, he shares what it’s like serving on Jacobs’ executive team while living in Australia. Prior to taking on his current role, Patrick led Jacobs’ operations across Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

In a recent profile for The Australian Financial Review’s BOSS magazine, Patrick shares insights on growth opportunities, major projects and why Jacobs’ work touches millions of lives around the world. Subscribers can download the full article here. 

Patrick discussed his role leading global operations, key growth areas for Jacobs and how we’re making a difference around the globe—from London’s Elizabeth Line, Singapore’s Tuas Water Reclamation Plant, Germany’s SuedLink and San Francisco’s Waterfront Resilience Program to Australian projects including the Brisbane Metro Bus Rapid Transit, the Darlington Upgrade Project, Squadron Energy’s Clarke Creek Wind Farm,  Sydney Water’s Upper South Creek Networks Program and Melbourne's West Gate Tunnel. 

“Companies like ours are probably a well-kept secret, but the majority of Australians would come into contact with a Jacobs project pretty much every day,” says Patrick. 

Patrick also shares key areas of growth he sees for Jacobs, particularly in the energy transition space. 

“The whole energy transition is a really significant shift, and we are seeing that show up in all our markets,” he says. “Not just the power assets which are obvious, but the water assets are also power hungry. Also think about electrical vehicle charging infrastructure. 

“One of the projects out in the public domain is where the federal and state governments are looking at another submarine link from Tasmania, under the water, to connect renewables into the grid,” he continues. “It’s a similar project to what we’re delivering in Germany, which is a 700-kilometre underground, high voltage cable.” 

Patrick credits his success to his upbringing and family. He grew up in Berwick, an outer suburb of Melbourne, with his father, a school teacher and principal, his mother who worked in retail and his brothers. He boarded at the Catholic boys’ school, Xavier and then at Melbourne University’s Newman College. 

“The combination of spending my formative years living amongst a large peer group in a boarding school and university college environment, then followed by having three outspoken daughters has been a great lesson in staying humble and grounded,” he says. 

Outside of work, Patrick enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters and running. He finds time for a daily run and regularly participates in the Melbourne Marathon.