Catching Up with Jacinda Lombardini, Rabobank Rural Manager

Jacinda Lombardini smiling in a rural setting, symbolising a career in rural banking at Rabobank Australia

At Santa Maria College, we love celebrating the inspiring journeys of our alumni, and Jacinda Lombardini is no exception. Since graduating in 2015, Jacinda has forged an impressive and unexpected career path, leading her to her current role as a Rural Manager at Rabobank Australia. From her studies in law and commerce to her time in family law and eventual shift to rural banking, Jacinda’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and a deep passion for community and agriculture. In this Q&A, Jacinda shares the challenges, triumphs, and lessons she’s learned along the way – and how her time at Santa Maria College helped shape the person she is today.

Can you tell us about your journey from graduating from Santa Maria in 2015 to becoming a Rural Manager at Rabobank Australia?

My journey from graduation in 2015 to where I am today has been interesting and not at all what I had planned. I commenced a double degree at the University of Notre Dame in 2016, studying a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Commerce with no real firm plans other than to make it through my degrees! I interned at Rabobank during university, as well as in investment management, before having the good fortune of falling into family law through volunteering at a community legal centre. From there I went on to be admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia as a legal practitioner, working as a judicial associate and junior solicitor in the field of family law, before making the decision to change career paths and join the Rabobank team.

What inspired you to pursue a career in rural banking and management?

My desire to change careers was, I believe, the result of multiple factors in my life. I have always felt drawn to returning to live regionally, having not been able to do so since I commenced as a boarder at Santa Maria in 2011. I also recognised the impact that working in the field of family law was having on me at a personal level. The combination of these two factors caused me to assess how else I could contribute and led me to look again at the field of banking and finance. I have always had a strong desire to know how systems and businesses operate, and I thought the role at Rabobank as a Rural Manager (essentially a relationship manager, or bank manager as it is often called) would allow me to apply my skills in a new arena, and thankfully the management at Rabobank agreed.

What does your role as a Rural Manager involve, and what do you enjoy most about it?

The role of Rural Manager is varied and evolves based on the needs of my group of clients at any given time. I manage a portfolio of farming clients and am essentially responsible for gaining an in-depth understanding of their businesses so that we (Rabobank) are best placed to assist them in their goals moving forward. Given the nature and geographical diversity of my portfolio I am on the road most of the time, assisting clients with new ventures, managing their existing facilities, or taking the time to educate myself further about the ever-evolving industry of agriculture. What I enjoy most about the role is the relationships I build with my clients and picking their brains about their businesses. As the role is so varied, no day is ever the same, and I am constantly learning and developing my skills across all facets of the industry.

Do you work in both Perth and Merredin? If so, how do you balance working between both?

I am predominantly based in Merredin, however I work from Perth regularly. I will not lie and say it is easy living and working between places, however I also recognise the flexibility this affords me to both assist my clients and be where I need to be to balance my personal life. One thing I have learned during my life so far is to find joy in simple tasks, because these tasks are usually the ones consuming most of my time. As a result, I try to make my trips between places enjoyable (ie. a good podcast or playlist) and find a routine that works in both places, allowing me to exercise and get some sunlight so I can start every day well.

Did your education at Santa Maria College help shape your career path and work ethic?

My education at Santa Maria was both formal (ie. schoolwork) and informal as it relates to my experience as a boarder. I had a tough time leaving home so young, however the life skills, friendships, and academic challenges levelled at me during my time at Santa Maria have undoubtedly shaped me as a person. The word that comes to mind when I think of my time at Santa Maria is ‘grit’, which allowed me to dig in and achieve the things I set out to. I also owe, I believe, a lot to the Performing Arts Department at Santa Maria where I learned how to articulate myself and a level of self-evaluation I am very grateful for.

Can you share a particularly memorable or rewarding experience from your work at Rabobank?

I commenced work at Rabobank during a very poor season for most clients in my portfolio, which meant I was faced with not only getting to know my clients and their businesses but also assisting them through some difficult times at the beginning of this year. My most memorable moments are the small ones. Whilst I find it deeply rewarding to assist clients to achieve their goals, such as making a significant farm purchase, or affecting succession arrangements, I can think of nothing better than going for a ‘croppy’ with my clients, their dog, and their children to discuss exciting future plans.

What do you do in your downtime to unwind and maintain a healthy work-life balance?

This is an area of my life I need to pay a bit more attention to. I have found that when you care about what you do, it can be difficult to disconnect from work. The best strategies I have found for me are engaging in activities where you have no choice but to concentrate on the task at hand, whether that be learning to surf, interval training, or chasing a hockey ball around. These and being around people I adore having a good (and if you know me, loud) laugh.

We are proud to see how Jacinda’s grit, adaptability, and passion for learning have taken her from our classrooms to a rewarding career making a difference in the agricultural sector. Thank you, Jacinda, for sharing your inspiring story.

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