Presented by Master Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers NZ, The Jackson Women in Plumbing award recognises women who have made an outstanding contribution to the plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying industry.
The award is named in honor of Maureen Jackson (1941 – 2020) who was the Wife and Business Partner of Ian Jackson MNZM. In 1987, Ian and Maureen established Allproof Industries NZ Ltd.
Biography: Maureen Jackson
1941 – 2020
Maureen Jackson was the wife and business partner of Ian Jackson MNZM.
Maureen grew up in Auckland, attending St Benedict’s College. She pursued post-secondary school training at Auckland and Sydney Business Schools. In 1960, at the age of 19, with youthful energy, she moved to Sydney to embark on her overseas experience. After returning to Auckland and becoming engaged to Ian, she promptly eloped back to Sydney to get married. She did this when she turned 21, after not receiving her father’s blessing, which was required for 21-year-olds in New Zealand in 1962. This demonstrated her gusto and strength of character, traits that would come to define her career.
In her early business career, Maureen was a highly skilled shorthand typist, with roles in New Zealand Government Departments, New Zealand Courts, and Australian private business organisations. Her career in the plumbing industry began in 1966 when Ian and Maureen established Jackson Plumbing Ltd. She was a director of Jackson Plumbing Ltd from 1966 to 1998. In 1987, Ian and Maureen established Allproof Industries NZ Ltd and later, Allproof Industries PTY Ltd in Australia in 1999. Maureen worked at Allproof Industries until 2014 when she retired from the daily operations of the business.
Maureen had strong financial acumen and time management skills that were utilised in all her business activities. She had incredible drive and work ethic, working tirelessly within the Jackson Plumbing and later Allproof Industries businesses. She was determined to see her businesses grow and succeed while also balancing this with being an incredibly supportive, involved, and dedicated wife and mother.
Not only was Maureen an amazing partner for Ian within the business, but she also enjoyed building strong working relationships and friendships with many staff, customers, and suppliers, whom she enjoyed getting to know over the years.
Maureen had an amazing effervescent energy that made her a pleasure to work with and be around. She was easy to deal with, and those who were lucky enough to have dealt with her over the years have many fond memories of this strong and dedicated woman, who paved the way for the many hard-working women within our industry today.
