Career
Jacob was an horticulturalist before studying Architecture and graduating as a Bachelor of Environmental Design and completing a Masters in Architecture at the University of Western Australia. He served as a City of Joondalup councillor (North Central Ward) before being elected to the West.A. Parliament. Since 2009, he has served on the Joondalup Health Campus Community Board of Advice, of which he was chairman as of March 2013.
He is vice-patron of the West.A. branch of Surf Life Saving Australia and of his local club, Mullaloo Surf Life Saving Club of which he is a patrolling member.
He is chairman of the Tamala Park Coastal Reserve Community Advisory Committee, and of the Mitchell Freeway Extension Community Reference Group. He was the inaugural deputy chair of the Ocean Reef Marina Committee.
Parliamentary
From 2008–2012 he was the deputy chair of the Community Development and Justice Parliamentary Standing Committee. He was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services.
Seniors and Volunteering.
Youth from June 2012 to March 2013. On 21 March 2013, he was appointed Minister for the Environment and Minister for Heritage.