My St John journey has taken me across Australia and the Pacific, through frontline paramedicine, clinical leadership, education, emergency management and executive roles. While the positions have changed, the purpose has remained remarkably consistent: supporting people at their most vulnerable and helping those around me to deliver the best care they can.
I started in 2012 as a First Aider with St John NSW and subsequently trained in communications, major events and liaison work before being a paramedic and divisional officer for 5 years. I then spent five years with St John Ambulance Papua New Guinea, ultimately serving as Deputy Commissioner / Executive Director of Clinical Systems and Enterprise Operations. It was an extraordinary period of growth for both the organisation and me, encompassing clinical governance, education, operational development, emergency coordination and major incident response. One of the defining experiences of my career came during the civil unrest in Port Moresby in January 2024, when I served as the Tactical Paramedic Commander on the ground. In an unpredictable and rapidly evolving environment, our ability to continue caring for the community relied not only on clinical capability, but on relationships, trust and community rapport built long before the crisis began.
In 2025, I had the privilege of serving as Chief Executive Officer of St John Ambulance Fiji, contributing to the continued development of the organisation, its people and its services. I subsequently returned to Australia and joined St John NT, initially in operational roles and now within Clinical Education, where much of my focus is on developing paramedics, strengthening clinical practice and supporting the next generation of clinicians.
For me, the essence of St John is found in service: stepping forward when something needs to be done, regardless of geography, circumstance or job title. Some of my most meaningful contributions over the last 14 years have been less about individual achievements and more about creating systems, opportunities and confidence that allow others to succeed.
I hope histories such as these record the breadth of women’s contribution to St John—not only the milestones and senior appointments, but the leadership exercised quietly every day in ambulances, classrooms, control centres, events, communities and offices.
For the next generation of St John women, I hope these stories demonstrate that there is no single pathway to leadership. Be curious, take opportunities that challenge you, invest in people and communities, and never underestimate where a willingness to serve may take you.
St John Ambulance Australia acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities on the Traditional Lands on which we work Australia wide. We acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the Canberra region, where our Australian Office is based. We pay our respects to elders past and present. At St John Ambulance, we are an inclusive organisation. We welcome and respect people that come from all backgrounds, cultures, religions, genders, sexualities, bodies, and abilities. Access to First Aid and its knowledge are fundamental human rights. Every person deserves access to life saving support, no matter who they are.
St John Ambulance Australia’s nationally recognised accredited courses are delivered by way of third-party arrangement with other organisations (for example, with our St John States and Territories). These St John states and territories (except WA) are authorised to deliver nationally recognised and accredited training on behalf of St John Ambulance Australia Ltd (RTO 88041).
St John Ambulance Australia acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities on the Traditional Lands on which we work Australia wide. We acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the Canberra region, where our Australian Office is based. We pay our respects to elders past and present. At St John Ambulance, we are an inclusive organisation. We welcome and respect people that come from all backgrounds, cultures, religions, genders, sexualities, bodies, and abilities. Access to First Aid and its knowledge are fundamental human rights. Every person deserves access to life saving support, no matter who they are.
St John Ambulance Australia’s nationally recognised accredited courses are delivered by way of third-party arrangement with other organisations (for example, with our St John State and Territory agents). These agents (except WA) are authorised to deliver nationally recognised and accredited training on behalf of St John Ambulance Australia Ltd (RTO 88041).
