Recently, Animal Emergency Australia CEO Jodi MacKinnon was featured on the cover of Vet Practice Magazine, a monthly publication read by thousands of veterinary professionals across Australia. We couldn't be prouder, and it got us thinking: how many of you actually know her story?
Jodi didn't arrive in veterinary care through a boardroom. She grew up around horses and animals, and found her way into vet nursing in the early 1990s when breaking into the profession wasn't easy. She volunteered her way through the door of a practice in Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast, and within five years had worked her way up to full-time practice manager, eventually helping build it into one of the largest practices on the Gold Coast.
After 15 years, she made the difficult decision to leave when the clinic was sold. It was that crossroads that brought her to Animal Emergency Service (AES).
When Jodi joined what would become Animal Emergency Australia (AEA), she wrote the founders a letter with a simple promise: "I would treat this business as my own.” A mentality that she still holds to this day. Nearly two decades later, that's exactly what she's done. Under her leadership, AEA has grown from a single Queensland clinic to a national network spanning five states, with over 800 staff and a culture built around genuine care for both patients and the people treating them.
For Jodi, that culture starts with people: "People are everything. If you have the right person in the job, you can teach them anything."
And it extends to how the whole team experiences their work: "We spend a lot of time at work, and when you head home feeling fulfilled, often thanks to the supportive people around you, it creates a positive ripple effect. That sense of satisfaction has a positive effect on your family and children."
For the full cover story, including Jodi's take on the future of emergency vet care, what it really takes to thrive in this industry, and the leadership philosophy behind Animal Emergency Australia - read it online here.
