From starting as an eight-year-old cadet in Christchurch to becoming Head of People and Strategy at St John International (SJI), Jessa Gardner’s journey reflects a lifelong commitment to St John. We caught up with Jessa to discuss her career, leadership, and what excites her most about the future of SJI.
Could you introduce yourself and share your journey with St John, including your time at Hato Hone St John and your current role as Head of People and Strategy at SJI?
I first joined St John when I was 8 years old in Christchurch, New Zealand. I had an interest in becoming a paramedic – of course! I progressed through the NCO leadership ranks and became the National Cadet of the Year in 2020. I started in a paid capacity as a 16-year-old at Hato Hone St John and have been with the organisation ever since.
When the role at SJI came up, I applied thinking I wouldn’t stand a chance… Six months later, I am in the role and loving it!
Looking back across your time in Hato Hone St John and now at the SJI office, what have been some of the most defining experiences in shaping your journey so far?
As part of my role as National Cadet of the Year, I attended many (rather terrifying) Senior Leadership Meetings. At one meeting, I was unexpectedly asked by the CEO, Peter Bradley, for my opinion on a topic. Gulp. I was the youngest person in the room and by far the least experienced; however, I was still given the opportunity to be heard. I remember telling myself that one day I would do the same for another young person in the room.
What does your role as Head of People and Strategy involve, and how do you personally approach building trust and collaboration across the organisation?
My role has evolved significantly over the past six months. It is to ensure people are happy, supported, and enabled while at work.
The difficult part of any people leadership role is understanding the culture and context of the organisation you are joining. Luckily for me, the team at SJI is incredible!
With many new members joining the team this year, there has been a great opportunity to create a space where everyone feels included and welcomed. To achieve this, I (with the help of the fabulous P&S team) planned a team-building day where we explored aspects of business psychology, but most importantly focused on team building and trust.
What does a typical day look like for you in your role, and what are the key priorities you tend to focus on?
After my first big decision of the day (coffee or tea?), a typical day involves emails, strategy discussions, event planning, culture and development planning, more meetings, more emails, and more planning!
Other days, I have a to-do list and achieve none of the items on it. I often write down (and tick off) tasks that I ended up doing anyway, just so I feel like I’ve accomplished something – I recommend doing this.
What has working across different parts of St John taught you about people, culture, and what makes relationships work well?We are #OneStJohn, and we share the same mission and purpose. At times, the way we achieve this may be slightly different, and that is to be expected and encouraged. Communication is vital, and building genuine relationships across the St John family is what supports sustainable success, understanding, and togetherness.
Looking ahead, what are you most excited about in your role and for the future of SJI?
One thing I will be focusing on is our people and strategy. To deliver a successful strategy, both operationally and practically, we need to ensure our people are enabled, growing, and supported. My goal is to build on the strong foundations we already have and work with the team to strengthen those foundations globally.
Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time, and what helps you recharge?
I am still a newbie to London, so I spend a lot of time being a tourist in my own city. On my days off, you’ll often find me cooking something, trying a new foodie spot… and, of course, talking about the London weather.
