6 Mar 2025International Women’s Day (8 March 2025) is an occasion to celebrate the significant contributions of women across all industries and spheres of life. In the world of health, there are countless trailblazing women who are pushing boundaries, changing lives, and shaping the future of healthcare. Today, we shine the spotlight on our very own health innovator—Jenni Falconer.
As we mark this important day, we reflect on the groundbreaking work that Jenni and the Emergency Consult team have done to bridge the gap between patients and rapid quality healthcare. Telehealth has proven to be a lifeline for many, and Jenni’s journey from frontline nurse to telehealth pioneer is one that serves as an inspiration to women everywhere who are looking to make a difference in the world.
Breaking barriers in healthcare
Jenni co-founded Emergency Consult (along with doctors Martyn, Giles and Mustafa) with a simple but powerful mission in mind: to make healthcare more accessible.
They were (and still are) acutely aware of the many barriers that many New Zealanders face in receiving traditional in-person urgent medical care. Acknowledging the challenges of geographic isolation, busy lifestyles, and the ever-building pressure on the healthcare system, she and her co-founders envisioned a service that would bring emergency medicine expertise out of the bricks and mortar constraints of our country’s hospitals—and empower individuals to reach senior clinicians without having to leave their homes.
"Telehealth is about convenience, empowerment, and equity," says Jenni. "It’s about creating a healthcare system that works for everyone and freeing up the in-person services for when they’re really needed. Through our service, patients from all walks of life can consult with emergency doctors in minutes—whether they’re a farmer on a remote station, someone with mobility issues, a worried mother in the middle of the night, or simply a working person struggling to get a doctor’s appointment or time off work. We’re making healthcare easy and accessible."
An interview with Jenni Falconer: Inspiring change and innovation in healthcare
In honour of International Women’s Day, we sat down with Jenni to discuss her journey, her mission, and her vision for the future of healthcare in Aotearoa.
Q: Jenni, can you tell us a bit about how you first got started in health, and what led you to co-found Emergency Consult?
"I went into nurse training straight after school, so I’ve been in healthcare for 30-something years! I’ve worked on the frontline at all levels – from nurse to senior leader – and I’ve always been highly aware of how quality healthcare impacts people’s lives. In the last decade or so I really took notice of the fact that, as we progress technologically in so many areas, healthcare often lags. That frustration sparked a desire to innovate a solution. The idea of Emergency Consult, allowing people to consult with senior Emergency Medicine Specialists via video, felt like a logical step forward. We wanted to build a platform that not only made healthcare more accessible for the patient but also made a difference in the EDs where we all worked every day."
Q: What challenges did you face as a woman trying to innovate in the tech and health industries?
"There are challenges but I’ve been incredibly lucky to have a strong and intelligent team around me who are much more interested in results than gender. And together we’ve created an organisation that values mana wāhine and is rich in female talent.
“I was the only woman on the founding team; my co-founders are all men—and senior doctors to boot! But, if anything, there were many advantages to our differing perspectives and skill sets. Of course, as a woman leading a startup you have to work hard to prove yourself. But I've always been passionate about the problem we’re solving, and that drive has kept me going.
“I think it’s important for women to own their expertise and not shy away from leadership roles. It's also crucial that we support one another in these spaces. The more women we have in leadership positions, the more opportunities we create for future generations of women to thrive."
Q: As a female leader in health tech, what message would you give to young women looking to break into innovation and entrepreneurship?
"Don’t be afraid to fail, and don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo. So many women have great ideas but they don’t have great self-belief. The truth is, you’re just as capable as anyone else, and the world needs your perspective. Surround yourself with mentors (be it male or female), learn as much as you can, and just go for it. The more diverse voices we have in innovation, the better the results will be."
Q: How do you envision the future of telehealth, and what role do women like yourself play in shaping that future?
"Telehealth is here to stay, and its potential is great. I see a future where healthcare is truly personalised, where technology meets empathy, and where accessibility isn’t a question—it’s a given. Women like me, who are working at the intersection of healthcare and technology, especially those in leadership roles, will play a huge part in making this vision a reality. Our experiences and perspectives are invaluable in ensuring that healthcare services are equitable, inclusive, and patient-centered.
“Our mission here at Emergency Consult is to make healthcare easy for anyone, anytime, anywhere – that’s where I want to see us going - a future where healthcare is accessible to all, regardless of geography, gender, socioeconomic status, service capacity issues, or anything else."
Celebrating women's impact on health and innovation
Jenni’s work with Emergency Consult is a shining example of how women can lead the charge in shaping the future of healthcare. Her unwavering commitment to making healthcare accessible and her drive to empower patients and clinicians through technology is a reminder of the profound impact women can have on industries in need of innovation.
Happy International Women's Day! Let’s continue to uplift, support, and celebrate the women who are making the world a better place for all of us.