Sam McMahon was raised on a small farm in Nanango in the South Burnett region of Queensland, the heart of Nationals country. With a love of agriculture and animals, she completed a Batchelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland.

Immediately upon graduation, Sam accepted a job in a private practice in the Northern Territory, a place she had been determined to return to since studying there in her 1st year of University. Apart from 18 months travelling and working in the United Kingdom, Sam spent the next 30 years owning and running her own veterinary practices across the NT including Katherine, Howard Springs, Nhulunbuy, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.

Sam has received many awards and accolades for her business interests including winning both the Telstra Small Business award and Telstra Business Women’s for the NT, Centenary Medal for business leadership, Australian of the Year finalist, Rural Women’s Award, Alice Springs Customer Service Awards and Australian Veterinary Association Meritorious Service Award.

Sam has been very active in the community and within the Veterinary profession over many years. She has served as a Chair and member of many local groups and committees as well as being a national director of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) for 5 years, President of the NT division of the AVA for 2 years, President of the Australian Cattle Veterinarians and Policy Advisory Council representative for 10 years.
 

Sam lives on a small farm outside of Katherine with her menagerie of animals. She enjoys horse riding, camping, water skiing, scuba diving, travel and photography. She is passionate about the Territory, small business, agriculture and rural/remote communities.