Meet the Sabre Team

Sabre is an organisation that specialises in unique and effective approaches to corporate team and management development.

Since 1988 we have worked in partnership with clients on projects and programmes that range from conference fun to strategic interventions. Our methodologies vary from exciting and unique experiential projects, to psychological and workshop based approaches.

Your specific aims and objectives are matched to our experience and concepts in a way that enables us to tailor events, programmes and solutions that are appropriate to your industry, company and people.

Sabre has a well-earned reputation for having the best and most enthusiastic facilitators in the business. We are very proud of the team and continue to enjoy the wonderful feedback from clients about our most vital asset, our people.

Key Head Office Staff

Talan Miller
Managing Director
As founder of the company Talan has created and delivered many successful projects and programmes for corporate clients across the globe (including The United Kingdom, The United States, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, The Bahamas, and Fiji). Talan founded the company in 1988 initially based on military themes and skills gained serving as an Officer in the Australian Army.  He has since grown the company to incorporate a unique variety of themes, approaches and styles that are keenly sought by major clients from around the world. He also designs many of Sabre’s premium interactive business game and team building event concepts and explores global licensing opportunities with alliance partners.    He has considerable experience with corporate programme facilitation / team and management development from the initial creative design process to effective and pragmatic delivery and follow through.

Mike Shakespeare
Managing Director - NSW Division
Prior to joining the Sabre team as head of our NSW business, Mike was a Director with the major multi-national corporation Heinz and was responsible for large-scale international business operations and domestic and international sales. Throughout his career Mike has been responsible for the development of high performance business teams that consistently achieve genuine outcomes and growth. His considerable leadership, management and business experience matched to Sabre's powerful approaches gives him a unique ability to work at the highest levels with client groups.

Megan Miller BSc, BA, Dip-Ed, AFMEA
Group General Manager
Meg has a diverse and highly acclaimed professional background serving as an Officer in the Australian Army followed by eight years within the Education profession.  Meg acquired considerable corporate facilitation and management experience with Sabre before taking on the position of GM. She has designed and delivered hundreds of programs and events internationally for our major corporate clients and is currently working on the completion of her MBA. 

Neil Smallman MA (Philosophy, Politics, Economics – Oxford)
Neil is a dual national (Australianised Brit) with a diverse and impressive set of team and leadership experiences from the commercial, military and academic realms. Whilst at Oxford he indulged his love of sport and was selected for First VIII in rowing and First XV for college rugby. A man of eclectic interests, in addition to studying Philosophy and playing rugby, he also represented his college at croquet and bridge. After University Neil served with distinction as an Officer in one of Britain's most prestigious military units, The Welsh Guards where he experienced operational service and an exchange to the New Zealand Army. Upon leaving the military to explore life in the business world he worked in Executive Search, delivering for investment banking clients in Europe and Asia before forming his own boutique consultancy. Seeking new challenges Neil joined the Sabre team to bring his unique skills and experiences to corporate team and leadership development.

Samantha Long BSc
Director of Operations 
After successful management positions within the hospitality industry in Australia Sam worked as a Sabre Event Manager and Facilitator before accepting a management posting integral to one of our international joint venture alliances. Since then Sam has designed and delivered corporate team and management development events with Sabre around the globe for major international client groups whilst driving the operational side of the business.

Travis Dunn BSc
Event Manager
Travis served with distinction as an Officer and pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force before moving into the commercial world with a major international aerospace company. He has many years of high level training and instructional experience that includes multi-national and cross-cultural groups. As a Sabre Event Manager Travis has worked with a wide cross-section of our major clients both locally and internationally.

Peter Souter
Event Manager / Team DNA and Executive Warfare Centre Facilitator
A graduate of The Royal Military College Duntroon ARA, Peter served with 2/14 Light Horse Regiment and 2nd Cavalry Regiment RAAC and was deployed on Active Service in Timor and for 2 Combat Tours of Iraq (his second as Adjutant of the Overwatch Battle Group in Southern Iraq). He has also served as an Instructor and Company Commander at Royal Military College Duntroon where he was responsible for the ongoing team and leadership development of future Army leaders. With considerable experience as a youth counsellor and development leader prior to joining the Army, Pete brings a unique set of instructional, life and leadership skills to the Sabre team where he leads Sabre events and is also a key presenter of our Team DNA and Battlespace approaches.

Mike (JB) Prior
Facilitator, Keynote Speaker and Battlespace Presenter
Mike is accomplished facilitator, instructor and presenter with high level military, commercial and legal experience. In the RAAF Mike was one of the youngest Fighter Pilots to fly the F18 Hornet before going on to complete many important local and overseas deployments and leadership roles also serving as an elite FCI (Fighter Combat Instructor). After leaving the military Mike succeeded in senior management roles in Aerospace before obtaining his Law Degree and starting his own Law Firm, TVP Law. Mike works with Sabre clients to help impart some of the skills and insights gained as an elite Fighter Pilot and Instructor to help business teams achieve “execution excellence”.

Cameron Lepp
Event Manager
Cam has been facilitating with Sabre since 1992 and has worked in Australia and overseas with some of our biggest clients and delivered some of our biggest and most successful events as one of our most sought after Event Managers.  Cam has also worked in the automotive and motor sport fields where he maintains a keen professional interest.

Craig Penson
Event Manager
Having worked in the fashion, film and surfing industries as manager, trainer and lots of other stuff he won’t talk about, Craig has a unique set of professional and life experiences that he has brought to his roles as a facilitator and event manager with Sabre locally and overseas. 

Daryl Chambers
BAppSc
Digital Marketing and Website Manager
Daryl had previously worked with us as a Facilitator and Event Manager.  After founding his own major web design and optimisation consultancy based on his considerable digital marketing and development skills, Daryl was of course the obvious choice to look after Sabre’s real estate on the worldwide web.

Sandra Passaro
Strategic International Sales and Marketing
Sandra has more than 22 years experience working within the tourism industry– the last 14 years spent in senior management roles with Gold Coast Tourism Corporation. With extensive first-hand experience with all facets of the tourism sector worldwide with particular emphasis on Business Tourism and Events and training, Sandra has a proven track record in delivering results through effective team and project management. In 2006 she was named Industry Person of The Year for Asia Pacific by AIME (AsiaPacific Incentives & Meetings Expo). Sandra’s role at Sabre includes project management, strategic planning, global marketing and market research.

Dr David Marriott
Associate Corporate Psychologist
David is also a Director of the Applied Psychology unit and possesses a vast wealth of experience with over 20 years of clinical and corporate psychology in management development roles on assignment both locally and internationally. He has worked closely with internationally renowned leaders in corporate psychology such as Dr Meredith Belbin the founder of the famous and highly acclaimed Belbin Team Role Model.

Related Links

Guide to choosing a team building supplier
What we do
Client Testimonials