The serious talent behind the sauce

Meet Liane

Founder and Chair

Liane Gawne spring-boarded into the world of public relations with tertiary qualifications in communications management, business and journalism. After blazing a trail in the education and utility sectors, she was named “Young Practitioner of the Year” by the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand and set her sights on Sydney.

On arrival in Australia, Liane’s natural gift for public relations saw her entrusted to take care of some of NSW’s most high profile and sensitive public issues, utilising her issues management and change communications experience. This career path also gave her the chance to perfect her PR skills for international media relations, community awareness campaigns, stakeholder communications, product launches, event management and promotions.

Following a successful tenure as Public Affairs Manager at the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, Liane decided it was time to find a better work-life balance and moved to the Riverina region of NSW, for a “tree change”. In 2004 she founded Sauce Communications and set about partnering organisations throughout city and country regions.

By taking the time to understand the individual language and commercial landscape of each and every client, the success of the Sauce approach has left Liane busier than ever and with a trophy cabinet coveted by multi-national firms Australia-wide….and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

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  • With a knack for assessing threats and opportunities for her clients – in any given scenario – Liane’s serious talent lies in being able to plot an effective course of action that strengthens their reputation while achieving the best possible results for all stakeholders – even those who are adversely affected! Despite being small in stature, her professionalism and genuine approach stand tall among the crowd of PR people.

  • As the boss, Liane loves finding (and hiring) public relations practitioners who live and breathe the Sauce approach. The traditional agency relationship almost ceases to exist at Sauce, which sees itself as part of its client’s communications team. There’s no “us” and “them”….at Sauce, it’s “we” and “our”.

  • Liane has a stack of successes under her belt, but one of her favourites involves a client that engaged Sauce on a range of individual projects, which were so successful they decided to outsource their public affairs function to Liane and the team. This client tells Sauce that it was our structure and skill mix that gave us the edge in winning this contract, citing our ability to work in their offices – across multiple locations – as team members rather than consultants, and pull in additional resources to tackle large, and time-sensitive issues.

    What Liane loves more than anything else about this and other long-term clients, is the partnership that’s evolved over the years, as Sauce has worked with them to breathe life into their communications strategies. Above all, they share the Sauce belief that there’s absolutely no room in the mix for complacency….which is a recipe for success in any relationship.

Meet Lynn

Managing Director

An expert corporate affairs practitioner skilled in all areas of communications and reputation management, you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone as passionate, thorough and decisive as Lynn Semjaniv.

Her 25 plus years of experience includes leading communications for national retail brands within ASX-listed companies Wesfarmers and Coles Myer Ltd, where she worked across all aspects of corporate affairs, specialising in risk management and stakeholder engagement, brand and marketing communications.

Make no mistake – Lynn’s a great asset in any board room – but in true Sauce style she’s just as happy working directly with producers out in the field. Her love of agriculture – first piqued during her time at Coles supermarkets in the 90s, was honed at Devondale Murray Goulburn, where she was General Manager – Communications. Lynn led corporate affairs for Australia’s biggest dairy processor at a time of rapid strategic growth.

Over her career she’s led the design and implementation of strategic campaigns to protect and build business reputations. From complex organisational change management and strategic stakeholder engagement to crisis communications spanning multiple companies and continents, Lynn’s skill set and track record speaks for itself.

Never one to settle for less than perfect, her keen eye for detail and commitment to achieving results makes Lynn an advocate any client would want on their side. We’re certainly delighted to have her on ours!

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  • Sauce loves Lynn’s full steam ahead attitude. When she’s given a project, she dives right in and commits her absolute all to both the client and the rest of the Sauce team.

  • Lynn loves the comradery that comes with being part of such a dynamic and multi-talented team. In her own words, “You know your back is always covered at Sauce because exceptional client delivery is number one.”

  • Lynn has played a crucial role in developing and executing communication strategies for a number of Sauce’s major agribusiness clients. She says it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to connect with and support the inspiring people and places that represent the heart of regional Australia.

A seasoned rural and agriculture communications all-rounder with a wealth of policy development experience, there’s no going past Dee Wilkes-Bowes. Her track record includes senior positions such as Manager Government Relations at Austrade and Director Rural Affairs at NSW Farmers’ Association.

Dee has managed stakeholder relations at the most senior of levels, with responsibility for consultation processes on a wide range of issues, from telecommunications and regional development to rural health and drought relief. Praised for her ability to adapt to any organisation, Dee’s excellent writing skills combined with her analytical skills means she presents ideas and issues in a clear and engaging way.

Prior to joining Sauce, Dee was the brains behind the development of the Youthlink group within the NSW Farmers’ Association and the first Young Farmers Forum, which was designed to engage young farmers in the policy making process. These initial forums were the catalyst for other national forums, local groups and policies relating to young people in agriculture.

A perfect fit for Sauce, Dee was raised on a property in western New South Wales and has lived in the country most of her life, developing a close affinity with the land and a love of agriculture. So much so, Dee and her husband purchased a Riverina property, and today run a grazing operation to complement their off-farm work.

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Meet Dee

Senior Account Director

  • Dee was all set to study art history and become a teacher after leaving high school until a chance conversation on the train home from boarding school made her change to an agricultural economics degree – something she had previously never heard of. A change in direction that was meant to be, as it led Dee to a career she loves and led us to Dee!

  • The ability to work with a range of people, issues and industry sectors is what Dee thrives on, but that’s not all she loves about Sauce. In her own words, “I love the variety and the fact that Sauce is a regionally based company, passionate about rural issues, but which delivers as effectively for metropolitan-based businesses as it does in rural areas.”

  • Dee played an invaluable role in helping a government client promote important new research to the agricultural industry. She successfully translated the research into language and platforms that resonated with people interested in the future of agriculture and rural communities, including industry, policy-makers, producers and community members. Dee exceeded all the client’s expectations, while making a positive contribution to rural Australia in the process. At Sauce, we call that a win-win!

Meet Jessica

Account Director

For almost a decade Jessica has been entrusted to manage some of Australia’s biggest agricultural brands and events. Think Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, Australia Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA), the Merino Company and Stock & Land (Fairfax Media) to name a few.

At ALFA, the peak body for the grain fed cattle industry, Jessica was responsible for managing all membership communications and stakeholder engagement including the seamless execution of two of the industry’s largest events – BeefEx and SMARTBEEF attracting more than 500 delegates.

Operating based on the mantra ‘cool heads will prevail’, Jessica’s calm and considered approach makes her someone you want on your team – especially when the stakes are high. Did we mention Jessica was tasked with managing the livestock pavilion for the Royal Melbourne Show, Victoria’s largest community event, which attracts around 500,000 visitors each year?

It’s undeniable Jessica has an innate understanding of and a genuine passion for regional Australia. Raised on a cattle property near Benalla, North East Victoria Jessica’s love of the land has never wavered, spending her university holidays wrangling livestock as she completed a Bachelor of Business (Agribusiness). She was an Emerald Grain 100 Women in Australian Agribusiness nominee and winner of the 2014 Woolworths Agriculture Business Scholarship.

Now living in Griffith NSW, she remains firmly connected to the agribusiness sector through her work at Sauce and volunteer roles, previously serving on the Board of the Future Farmers Network, and the Executive Committee of the Victorian Farmers Federation Young Agribusiness Professionals.

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  • A 400 pax industry event in Brisbane, multiple regional roadshows and a conference in Echuca…Jess jumped into Sauce event planning, RM Williams and all, from the moment she arrived. Exactly the kind of can-do team attitude Sauce is renowned for!

  • With the love for all things rural, regional and agricultural, Jess has found her fit at Sauce by working with clients that specialise in these areas, and with a team that cares as much about this space as she does!

  • Jess is all about relationships, deadlines, detailed to-do lists and delivery. That means working in a role where she takes a true partnership approach to bring to life multiple projects for multiple clients (all at the same time!) is a match made in event heaven.

Meet Peta

Senior Account Manager

Peta Heffernan has a wealth of knowledge, versatility and agility in project management, mass participation and event organisation, PR/communications strategies, marketing campaigns and sponsorship management. Peta’s keen eye for strategy, unwavering attention to detail and expertise make her an invaluable asset on any project.   

With significant experience working with big brands including David Jones, the Breast Cancer Foundation and Hill + Knowlton, Peta’s skillset has been honed over years working across marketing, PR/communications and events campaigns, across both in-house and agency roles, covering it all including leading national marketing campaigns, philanthropic events program and corporate communications strategies. Her exceptional organisational skills and calm-under-pressure professionalism is the perfect mix for orchestrating large-scale programs with her ability to ensure every detail is impeccably executed making her a master in project delivery.  

After many years of farm life in South East NSW, Peta made the move back to Sydney to be closer to family, but her connection to rural and regional communities will always be a passion. Peta has found her way to Sauce, and we couldn't be more delighted to have her on board!  

  • Ever the consummate professional, Peta’s attention to detail and creativity, her willingness to jump in and help a colleague or client at every opportunity, no matter the task (or event!) big or small. Peta’s the one you want in your corner and we’re glad she’s in ours!

  • Peta’s favourite bit about Sauce is working with a dynamic group of inspirational, successful, and supportive team of women.

  • Being a part of the Sauce team that developed and implemented the audit and strategy for Satake Oceania. This included the development of new branding, along with the creation of image and video libraries, and a total redesign and build of their website – all of which is now highlighted across the website. 

Meet Jemima

Account Manager - Events

With a genuine flair for all things events, Jemima Bargery is your go-to guru for everything from brainstorming wild ideas to flawlessly executing them on the big day.

After a successful eight-year career in local government, Jemima is an ace at project management, organisation, and juggling her time — successfully executing multiple major internal projects.  

Since joining us Jemima has successfully managed end-to-end the Australian Assurance Summit, a large industry event targeting fresh produce, supply chain, horticulture, and wine industry sector leaders. And she’s also jumped in wholeheartedly supporting on multiple other medium to large scale corporate events.

Jemima isn’t just about nailing down logistics; she’s a true people person. Her superpower? Building incredible connections with clients, vendors, and partners alike. Her excellent communication skills, professionalism and warm demeanour make her a pleasure to work with - she will always take the time to understand her client’s vision and goals and works closely with them to create a tailor-made event that exceeds their expectations.  

Hailing from the Snowy Mountains originally, Jemima calls Leeton home and brings that special touch of regional charm to every project. Her energy, passion and commitment to excellence make her a fantastic ingredient at Sauce!

  • Jemima’s energy and enthusiasm is infectious, always willing to go above and beyond she loves continuous improvement and is the queen of systems and processes!

  • Sauce embodies everything that fuels Jemima's career passion. Jemima says the connections within the team and outside are truly authentic, making it an absolute honour to collaborate with the empowering and inspiring group of women at Sauce each day. She loves the fresh challenges and opportunities for learning, ensuring no two days are the same and the firsthand exposure to diverse industries through events adds an extra spark to her role, making it a definite highlight.

  • Jumping straight into it from the get-go, in Jemima’s first eight months at Sauce, she worked on and attended six corporate Sauce events from medium to large-scale and high-level functions. The Australian Assurance Summit has been Jemima’s highlight, having the opportunity to manage the Summit from the start to its very successful execution.

Meet Samantha

Account Manager

From big picture thinking to fine detail delivery, Sam brings her sharp eye to every project. You can be confident that her meticulous planning, innovative thinking, and results-orientated approach will produce excellent results, start to finish.

Sam specialises in digital marketing, social media management, strategic marketing planning, events management, and content creation – all of which require exceptional organisation, communication and attention to detail. Sam thrives in a dynamic environment, constantly adapting and learning new skills to ensure she can respond to any situation.

With an interest in marketing psychology, Sam has a talent for prompting desired action from target audiences. Combined with her skills in copywriting, she delivers powerful written and visual communications.

Leeton born and bred and with a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing and Public Relations) from the University of Wollongong, Sam understands the wants and needs of rural Australia and how to deliver the goods.

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  • Sam’s reply 99% of the time to any request is “no problem, on it”. The other 1% it’s “sure thing”. Sam is always ready to put her hand up; whether it’s for an exciting new project or a day-to-day task. And if she doesn’t know how to do something you can be sure she will find a way to figure it out!

  • Sam says not only is Sauce a unique team, but we serve unique clients. She loves a good challenge and is constantly looking for something new to learn, so working at Sauce gives her the variety in clients she loves and team she can depend on. In short, we tick all her boxes!

  • Did we mention Sam loves learning? In her first two weeks, she not only attended, but worked her first corporate Sauce event. Sam says having only ever been involved in public or internal events, this opened a new door and a new opportunity to expand her skills.

Meet Renee

Senior Account Manager

Rural grown with global brand experience, Renee comes with over a decade working in communications, managing integrated marketing campaigns, end-to-end PR strategy and events for clients of all sizes.

Having worked for agencies like Red Havas and Two Birds Talking, Renee has managed clients from Toyota and Revlon, to Myer and Barbie. She applies her years of experience and specialist knowledge, harnessing the power of communication to drive business growth and deliver exceptional customer experience. Renee also recently jumped the fence from brand management to people managing the careers/reputations for some of Australia’s most iconic media personalities and influencers.

Thriving in high-performance environments ensuring all projects are delivered with ‘military precision’ means Renee continuously meets and exceeds client expectations again and again. Her dedication and commitment to clients is why we are so delighted to have her on the Sauce team!

Meet Alera

Senior Graphic Designer

If you want your brand or website to stand out with visual storytelling, let us introduce you to Alera Shipard. Alera brings her combined experience in design and creative concept development to create impactful designs that speak to your audience.  Her 15 years of experience and skills across a range of industries are grounded in crafting immersive designs and brands. And what truly drives her is understanding people’s visions and their target audiences to visualise unique creative solutions that have substance, every single time.

Her passion for delivering outcomes for clients that solve problems, tell stories and create connection and meaning, is what we’re all about at Sauce!

  • A true master of her craft, Alera shines equally when collaborating with the team or a client or when she’s singularly focused on a project. Either way everyone wins with exceptional outcomes.

  • Alera’s favorite aspect of Sauce is collaborating with an incredibly talented and passionate team of top-tier women who are exceptionally supportive.

  • Alera collaborated with an exceptional team on a comprehensive website redevelopment and build, resulting in an outstanding final product. The collective expertise and dedication of the team ensured that every aspect of the project was executed with precision and creativity. Our combined efforts led to innovative solutions and a seamless integration of design and functionality. The outcome is a highly effective and visually stunning website that exceeds expectations.

Meet Tess

Senior Account Executive

Tess holds a Bachelor of Agriculture with a major in Economics from the University of Melbourne. Growing up on a farm in North East Victoria, Tess has developed a profound appreciation for the agricultural industry and rural Australia, which fuels her enthusiasm for working in this unique space.

With a background that blends practical farm experience with academic expertise, Tess' experience includes project management, commercial procurement within the agricultural sector, and managing supplier and client relationships. Her skill set is marked by a dynamic approach to teamwork, a collaborative mindset, and exceptional diligence in every project she tackles.

Tess is known for her natural communication skills, attention to detail, and a creative, strategic approach to problem-solving. Her core values of authenticity, integrity, and focus guide her work, ensuring that she delivers thoughtful and effective solutions in her role.

Meet Tracy

Executive Assistant

Tracy brings almost three decades of experience in office and administration management roles ranging from Real Estate and Law Firms to Multidisciplinary Allied Health Practices.   

She is a proactive self-learner with flexibility, excellent communication and organisational skills and is a self-confessed administration nerd.  She particularly loves creating efficiency for the team and making sure that everyone feels supported.

Tracy was born and bred on a large cattle and sheep station on the Monaro where they also bred and campaigned Australia Stock Horses.  She treasures her rural upbringing and loves working with an agency that avidly supports regional and rural Australia.

  • There is no question Tracy knows her stuff inside and out, but what we love most is her genuine passion for ensuring our team and clients are cared for – whether that’s checking in on everyone in a busy agency environment, to getting the bills (and pays!) efficiently processed or being the friendly voice on the end of the phone or email.

  • Tracy loves being part of the team. She says being surrounded by incredibly talented and passionate women who work hard for their clients and support each other unequivocally is energising.

  • Tracy’s had lots of wins on the admin front but her favourite has been streamlining administration processes to create efficiencies for the team and ease the load.