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 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. 

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.

Captain Dale A. Dye, BA - USMC (Ret.)
CEO Sabre Corporate Development USA
Dale heads up Sabre USA and is also the founder and CEO of one of the most innovative businesses in the United States, Warriors Inc, who serve as the premier military technical and leadership advisors to the television and motion picture industry in Hollywood. Warriors Inc has consulted on major television shows, documentaries and series such as HBO’s, “Band of Brothers”, and on major motion pictures such as Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, and Oliver Stone’s Alexander. A highly decorated Marine, who rose through the ranks to become a Commissioned Officer, he has served on assignments around the world and is an accomplished actor, author, director and businessman. His mission is to create the best corporate leaders and top teams across corporate America, and he and “Warriors” have now partnered with Sabre Corporate Development to make that mission a reality.

Max Carpenter
Managing Director New Zealand
Max served as a Major in the New Zealand Army before undertaking successful ventures in the corporate world including the application his considerable experience with team, leadership and management development to business teams. Max has worked with a wide range of major corporate clients across NZ and his skills enable him and his team to work with groups from a sales force right through to senior management level. He has developed a beautiful 12 acre property North of Auckland for special team retreats as well as being able to deliver country wide for NZ clients. Max is also the founder and a tireless advocate for the “Puriri Tree Foundation”. The Foundation is a charity that provides extensive personal development and career path opportunities for underprivileged children and teens. His ongoing work and that of his Foundation makes a huge difference for many worthy kids.

Mark Shuster, BA
Director of Logistics North America / Event Director – Sabre USA
Mark brings a wealth of leadership and team building experience into his role as both the Director of Logistics for North America and as an Event Director. He is a Major in the United States Marine Corps Reserve (Battalion Commander of the Mobilization Training Battalion, at the School of Infantry West). He has extensive overseas military deployments along with successful sales and marketing experience in the corporate world. He also serves as a technical advisor in the television and motion picture industry in Hollywood with Warriors Inc. He has a unique ability to apply the skills and experiences gained from his military and commercial experiences to Sabre’s approaches and how they are tailored to suit the needs of each client.

Julia Dye, Ph.D
Director of Operations North America / Event Director – Sabre USA
Julia leads Sabre USA’s Administration, Planning, Training and Operations functions and is also an adept facilitator, motivator and instructor. Her Ph.D is in Hoplology, a unique field that applies anthropology, sociology, economics and the study of human behavior and motivations throughout history and how they relate to human success. Julia is also an accomplished actress who has been instrumental in the ongoing success and deployment of Warriors Inc in their role as the premier military technical and leadership advisors to the television and motion picture industry in Hollywood. She has extensive experience successfully building and leading teams on major film productions. 

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.

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. 

Graeme Phillips
Associate Team and Leadership Development Facilitator
Graeme has had over 20 years service as an officer in the Australian Army. He retired recently as a Lieutenant Colonel in charge of operations for the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in East Timor. He has also had operational experience in Cambodia and New York with the United Nations, and served with the British Army in the UK and Germany. His career has predominantly been in command or instructional positions and as the Senior Leadership Instructor at the Royal Military College of Australia. He has a passion for developing people, teams and leadership capability with years of practical experience behind him.

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