The Step Team

Name: Matt Vagulans

Qualifications: Bachelor of Political Economics (University of Sydney)

Career: Initially worked in the political and social justice spheres for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission and Law Reform Commission. Politically engaged but creatively unchallenged, I swapped careers in my mid-20s to communication and marketing - developing, managing and implementing a wide range of communication and marketing strategies, events, resources and tools - for commercial and not-for-profit organisations. Managing Partner of Step Communication since 2003.

Career Highlight: Taking the plunge and starting Step Communication with Brooke and seeing it grow into a great business.

What Do I Bring to the Step Team? A Y-chromosome, left-field creativity, sharp writing and business acumen.

What Inspires Me: Songwriters, intellectuals and politicians who direct their creative and intellectual energies into works of good not evil.

Creative Outlet: Singing, performing and playing rugby.

Name: Brooke Summers

Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts – Communication (Charles Sturt University)

Career: 15 years communicating in the government and not-for-profit sectors, including managing local, state and national projects and teams at the NSW Cancer Council, Landcare Australia and Cotton Australia. Developed and implemented public awareness campaigns for breast cancer and skin cancer awareness, the first ever Daffodil Day, landcare and coastcare and also managed education programs and public affairs for the Australian cotton industry – before setting up Step Communication.

Career Highlight: Seeing one million trees planted along the Olympic torch path by thousands of volunteers standing side by side with Olympians.

What Do I Bring to the Step Team? Loads of creativity and energy, a big picture view and an eye for detail.

What Inspires Me: The perfect chaos, precision, harmony and colours of nature.

Creative Outlets: A blank canvas, sand beneath my toes and old blues artists playing on my record player.

Name: Helen Dawes

Qualifications: BA - Mass Communications (Macquarie University), Certificates in Public Relations and Marketing

Career: Spans 15 years including developing and delivering highly targeted communications and marketing strategies within small consultancies, not-for-profit organisations across the environment, tourism and property industries. Most recently I was Public Relations Manager for Landcare Australia.

Career Highlight: Working with and meeting some amazing people while working on issues I believe in.

What Do I Bring to the Step Team? Organisational and planning skills, keen eye for detail, enthusiasm, finding creative solutions.

What Inspires Me: People who have dedicated their life to making a big contribution in their little corner of the world.

Creative Outlet: Pulling out my green thumbs and getting stuck into the garden.

Name: Eliza Newton

Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts, Master of Strategic Public Relations (University of Sydney)

Career: After graduating from my Masters in 2005 I worked as the Community Relations Officer at The Women’s College within the University of Sydney.  My responsibilities included media and communications, alumnae relations, event management, fundraising and establishing an ongoing mentoring program.  I joined the team at Step Communication in April 2008. 

Career Highlight:Creating a mentoring program and seeing the tangible results as students established their careers.

What Do I Bring to the Step Team? Enthusiasm, dedication, organisational skills, and the tendency to be a bit of a perfectionist.

What Inspires Me: Brilliant, focussed people who take you with them on their journey.

Creative Outlets: Riding my horses, singing baroque chamber music and sustaining Sydney’s cappuccino industry!