Meet the team
We’re a special forces team of strategists, communicators, designers, project managers and marketers.
Leann Webb, Bid Catalyst
Location: Brisbane
Leann is the founder of Aurora Marketing. For over 20 years, Leann has demonstrated an unrivalled expertise in major and mega project bids, making her the undisputed pioneer of the bid management industry. She is creative, articulate and hard-working, with boundless energy and a formidable tenacity. An exceptional marketer, Leann knows how to think competitively and create differentiation to put her clients ahead of their rivals. Her success is underpinned by the comprehensive tender system of tools, processes and precedents she has developed to give every tender the best chance at winning. While Leann inspires people with her divergent thinking, she is also pragmatic and sensible.
Kylie Brown, Bid Whip & Performance Coach
Location: Perth
Kylie is a quietly capable bid management powerhouse. She is patient, calm and infinitely diplomatic – very handy skills to have on high-stress, tight-deadline bids. Her particular skill is in multi-layered team communication, training and coaching to help the bid team come together to accomplish the near-impossible. With years of experience including several mega bids under her belt, Kylie now uses her skills to coach our bid team in best-practice bid management, ensuring Aurora Marketing’s unique brand of excellence is always on point.
Leann Webb, Bid Catalyst
Location: Brisbane
Leann is the founder of Aurora Marketing. For over 20 years, Leann has demonstrated an unrivalled expertise in major and mega project bids, making her the undisputed pioneer of the bid management industry. She is creative, articulate and hard-working, with boundless energy and a formidable tenacity. An exceptional marketer, Leann knows how to think competitively and create differentiation to put her clients ahead of their rivals. Her success is underpinned by the comprehensive tender system of tools, processes and precedents she has developed to give every tender the best chance at winning. While Leann inspires people with her divergent thinking, she is also pragmatic and sensible.
Kylie Brown, Bid Whip & Performance Coach
Location: Perth
Kylie is a quietly capable bid management powerhouse. She is patient, calm and infinitely diplomatic – very handy skills to have on high-stress, tight-deadline bids. Her particular skill is in multi-layered team communication, training and coaching to help the bid team come together to accomplish the near-impossible. With years of experience including several mega bids under her belt, Kylie now uses her skills to coach our bid team in best-practice bid management, ensuring Aurora Marketing’s unique brand of excellence is always on point.
Helen Pace, Bid Whip
Location: Brisbane
Helen’s experience spans project management, marketing, communications, workshop facilitation, professional editing and writing – the core capabilities needed on any project. She has considerable strategic nous and creativity that she uses to drive strategy development and content analysis, unearthing the essential spark that will ignite a client’s pitch. With a background in publishing and communications, Helen can just as easily transform complex information into accessible plain language as she can create a compelling, next-level narrative for her clients’ submissions.
Helen Pace, Bid Whip
Location: Brisbane
Helen’s experience spans project management, marketing, communications, workshop facilitation, professional editing and writing – the core capabilities needed on any project. She has considerable strategic nous and creativity that she uses to drive strategy development and content analysis, unearthing the essential spark that will ignite a client’s pitch. With a background in publishing and communications, Helen can just as easily transform complex information into accessible plain language as she can create a compelling, next-level narrative for her clients’ submissions.
Megan O’Neill, Bid Whip
Location: Canberra
Megan has prepared everything from fully-fledged mega deals and complex ASDEFCON submissions to simple single-page submissions in her 10 years in the tendering space. She has particular expertise in Defence, with more than 200 Defence bids under her belt, as well as a formidable portfolio of work across construction, manufacturing, health, transport, professional services, security, maintenance and hospitality. She also has deep knowledge of Commonwealth Procurement requirements and can help client win new business in the competitive Australian Government space.
Raphaelle Race, Bid Whip
Location: Melbourne
Raph’s experience covers the full spectrum of major corporate and government tenders. As an accomplished bid manager, she knows how to mobilise a team, clarify expectations and responsibilities, and set achievable yet ambitious milestones for the bid process. Raph is also an outstanding workshop facilitator, bringing keen strategic insight and relentless focus to the table. She is an excellent writer, with an eye for detail and a practiced command of document structure, formatting and graphics, making her the complete package.
Dan Richmond, Bid Whip
Location: Sydney
Dan has been an effective team leader for twenty years, managing highly specialised projects and personnel in both defence and law enforcement. This combination of experience makes him a valuable asset as it gives him a unique insight into defence and security projects, not to mention an ability to manage large teams, complex stakeholder relationships, competing priorities, challenging deadlines and tough environments. He is experienced in ASDEFCON tenders and has a current NV1 security clearance.
Alex King, Bid Whip
Location: Adelaide
Throughout his career in advertising, Alex developed expertise in developing clear and effective value propositions, sales strategies, and communications programs. He draws on this experience to guide a team through the process of collaborative and innovative thinking to build a winning strategy, with cohesive messaging and initiatives that will truly differentiate an offer. Alex knows how to ‘pitch’. He offers big-picture strategic and persuasive communications skills, whether for a tender submission or coaching your team for that all-important client presentation.
Nicole Galvin, Bid Specialist
Location: Melbourne
With a background in sales, business development and account management, Niki’s ability to build connections with her clients is vital to her success. It allows her to align the bid team to the client’s needs and find the competitive edge to pitch a winning bid. As a consummate collaborator, Niki loves to unify the team around common goals, working with stakeholders to develop compelling and persuasive responses. Though she has led countless successful bids, Niki maintains a genuine passion to innovate and challenge her team to identify areas of improvement.
Finbar Mills, Bid Specialist
Location: Adelaide
Qualified in Marketing, Public Relations and Business, Finbar’s considerable experience covers defence, construction, engineering, aviation and professional services. Renowned for his attention to detail and project management skills, Finbar is evangelical in his promotion of planning, organisation and communication within teams. A razor-sharp writer, he knows how to analyse a tender request, find the areas of maximum opportunity, work with contributors to develop a high value proposition, and write a cut-through response to sell the client’s solution.
Amy Reinhardt, Bid Specialist
Location: Brisbane
Having a 20-year career in law and expertise in property and commercial matters, Amy brings a unique perspective to bidding. As a skilled researcher and writer, she gathers, analyses and synthesises reams of complex information to build a cohesive and convincing submission. Her practised skills in client liaison and negotiation ensure she remains calm and focused under pressure, expertly engaging with the team to prosecute urgent and immovable deadlines. As an enthusiastic collaborator and contributor, she brings maturity, energy and creativity to every engagement.
Natasha Kentwell, Bid Writer
Location: Melbourne
Natasha’s wide-ranging background has uniquely equipped her for the inherent variety, complexity and challenge of bid writing. With qualifications in professional writing, she has an easy familiarity with highly technical content. She engages comfortably with subject matter experts, shaping their solutions to maximise value and bringing clarity to their competitive edge. Natasha’s attention to detail, initially honed as a legal, patent and trademark secretary, served her well while working with the highest levels of state government. This expertise makes her a formidable asset on any team.
Jacqui Sokol, Bid Writer
Location: Sydney
Jacqui intimately understands the business of being in business. She can recognise the strengths of a business and weave them into a bid response, and she can develop strategies to minimise weaknesses. Jacqui has the enviable knack of gaining the support of others and enthusing them with her vision. With roles ranging from Logistics Manager for the RAAF to Operations Manager for Airbus, she knows how to work under pressure and to galvanise teams to advance to the finish line. Jacqui is also a skilled writer and a qualified editor, an unbeatable combination for any tender.
Megan O’Neill, Bid Whip
Location: Canberra
Megan has prepared everything from fully-fledged mega deals and complex ASDEFCON submissions to simple single-page submissions in her 10 years in the tendering space. She has particular expertise in Defence, with more than 200 Defence bids under her belt, as well as a formidable portfolio of work across construction, manufacturing, health, transport, professional services, security, maintenance and hospitality. She also has deep knowledge of Commonwealth Procurement requirements and can help client win new business in the competitive Australian Government space.
Raphaelle Race, Bid Whip
Location: Melbourne
Raph’s experience covers the full spectrum of major corporate and government tenders. As an accomplished bid manager, she knows how to mobilise a team, clarify expectations and responsibilities, and set achievable yet ambitious milestones for the bid process. Raph is also an outstanding workshop facilitator, bringing keen strategic insight and relentless focus to the table. She is an excellent writer, with an eye for detail and a practiced command of document structure, formatting and graphics, making her the complete package.
Dan Richmond, Bid Whip
Location: Sydney
Dan has been an effective team leader for twenty years, managing highly specialised projects and personnel in both defence and law enforcement. This combination of experience makes him a valuable asset as it gives him a unique insight into defence and security projects, not to mention an ability to manage large teams, complex stakeholder relationships, competing priorities, challenging deadlines and tough environments. He is experienced in ASDEFCON tenders and has a current NV1 security clearance.
Alex King, Bid Whip
Location: Adelaide
Throughout his career in advertising, Alex developed expertise in developing clear and effective value propositions, sales strategies, and communications programs. He draws on this experience to guide a team through the process of collaborative and innovative thinking to build a winning strategy, with cohesive messaging and initiatives that will truly differentiate an offer. Alex knows how to ‘pitch’. He offers big-picture strategic and persuasive communications skills, whether for a tender submission or coaching your team for that all-important client presentation.
Nicole Galvin, Bid Specialist
Location: Melbourne
With a background in sales, business development and account management, Niki’s ability to build connections with her clients is vital to her success. It allows her to align the bid team to the client’s needs and find the competitive edge to pitch a winning bid. As a consummate collaborator, Niki loves to unify the team around common goals, working with stakeholders to develop compelling and persuasive responses. Though she has led countless successful bids, Niki maintains a genuine passion to innovate and challenge her team to identify areas of improvement.
Finbar Mills, Bid Specialist
Location: Adelaide
Qualified in Marketing, Public Relations and Business, Finbar’s considerable experience covers defence, construction, engineering, aviation and professional services. Renowned for his attention to detail and project management skills, Finbar is evangelical in his promotion of planning, organisation and communication within teams. A razor-sharp writer, he knows how to analyse a tender request, find the areas of maximum opportunity, work with contributors to develop a high value proposition, and write a cut-through response to sell the client’s solution.
Amy Reinhardt, Bid Specialist
Location: Brisbane
Having a 20-year career in law and expertise in property and commercial matters, Amy brings a unique perspective to bidding. As a skilled researcher and writer, she gathers, analyses and synthesises reams of complex information to build a cohesive and convincing submission. Her practised skills in client liaison and negotiation ensure she remains calm and focused under pressure, expertly engaging with the team to prosecute urgent and immovable deadlines. As an enthusiastic collaborator and contributor, she brings maturity, energy and creativity to every engagement.
Natasha Kentwell, Bid Writer
Location: Melbourne
Natasha’s wide-ranging background has uniquely equipped her for the inherent variety, complexity and challenge of bid writing. With qualifications in professional writing, she has an easy familiarity with highly technical content. She engages comfortably with subject matter experts, shaping their solutions to maximise value and bringing clarity to their competitive edge. Natasha’s attention to detail, initially honed as a legal, patent and trademark secretary, served her well while working with the highest levels of state government. This expertise makes her a formidable asset on any team.
Jacqui Sokol, Bid Writer
Location: Sydney
Jacqui intimately understands the business of being in business. She can recognise the strengths of a business and weave them into a bid response, and she can develop strategies to minimise weaknesses. Jacqui has the enviable knack of gaining the support of others and enthusing them with her vision. With roles ranging from Logistics Manager for the RAAF to Operations Manager for Airbus, she knows how to work under pressure and to galvanise teams to advance to the finish line. Jacqui is also a skilled writer and a qualified editor, an unbeatable combination for any tender.
Steve Salmon, Bid Writer
Location: Sydney
With a background in news production, Steve is well versed in the unrelenting pace, intense attention to detail, and absolute commitment to create a compelling narrative that is the core of a tender submission. He has a particular passion for presenting highly technical information in an attractive and engaging way, offering unique solutions to the presentation of often complex bids. With his commitment to quality, Steve consistently looks for ways to take the material to the next level, and has a calm and quiet determination to deliver a winning bid right to the very end.
Anthony McCarthy, Bid Writer
Location: Melbourne
Anthony has extensive experience in government tenders in Australia and the UK. His keen appreciation for the literary arts makes him a true storyteller. And, like every good storyteller, he invests in understanding the backstory, meticulously researching all of his clients prior to putting pen to paper. Even with highly complex and detailed technical responses, Anthony structures them logically, weaving through the ‘why?’ and the ‘so what?’ that evaluators are looking for. His approach delivers persuasive submissions that set the client apart from the competition.
Steve Salmon, Bid Writer
Location: Sydney
With a background in news production, Steve is well versed in the unrelenting pace, intense attention to detail, and absolute commitment to create a compelling narrative that is the core of a tender submission. He has a particular passion for presenting highly technical information in an attractive and engaging way, offering unique solutions to the presentation of often complex bids. With his commitment to quality, Steve consistently looks for ways to take the material to the next level, and has a calm and quiet determination to deliver a winning bid right to the very end.
Anthony McCarthy, Bid Writer
Location: Melbourne
Anthony has extensive experience in government tenders in Australia and the UK. His keen appreciation for the literary arts makes him a true storyteller. And, like every good storyteller, he invests in understanding the backstory, meticulously researching all of his clients prior to putting pen to paper. Even with highly complex and detailed technical responses, Anthony structures them logically, weaving through the ‘why?’ and the ‘so what?’ that evaluators are looking for. His approach delivers persuasive submissions that set the client apart from the competition.
Mary Powell, Bid Writer
Location: Canberra
Mary is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She recognises companies’ needs and deeply understands the risks and opportunities associated with the work our clients do. Based in Canberra, the hub of government activity, Mary has assumed countless senior roles in both the public and private sectors. Her knowledge of how government works is an asset to our clients whose work is predominantly government based. Mary is also a powerhouse writer, editor and coordinator, with a mission to deliver something fresh and powerful to every client, every project.
Chen Lim, Bid Writer
Location: Brisbane
Chen has extensive experience working with technical experts, particularly in scientific sectors, and presents well-developed technical writing and expertise in grant applications, operations manuals and MOUs. He liaises effectively with subject matter experts, drawing out relevant information and transforming often dry content and complicated technical jargon into a compelling narrative. Chen is an enabler who demonstrates decisive leadership during reviews and team discussions, ensuring all members of the team have input into the conversation to produce a quality outcome.
Mary Powell, Bid Writer
Location: Canberra
Mary is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She recognises companies’ needs and deeply understands the risks and opportunities associated with the work our clients do. Based in Canberra, the hub of government activity, Mary has assumed countless senior roles in both the public and private sectors. Her knowledge of how government works is an asset to our clients whose work is predominantly government based. Mary is also a powerhouse writer, editor and coordinator, with a mission to deliver something fresh and powerful to every client, every project.
Chen Lim, Bid Writer
Location: Brisbane
Chen has extensive experience working with technical experts, particularly in scientific sectors, and presents well-developed technical writing and expertise in grant applications, operations manuals and MOUs. He liaises effectively with subject matter experts, drawing out relevant information and transforming often dry content and complicated technical jargon into a compelling narrative. Chen is an enabler who demonstrates decisive leadership during reviews and team discussions, ensuring all members of the team have input into the conversation to produce a quality outcome.
Eva Puado, Bid Writer
Location: Perth
With a career spanning multiple industries, Eva can turn her hand to writing just about anything. Her journey to bids and tenders followed the well-traversed and proven path of marketing. She has experience creating all sorts of complex documentation, including business cases, sales collateral, capability statements and grant proposals. She is a keen researcher with a talent for synthesising information and delivering her writing with a creative edge. On top of all that, Eva has strong formatting and document styling skills that can transform a document from ho-hum to oh-wow.
Courteney Longmore, Production Coordinator
Location: Brisbane
Having Courteney on your team will guarantee your tender reaches submission point looking its absolute best, from the formatting and editing to the desktop publishing. Her unwavering support also allows the tender team to move ahead at maximum speed. She achieves this with unflappable calm and endless good humour, working to ensure that every detail is as it should be and reflecting the care and attention that have gone into its creation. Courteney is a problem-solver and ultimate team player, who gives 100% to every project.
Eva Puado, Bid Writer
Location: Perth
With a career spanning multiple industries, Eva can turn her hand to writing just about anything. Her journey to bids and tenders followed the well-traversed and proven path of marketing. She has experience creating all sorts of complex documentation, including business cases, sales collateral, capability statements and grant proposals. She is a keen researcher with a talent for synthesising information and delivering her writing with a creative edge. On top of all that, Eva has strong formatting and document styling skills that can transform a document from ho-hum to oh-wow.
Courteney Longmore, Production Coordinator
Location: Brisbane
Having Courteney on your team will guarantee your tender reaches submission point looking its absolute best, from the formatting and editing to the desktop publishing. Her unwavering support also allows the tender team to move ahead at maximum speed. She achieves this with unflappable calm and endless good humour, working to ensure that every detail is as it should be and reflecting the care and attention that have gone into its creation. Courteney is a problem-solver and ultimate team player, who gives 100% to every project.
Annika McTaggart, Production Coordinator
Location: Brisbane
Annika delivers highly structured and formatted documents that will readily engage readers and allow evaluators to quickly find the information they’re looking for. With equal diligence she can whip up templates for tender response schedules, CVs, reports and attachments. As well as being a level-headed support to the bid team, she is meticulously organised and never far away from a well-thumbed checklist. Annika gets great satisfaction from taking masses of content and transforming it into orderly and accessible documentation that delivers beyond standard practice.
Annika McTaggart, Production Coordinator
Location: Brisbane
Annika delivers highly structured and formatted documents that will readily engage readers and allow evaluators to quickly find the information they’re looking for. With equal diligence she can whip up templates for tender response schedules, CVs, reports and attachments. As well as being a level-headed support to the bid team, she is meticulously organised and never far away from a well-thumbed checklist. Annika gets great satisfaction from taking masses of content and transforming it into orderly and accessible documentation that delivers beyond standard practice.
Ashleigh Rees, Production Coordinator
Location: Brisbane
Ashleigh performs a number of roles at Aurora Marketing, and all with a smile and good cheer. She is building her experience in production coordination and formatting, helping our clients put their best foot forward with an easy to read, engaging and attractive submission. These production skills make up one of Aurora Marketing’s 5 essential skill sets required to drive a project’s success.
Echo Webb, Chief Petting Officer
Location: Brisbane
Named after a character in the TV series The 100, Echo’s main office responsibility is ensuring the Head Office team enjoys their time at work and gets their daily dose of dog therapy. Echo has developed many skills throughout her time at Aurora Marketing, the most prominent being the ability to seek out whoever is having lunch at any given time. When she’s not in the office, you’ll find her taking long walks, chasing birds and chewing on sticks (any sticks will do).
Ashleigh Rees, Production Coordinator
Location: Brisbane
Ashleigh performs a number of roles at Aurora Marketing, and all with a smile and good cheer. She is building her experience in production coordination and formatting, helping our clients put their best foot forward with an easy to read, engaging and attractive submission. These production skills make up one of Aurora Marketing’s 5 essential skill sets required to drive a project’s success.
Echo Webb, Chief Petting Officer
Location: Brisbane
Named after a character in the TV series The 100, Echo’s main office responsibility is ensuring the Head Office team enjoys their time at work and gets their daily dose of dog therapy. Echo has developed many skills throughout her time at Aurora Marketing, the most prominent being the ability to seek out whoever is having lunch at any given time. When she’s not in the office, you’ll find her taking long walks, chasing birds and chewing on sticks (any sticks will do).
And that’s not even everyone!
We’re still crafting profiles for those team members who have joined us most recently…
Get in touch
We're in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra.