Sarah Cruickshank, Joint Managing Director, Parker & Partners


An experienced political and policy consultant, Sarah Cruickshank has more than a dozen years' experience in developing and implementing complex strategic communications campaigns on behalf of government, business and the community.

Since joining Parker & Partners in 2002 she has led a number of the company's flagship client accounts including DFAT (2005 Aichi World Expo and APEC Australia 2007), WMC Resources and Unisys. Sarah and the Parker & Partners team specialise in 360 degree communications campaigns that incorporate public affairs, media and issues management, stakeholder and community engagement. Recent award winning P&P campaigns have included: CSL’s cervical cancer vaccine GARDASIL; Connector Motorways Group’s Lane Cove Tunnel; and Emirates Wolgan Valley Spa Resort, west of the Blue Mountains. Sarah’s particular expertise is in the public policy issues and challenges facing Australian industry, as well as the inextricable link between business operations and the increasing social and environmental considerations driven by community and government. Related recent client programs of Sarah’s include EDS, BlueScope Steel, Origin Energy, Microsoft, the Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia, Invest Brisbane, the Balmain Tigers redevelopment, and Cochlear. Effective advocacy, third party stakeholder relations and issues management have been core to each of these campaigns.

She is also expert at working as part of a broader company team providing essential corporate communications advice to support a desired commercial or organisational outcome. Her specific activity in this space includes: the takeover of WMC Resources by BHP Billiton; workplace relations issues affecting a leading Australian healthcare firm; development of a carbon policy position for a major energy provider; whole-of-government stakeholder management for various DFAT trade and policy programs; and public sector procurement bids for a range of ICT companies. Prior to joining Parker & Partners, Sarah spent three years as a senior manager at a leading industry association, promoting the interests of business to State and Federal Government. She also spent four years as a political adviser to Federal Government.