Sarah Owens

Current job
Senior Communications and Media Advisor, Queensland Urban Utilities.

Degree
Bachelor of Journalism/Bachelor of Business (Public Relations) Graduated – end of 2009.

First job
Reporter, WIN News Wide Bay.

The story so far

Work experience and a lot of it was key to landing my first full-time journalism gig straight after graduating. Throughout Uni I’d worked as an AP with 7 News, a producer in the Today Tonight newsroom and a researcher/journalist for Fox Sports News.

When the opportunity came to move to Bundaberg to join the WIN News Wide Bay team, I jumped at it. I spent the next two and half years with WIN News, in also the Rockhampton and Sunshine Coast newsrooms. I covered everything from crime, court, council and sport but the highlight was the 2010-11 floods which made international headlines.

In May 2012 I made the move to London – eager to take on a new challenge and chapter. I landed a position with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis in the UK, and soon began my move to the “dark side”. I worked across a number of projects and campaigns – it was an exciting time at British Tennis with Andy Murray winning his first (and second!) Wimbledon and Great Britain winning the Davis Cup in 2015.

Five UK winters later and it was time to come home and get a much needed vitamin D boost. There was no better calling card then a role in the Media, Public Relations and Communications team of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. I worked specifically on the Queen’s Baton Relay which took me on a 100 day journey around Australia, travelling 40,000 kms, visiting 185+ towns and telling the story of the 3,800 Aussie legends who carried the Queen’s Baton! Once it was safely delivered to the Opening Ceremony, I moved into the role of News Desk Manager, based out of the official Main Media Centre, for the 10 days of GC2018.

I’m now back living in Brisbane for the first time since graduating from QUT and am working for Queensland Urban Utilities (QUU), the fourth largest utility in Australia. As a Senior Communications and Media Advisor I’m responsible for managing various issues and media enquiries, as well as generating positive news stories and promoting the great work of QUU. I also act as a company spokesperson and play a key role in the emergency management team.