About Office81
Office81 was founded by Sarah Cassells to support leaders and organisations navigating growth, complexity and change — with people firmly at the centre.
Grounded in psychology, sociocultural anthropology and organisational practice, Office81 works with organisations who understand that leadership, systems and governance shape how work is experienced every day. The focus is not just on efficiency, but on creating structures, processes and ways of working that allow people — and organisations — to function well.
Rather than relying on surface-level interventions or generic frameworks, the work is bespoke and context-driven. Office81 partners closely with leaders to understand their environment, their responsibilities and their people, and then designs practical solutions that support clarity, capability and sustainable growth.
At its core, this work is about listening: to leaders, to teams and to the systems they operate within. By giving voice to people’s experience and aligning it with thoughtful structure and governance, Office81 supports change that is meaningful, defensible and long-lasting.
Ready to learn more?
Meet Sarah ~
Founder, leadership mentor, systems specialist, and embracer of change.
(Also dachshund parent).
I’m city-minded with a country heart
I’ve spent my time in the city and brought that experience back home to regional South Australia. Living and working in the Flinders Ranges has shaped the way I approach leadership, systems and governance — with a strong appreciation for context, relationships and practicality.
Working remotely long before it became commonplace has required clarity, discipline and strong communication. Over time, these skills have become central to how I support leaders and organisations across Australia, regardless of their (or my) location.
Being based regionally doesn’t mean working at a distance from complexity. It means bringing a grounded, thoughtful perspective to leadership challenges, while staying deeply connected to the people and systems that make organisations work.
Look beyond the city and you’ll be surprised by the depth of leadership and systems expertise you’ll find. A human-centric consultant brings clarity to complexity, combining sound judgement, practical structure and strong communication to steady fast-moving environments.
When the work is well designed, location fades into the background. What remains is trust, capability and a working relationship that simply works.
Pro tip
I know what makes people tick
Embracing and recognising the need for people to play a role in the development and sustenance of a workplace are the bricks that build a positive and healthy workplace culture. Years of studying social anthropology and psychology have given me an understanding and appreciation of how people (and workplaces) tick – even if we’re working remotely. Ancient civilisations like the Romans communicated complex messages across vast distances using tools like pigeons and smoke signals. You’ll either find me working alongside you in your workplace or using apps like Zoom and remote office technology to connect, converse and create lasting change within your business.
Pro tip
Working with someone who understands community, culture and human behaviour helps you challenge the status quo with clarity and respect — and see the untapped potential within your organisation.
I’m well-read
When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me buried in a novel, journalling, or spending time with my dachshunds, Bram and Duke. I have a deep love of words and a strong appreciation for the role clear, thoughtful communication plays in effective leadership and good work.
Whether I’m working one-on-one with leaders, supporting teams to reflect on how they experience their roles, or preparing gap analyses and strategic documentation, you can rely on me to communicate with clarity, care and professional judgement, using the right language, tone and structure for the context.
And yes, if you ever need a well-timed book recommendation, I’m more than happy to help with that too.
Pro tip
Choose a consultant who is curious about the world and the people within it. Fresh perspective, strong judgement and adaptability allow ideas to be understood quickly and communicated clearly, with confidence and care.
I sleep best under the stars
There’s something magical about stepping outside the hustle and bustle of city life and immersing yourself in nature. The call of long sunny days, blue skies and wide open spaces often sees me packing up the dachies for time in the great outdoors.
Working remotely is the perfect balance for my city smarts and country cool. I get the best of rural life. That balance informs how I approach leadership, systems and governance work: with calm, clarity and respect for sustainable ways of working.
It’s a way of working that values perspective, thoughtfulness and the long view — for leaders, organisations and the people within them.
Pro Tip
Perspective matters. Experience in busy environments, balanced by the calm of country life, creates a steadier approach to leadership and systems work.
When that balance is present, remote collaboration feels seamless — and often refreshing.
Benefit from working with a consultant who thinks deeply and keeps learning
Effective leadership, systems and governance work requires more than experience alone — it requires curiosity, rigour and the ability to integrate learning into practice.
My work is grounded in formal study across law, psychology and anthropology, combined with ongoing professional development in governance, systems design and professional communication. This multidisciplinary foundation allows me to support leaders and organisations with insight that is both structured and human-centred.
There’s also the 20+ years of experience ‘in the trenches’ of office management, secretariat, executive support, business administration and change management, which can’t be framed on the wall, but the value it brings is priceless.
Qualifications and professional grounding include:
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
Bachelor of Arts (Anthropology & Politics)
Certificate IV in Financial Services (Conveyancing)
Training in professional and governance-focused writing
Learning, for me, is not an add-on. It’s how I ensure the advice, systems and guidance I provide remain thoughtful, current and fit for purpose.
I’m Find a VA certified, a member of SA Woman, BNI and SheMentors.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and the pyramids weren’t constructed by a party of one. It takes a team to see things through from start to finish. We work alongside these incredible humans to make it happen.
Trusted by
Grow your business well.
Human-centric leadership and systems for sustainable growth.
