Profile
“My strongest professional quality is my ability to build trust and long-term relationships, whether with clients, colleagues, or stakeholders”
Danny Ibrahim,
KeyRate Mortgage
Sarah Bakker is a passionate educator, committed to shaping the future of writing instruction in Australia and internationally. As head of education at Seven Steps to Writing Success, she leads the creation of high-impact teaching resources and training that directly respond to the needs of educators.
A former classroom teacher with a background in educational publishing, Sarah brings deep insights into both the realities of the classroom and the craft of resource development. Every resource she creates reflects her commitment to excellence, best practice pedagogy and the award-winning Seven Steps approach.
Over the last nine years, Sarah's work at Seven Steps has had a transformative impact on classrooms across Australia. Her innovative, engaging, curriculum-aligned resources have helped thousands of students become more confident writers, while reducing teacher workload and boosting literacy outcomes. This has led to multiple industry awards for Seven Steps, including Primary Publisher of the Year and New Digital Course of the Year.
Sarah also offers hands-on support to teachers – giving practical advice, responding to real classroom challenges, and designing training and resources that inspire confidence and bring writing to life.
Her practical know-how and strategic vision make her a true changemaker in literacy education.
Unit 1/320 Bay Road, Cheltenham, Vic 3192
0406 766 490
sarah@sevenstepswriting.com
linkedin.com/in/sarah-bakker-949b3155
sevenstepswriting.com
Sarah Bakker
Head of Education
Seven Steps to Writing Success
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
Profile
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
“I’ve always believed that if you love what you do, you’ll never settle, and that attitude has guided every decision I’ve made”
Danny Ibrahim,
KeyRate Mortgage
2002–2010
2012–2014
2016
2022–2023
2024
2002–2010: Began her career with leading educational publishers in the UK and Australia, gaining invaluable experience in the sector and building a strong foundation in educational content development
2010: Retrained as a primary teacher, bringing her passion for education into the classroom at St Kilda Park Primary School, where she embraced the challenges and rewards of hands-on teaching
2002–2010
2012: Returned to educational publishing as publishing manager at Education Services Australia, where she contributed to shaping national learning resources
2014: Joined the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation as program editor, combining resource development with a focus on food education and wellbeing for children
2012–2014
Found her ideal role at Seven Steps to Writing Success, where she continues to bring together her expertise in publishing, education, and creativity to support teachers and improve student outcomes
2016
Seven Steps was awarded Primary Publisher of the Year two years running at the Educational Publishing Awards Australia
2022–2023
The Narrative Writing Course on Teacher Hub was awarded New Digital Course of the Year at the Digital Education Awards
2024
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
As a founding member of WOW! (Women. Opportunity. Winning.), an employee resource group created for all women of Ryan Specialty, Phillips Topping has long championed for women in the industry.
“It’s very important to set an example and to not only inspire but mentor other females,” she adds.
In addition to her sharp marketing eye, the key to Phillips Topping’s success lies in her high-energy approach and positive attitude.
“As the leader of a team, it’s important to motivate and encourage your team members. People work very hard and do their best and it’s important to recognize these efforts. For my career overall, my attitude has been one of curiosity. The more you can learn, the better you’ll understand the business, and then the deeper your knowledge will become, making you a better team member.”
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
A significant part of his focus today is staying ahead of regulatory change while maintaining a seamless client experience. He tracks updates from regulators and lenders closely and works with his teams to adjust systems as needed.
“My approach to my role and my career has always been rooted in passion, focus, and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” he says. “I’ve never been driven solely by profit or business metrics. I believe in hiring great talent, trusting them, and pushing boundaries because innovation doesn’t come from playing it safe.”
His experience isn’t limited to Canada. Ibrahim has worked in the US and UAE, which shaped his global perspective and comfort with adapting to different markets. He thrives on risk, viewing setbacks as stepping stones to progress.
“I’ve always believed that if you love what you do, you’ll never settle, and that attitude has guided every decision I’ve made,” he adds.
That outlook continues to guide his work and reflects his broader goal of helping move the industry forward. Through his brokerage, lending company, and legal services, Ibrahim is focused on creating long-term value for his clients, his teams, and others working in the field.