There has been an unparalleled acceleration of procurement transformation across the public sector, from adopting new technologies that elevate the roles of procurement professionals to creating jobs that drive substantial business value. 

But while improvements have been made in terms of government procurement, challenges such as inflation, shorter lead time and the need for socially-responsible procurement have kept procurement teams from effectively carrying out their tasks. 

At Akolade’s 5th Annual Future of Gov Procurement Summit, procurement professionals across the three tiers of government were brought together to learn how they can overcome procurement challenges as they seek better marketplace engagement, strategic sourcing of goods and services, and security of supply.  

“The 5th Annual Future of Gov Procurement Summit was an eye-opening event for me and pulled me further into my interest in procurement after hearing from so many leading professionals and their experiences and impacts in the field,” Queensland Corrective Services Scott McCaul, who attended the event, said. 

The summit held on 14 – 16 September 2022, covered ways in which procurement professionals can undertake contracting and procurement activities that are outside of the “normal” commonwealth procurement structures.  

“There are a number of similar issues in government,” Sydney Water Team Manager Procurement, Supply Chain and Property Sri Gopalan said. 

“And by listening to others in the field, there are some great ideas we could implement.” 

Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) General Manager Sharon Morris said that professionals should adopt new capabilities and competencies to their professional skill set in order to drive change. 

“Technology is the key enabler – but digital evolution is placing greater demands on us, and requiring different skillsets for our professionals,” she said in her Linkedin post.  

“So, we need people to build trust, drive collaboration and innovation, be critical problem solvers – with creative thinking.” 

Trust, collaboration and innovation were the key themes of the speakers’ talks throughout the event, as they acknowledge that government procurement needs to move away from process-driven activities and develop ways to be more agile and responsive. 

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With many new challenges cropping up across the government, Local Govt Procurement P/L Chief Procurement Officer Phill Scott stated that procurement officers should find ways to simplify the processes for tenderers and contractors. 

The event highlighted the importance of engaging in relationships with suppliers for future innovations and support, and that collaborating, co-designing, getting people involved and having clear goals are necessary to overcome current issues that plague government agencies and their suppliers. 

Other speakers also presented topics about ESG compliance, procurement agility, professionalization pathways for procurement professionals and the value of automation. There were also discussions on collaborative contracting, transparency, reducing supplier lead times and tackling skill shortages. 

In the current global environment, having an adaptive and resilient procurement is needed more than ever. While there is still a long way to go, procurement professionals are sure that they have the right tools and knowledge to effectively tackle the challenges they face. 

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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