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Wednesday December 6 2023
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As we bid farewell to another remarkable year, it's time to reflect on the milestones and challenges that have shaped our journey. The following ‘year at a glance’ is a celebration of APCC’s achievements, a testament to the resilience and dedication of the Directorate staff, and a roadmap of the progress the 41 member-agency strong have achieved. From releasing 9 pioneering publications to building the APCC as a peak public sector reference body, the Directorate team and more than 1200 procurement practitioners have navigated the past twelve months with a spirit of collaboration and a commitment to excellence. We've faced procurement challenges head-on, adapting with agility and learning valuable lessons along the way. Please join me as I look back at the highlights of the year, acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the team and members, and setting our sights on an even bigger future.
We extend our warmest wishes for a joyful and safe holiday season to our esteemed members, partners, and guests. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with everyone in the New Year.
Teresa Scott Executive Director
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Year at a glanceAcross 217 agencies, 1226 officials collaborated and networked through 146 meetings and 5 webinars
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APCC’s social media had a bumper year with a 19% increase in LinkedIn subscribers, and a 169% increase in hits on the APCC Website. This growth signifies the expanding reach and influence of the APCC across a wide community of public sector procurement officials. In 2023 the APCC, for the first time in its history, released 9 Publications and White Papers: Risk Allocation of Subsurface Conditions APCC Pathway to Green Construction Procurement Harmonisation of Building Information Modelling and Digital Engineering Services Procurement Guide New Starter Program Guide – Procurement ABAB Australasian BIM Benefits Report – Information Collection Instruction Streamlining and Simplifying Project Procurement Assessing Construction Market Health and Capabilities White Paper Rewarding Good Performance White Paper Performance Management and Evaluation White Paper
The APCC is also proudly launched the one-stop-shop website ‘Procurement Professionalisation’ that contains information on the value proposition of a career in procurement, learning register, case studies, and video testimonials.
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APCC Council of Chief ExecutivesThe 23 November 2023 meeting of the APCC has successfully concluded with several significant discussions and endorsements that pave the way for advancements and improvements in government procurement processes.
Key highlights of the meeting are as follows:
AI in Procurement: The Council unanimously approved an exploration of AI in procurement, aiming to explore its potential and leading applications, thereby enlightening members about AI's possibilities in this field.
Promoting Social Value in Government Procurement: An initiative to gather and share best practices, from both private and public sectors, for embedding social value into government procurement was endorsed. This is aimed at aligning procurement processes with broader social and economic objectives.
Procurement’s Value Proposition: The meeting involved a detailed discourse on the value proposition of procurement. A future piece of work will systematically gather, analyse, and showcase current procurement performance metrics, and establish a comprehensive ‘messaging bank’ that articulates the value and strategic importance of procurement.
Building and Construction Industry Capacity and Relief: The Council discussed the current state of the building and construction industry, focusing on enhancing industry capacity and providing necessary relief measures to support sustainable growth.
Simplification of Procurement Processes: And finally, a discussion on strategies for simplifying procurement processes. The goal is to make procurement more accessible and less burdensome, thereby encouraging wider participation and efficiency.
The Council is dedicated to advancing these topics through its Special Interest Groups, with future updates and detailed action plans to be communicated subsequently. ________________________________________________________________
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Procurement Capability Development Over the past few months, the APCC have led some thought-provoking discussions with the Procurement Capability Development (PCD) Forum. Read on to learn about an exciting new initiative and to gain a sneak peek into what’s to come in 2024.
Free webinar series launch In partnership with the Commercial Officers Group (COG), the APCC have launched a free webinar series. The webinar topics were selected under the guidance of the APCC PCD Forum with the aim to upskill public procurement professionals in a range of topics. Following three successful webinars in 2023 (Harnessing AI to Maximise Value for Money and Mitigate Risk, Defining Your Procurement Career Path to the Future and Engaging the Market in Procurement Research), we have another nine webinars scheduled for 2024. Key topics in 2024 include: Sustainable Contracting in the Circular Economy Risk Management Throughout the Procurement Cycle The Good, Bad and Ugly of Contract Management
What’s to come The APCC has been gaining advice from the PCD Forum to set strong foundations for projects kicking off in 2024. A few subject matters that will form projects as we head into the new year include a research piece, Career Development Pathways Best Practice Guide/s, and strategies to attract and retain procurement professionals. New year, new opportunities
Looking to upskill over the break or set up your new year? Explore our exclusive APCC offers, including free and discounted access to events, courses, and training resources. We are continually adding and refreshing this page with new opportunities, so don’t forget to check back regularly for the latest offers. ________________________________________________________________
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Strategic Procurement ProgramThroughout 2023, the Strategic Procurement Program has continued to see successful cross-jurisdictional collaboration, driving innovation and best-practice within procurement. The benefits of these open and experience-based discussions have been most evident within our Digital Procurement Special Interest Group. For our Digital Procurement Special Interest Group members, the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not new, however its abilities and potential benefits to government is constantly evolving. At our recent meeting in November, members not only benefited from the jurisdictional exchange on implementation of AI within its digital environment, but also had the opportunity to hear from two AI-experts at our panel discussion. The discussion focused on effective ways government can implement generative AI into its procurement systems. A key message from this was the acknowledgment that AI is a rapidly changing space, however it is often seen as a disruptive force within the workforce. Yet, for most organisations, AI supplements repetitive and time-consuming tasks, therefore increasing individual productivity. Moreover, the solution to avoiding improper use of AI is not to avoid it altogether, but rather implement comprehensive guidelines for staff to use it safely and effectively. Throughout 2024 we are likely to see governments continue to implement guidance around the use of AI, such as the Digital Transformation Agency and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources release of its interim guidance for agencies on government use of generative Artificial Intelligence platforms in July of this year. ________________________________________________________________
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Construction and Asset Management ProgramEfficiency and Effectiveness - Ongoing Discussions and White Paper Series The Efficiency and Effectiveness Review series has progressed identifying the key enablers and methods driving best practice in construction procurement. Since October, two further white papers have been published: ‘Assessing Construction Market Health and Capabilities’ is the third paper in the series and outlines how achieving an understanding of market health and capacity can be valuable for effective and efficient procurement processes by enabling evidence-based decision-making, helping to identify opportunities and limitations of the market, and providing information to shape procurement strategies. ‘Streamlining and Simplifying Project Procurement’ is the fourth paper in the series and outlines methods that facilitate cost and time savings for government and contractors working for government. The process of streamlining and simplifying procurement reduces the administrative burden of projects and drives greater consistency across contracts and projects, leading to enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in asset delivery. APCC - ACIF Strategic Forum Joint Statement, October 2023 The APCC-ACIF Strategic Forum remains focused on its mission to facilitate joint pathways for improving building and construction industry productivity in Australasia. On the 12th of October, the Forum met, marking another important industry-wide meeting of key stakeholders dedicated to shaping the future of the construction industry. With the Forum’s foundation built on the collective experience and a common vision, members reconfirmed their shared commitment to ensuring the building and construction sector improves its gender representation and continues the cultural change required to attract the much-needed workforce. Read the Joint statement here: APCC - ACIF Strategic Forum Joint Statement, 13 October 2023 | LinkedIn ABAB Communique and Releases The Australasian BIM Advisory Board (ABAB) held its final meeting for 2023 on the 25th of October. ABAB reflected on the year's accomplishments and considered a path for its future success. The meeting acknowledged progress made in simplifying procurement including the October release of ‘Harmonisation of Building Information Modelling and Digital Engineering Services Procurement’, and the November release of ‘Australasian BIM Benefits Reporting: Guide to Information Collection’ which will enable BIM benefits measurement and meaningful comparison of projects. NABERS Embodied Carbon update: Consultation response In early 2023, NABERS conducted a public consultation on proposals for an Embodied Carbon tool. The consultation's outcomes are summarised in a detailed report, highlighting the industry's strong support for the tool and its underlying proposals. This report underscores the complexity of standardising embodied carbon measurement and the diverse stakeholder interests. NABERS, leveraging the insights gathered, is now developing the tool, with a planned launch in mid-2024. ________________________________________________________________
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Australia & New Zealand Health ProcurementThe senior Roundtable caught up for their final quarterly meeting in November and discussions targeted supply chain once again. With much health purchasing imported out of necessity, alternatives and surety remains an ongoing topic and is likely to remain so for some time. Senior members received a presentation on the ESG Working Group, newly formed in 2023, and already setting clear goals on the 2024 Workplan. Collaborative buying opportunities is a big topic that Senior members would like to explore further in 2024 with a dedicated working group being approved at the November meeting. In addition to this, a proposal for a Consumables Community of Practice to commence in 2024 was approved; so watch this space for further news on these two exciting initiatives! With 40+ meetings in 2023 and 60+ individual requests for information, assistance, and connection, the ANZHPR continues to go from strength to strength and gain access to information, not available by any other means. ________________________________________________________________
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Government Property GroupGPG finished the year off strongly with a face-to-face conference in November hosted by the Department for Infrastructure & Transport in South Australia. A full agenda over the course of the two days kept members engaged with content relevant to the diverse group. One of the highlights was an informative tour of Lot Fourteen on the site of the original South Australian Hospital. The historical buildings now house some of South Australia’s smartest entrepreneurs, researchers and students creating a state-of-the-art innovation district. Lot Fourteen is a wonderful example of repurposing existing buildings into a contemporary space with multiple uses.
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Other key discussions included whole of government strategic property management, Electric Vehicle infrastructure and charging programs along with accessible office design and agile working frameworks. The collaboration and sharing of information allowed best practice and lessons learnt to be exchanged avoiding potential rework and thus time and resources. |
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GPG members look forward to continuing their high energy consultations in 2024, and to maintaining valuable conversations in areas such as the environment, social, governance and the journey towards centralisation of property. ________________________________________________________________
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Procurement of Education Goods and ServicesThe end of the year is an opportunity to look back and see what has been achieved and how far the group has come. These reflections are important in gaining more knowledge and celebrating our successes. For EDUSIG, 2023 was a year full of great new ideas, overcoming challenges, welcoming new members into the forum and sharing improvements and new initiatives. Members were re-energised following the two-day mid-year face to face conference in Brisbane resulting in a change to the Terms of Reference. The original quarterly meeting regime no longer met the requirement of members as the volume of environmental scans and requests for information and collaboration increased considerably. To better meet members’ needs, meetings are now scheduled bi-monthly resulting in an additional 2 meetings this year, plus several ad-hoc roundtable meetings held as required. ________________________________________________________________
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Resources & Announcements
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KPMG's discussion on supply chain risks emphasises the inevitability of disruptions across various sectors, stemming from logistical, geopolitical, environmental challenges, or unforeseen events. It highlights the critical need for supply chain leaders to develop new capabilities for agility and resilience, as well as efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, the discussion points out the increasing importance of meeting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, driven by regulatory and stakeholder scrutiny. |
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Loop’s white paper "The True State of Social Value in Construction" reveals a gap in understanding and implementing social value in the construction industry since the introduction of the UK Government’s Public Services (Social Value) Act. Key findings from over 100 construction professionals include the growing importance of social value, the effectiveness of training, diverse measurement approaches, and the benefits of digital tools. The paper, highlighting varying maturity levels in applying social value principles, underscores the need for construction organisations to incorporate social value considerations from project inception and improve measurement techniques for a more impactful future. |
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The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) along with the Property Council have introduced an updated Every Building Counts roadmap tailored for local councils. Unveiled at an event in the City of Melbourne on October 23, this version, titled Every Building Counts – For Local Governments, proposes 19 policy suggestions across 6 major themes. Its goal is to foster a built environment that is more sustainable, healthful, and equitable. |
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The Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF) has released a detailed cross-jurisdictional review of the implementation of the Building Confidence Report's recommendations, noting significant progress by states and territories. While ACIF commends the efforts of federal, state, and territory ministers and public servants, it highlights that not all recommendations have been fully implemented across all jurisdictions. ACIF emphasises the importance of maintaining focus on implementing these crucial building regulations for the safety and quality of the built environment, urging governments to sustain their momentum. |
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The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) has released the 2023 Edition of its annual journal, a collaborative effort showcasing the achievements of women in the Australian construction industry. The journal celebrates the determination and accomplishments of women and their allies, featuring key data and research on industry challenges, growth areas, and strategies for creating supportive work environments for women. It highlights state and national award winners, and profiles influential figures in the industry. |
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The McKinsey report on the new era of procurement highlights how the global turmoil from 2020 to 2023, including supply chain disruptions and technological advances, has initiated a new economic era. This era demands agility, technology, and innovation, making procurement a key strategic function in organisations. Four megatrends shape procurement's future: an increasingly multipolar world, advances in AI, demographic shifts, and the transition to low-carbon energy. The report advocates for a broader agenda for procurement, focusing on value creation and resilience. It underscores the need for procurement to evolve from traditional cost savings to strategic partnerships, margin management, and risk mitigation. |
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WorldCC’s 2023 Benchmark Report "CCM: The Journey to Strategic Value," co-created with Icertis, analyses the evolving role of contracting in today's volatile, complex market and supply chain environment. Drawing from over 750 global organisations, the report identifies key trends and challenges in contracting, emphasising its strategic importance in driving business growth and resilience. Key takeaways include the need for enhanced contract operations, with many considering new Contract Lifecycle Management systems. It highlights challenges like budget and resource limitations, the financial impact of contract value erosion, underutilisation of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives in contracts, and the complexity of managing contract data across multiple systems. |
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The Boston Consulting Group's article on managing ESG issues in global supply chains outlines a strategic approach for businesses to address Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risks. It emphasises the importance of transparency, collaboration with suppliers, and establishing ESG centers of excellence for consistent policy implementation and best practice sharing. The article highlights challenges in supply chain management, particularly in emerging markets, where limited visibility often leads to ESG violations. |
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Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have partnered to launch a microcredential program in digital engineering education. This program, featuring a collaboration with buildingSMART, aims to enhance skills in the digital engineering sector. UTS's program aligns with buildingSMART PCERT Foundations training, offering a curriculum specific to infrastructure, focusing on ISO 19650 Parts 1 & 2. It includes practical training in OpenBIM using IFC, addressing interoperability in road and rail asset delivery. This initiative marks a significant advancement in digital engineering education, equipping individuals for the dynamic construction and infrastructure sector. |
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The Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF) Forecasts for 2023 depict a contrasting state of the construction industry. While sectors like retail, accommodation, and home building are struggling due to rising interest rates, construction costs, and post-Covid changes, areas such as transport infrastructure and clean energy are booming. The residential sector faces challenges with fixed-price contracts amidst rising costs, leading to increased bankruptcies. However, overall industry profitability remains high. Infrastructure Construction is surging with public projects and renewable energy investments, while Non-Residential Building activity is stable with variations across sub-sectors. The Forecasts also highlight potential growth in clean energy and multi-story apartment construction, influenced by government actions and climate change initiatives. |
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The 2023 Aboriginal Procurement Policy (APP) Review by NSW Treasury focuses on improving job creation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and supporting Aboriginal businesses through government procurement. The review, incorporating over 2000 feedback pieces, highlights the need for significant changes in policy usage by agencies and suppliers. Key issues for Aboriginal businesses include enhancing support services, expanding APP reporting, and simplifying procurement processes. The review proposes 17 recommendations to enhance the APP's effectiveness, aiming to make government processes more accessible to Aboriginal businesses and individuals. |
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The "ELEVATE 2042 Legacy Strategy" outlines a comprehensive government procurement approach centred around sustainable and equitable economic practices. Key aspects include creating employment and business opportunities through sustainable procurement, the Q2032 Procurement Strategy for local business growth, and equitable economic participation ensuring carbon-neutrality and inclusivity. The strategy emphasises supporting local, small, and regional businesses for sustainable scaling and market expansion. Additionally, it focuses on sustainability and the circular economy, aiming to transition to a decarbonised future and fostering innovation in renewable energy, particularly in the context of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. |
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The Australian Government has released the "Net Zero Government Operations Strategy” and the "APS Net Zero Roadmap," aimed at achieving net zero emissions from government operations by 2030. The strategy emphasises procurement in several areas: setting a 2030 net zero target for government operations, procuring renewable electricity, enforcing sustainable building standards, preferring all-electric buildings, enhancing data centre energy efficiency, implementing electric vehicle charging infrastructure, setting targets for low emission vehicle procurement, and developing an Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy to guide climate-related decisions in procurement processes. |
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The Australian Public Service (APS) has introduced the Strategic Commissioning Framework to shift from outsourcing to prioritising direct employment within the APS. This initiative, aimed at reinforcing internal capabilities, mandates that core APS work be performed by its own employees. Agency heads are tasked with aligning their workforce to this new directive, enhancing APS's integrity, expertise, and public trust. The framework, initially applicable to entities under the Public Service Act 1999, will be integrated into decision-making processes and policies. It focuses on transitioning work from external contractors and consultants to APS employees, while not affecting grant arrangements under existing guidelines. ________________________________________________________________ |
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Taking place in Melbourne from 27th - 29th of February 2024, the 9th annual Women in Procurement & Supply Chain conference is a unique forum dedicated to advancing opportunities and career tracks for professionals within the procurement and supply chain function. Join our Executive Director, Teresa Scott in her panel discussion on ‘How can you improve diversity, equity & inclusion and drive organisational success through leadership?’ For more information, including the complete speaker line-up and agenda see here. All Australasian Procurement and Construction Council members receive 15% off their event registration fee with promo code AAPCC15. Book online or call +61 (0)2 9977 0565 to secure your place. |
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Academy GlobalFast track your path in procurement AcademyGlobal delivers the nationally accredited PSP50616 Diploma of Procurement and Contracting in partnership with UQ Skills, the Registered Training Organisation (RTO code #1511) within The University of Queensland. Designed to reflect best practice in public sector procurement across Commonwealth, state, territory and local governments, this Australasian Procurement & Construction Council Inc (APCC) Certified program provides the confidence and skills to accelerate your career as a public sector procurement professional. The program is recognised by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply and offers fast track pathways into the globally recognised CIPS Diploma in Procurement and Supply. AcademyGlobal is offering 20% off the course fee for all public servants across Australasia, including local government who are in procurement and/or contract management roles. Contact info@academyglobal.com to take advantage of this offer today! |
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Commercial Officers GroupSupercharge your career through APCC’s exclusive corporate membership Presented by leaders, for leaders, the Commercial Officers Group (COG) offers innovative and proven thought leadership, tools and learnings that address procurement, contracting and SRM challenges.
As part of the APCC Community, gain free access to all COG resources including over 100 live webinars each year and access to the COG Library to watch webinar replays on topics such as: Ready to get started? Reach out to Jim at jbergman@commercialofficers.com ________________________________________________________________ In partnership with the Commercial Officers Group, the APCC have launched a free, live webinar series for all government employees. The series kicked off in November 2023 and will run until June 2024. For more information on upcoming webinars and to register, click the relevant topic below. We will be refreshing this page with the latest topics and dates as the year progresses.
Upcoming webinars (11.30AM - 12.30PM AEDT): |
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Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)Shine brighter with CIPS procurement skills training As the world’s largest professional body dedicated to procurement and supply, CIPS open skills training short courses are the perfect place to start. Whether you’re seeking to refine, refocus, restart, or simply embark on your journey, enrolling in a CIPS short course can help your career thrive. CIPS is offering a 5% discount when purchasing CIPS Skills Training courses. Use code ANZPS2023 to make the most out of your higher learning. |
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CASMELearn more for less: save 50% off an industry membership CASME is the leading membership community for corporate indirect procurement, with more than 16,000 subscribers from 200+ global companies. Vital support is provided for the entire procurement team through access to the latest insights, category trends, best practice and ability to benchmark and network with other organisations. All of CASME’s events and services are delivered without the influence of suppliers, sponsors or consultants. Under an exclusive special APCC arrangement, CASME is offering APCC members and their associates a 50% discount on the Bronze CASME Membership.
The Bronze CASME Membership will give you access to local virtual membership and all other CASME offerings, including: Unlimited access to Panel Discussions Unlimited access to Category Spotlights Unlimited access to Hot Topic Briefings Notes and recordings from every global event Good Practice Guides, Toolkits, Global Digests Participation in Procurement Examiners and Best in Class Benchmarking Partner Research from The Hackett Group and The Smart Cube
For more information, please contact emma.rigby@casme.com ___________________________________________________________________ |
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