Congratulations to Department of Finance’s (Finance’s) Priya Roop Rai whose team placed third in the Procure for Impact Challenge, hosted by AcademyGlobal and Australasian Procurement & Construction Council Inc.
The Challenge saw 47 teams from across 16 universities respond to a real-world procurement scenario by creating and presenting a strategy focused on sustainability, social impact, or human rights. Each strategy included practical approaches to contract management monitoring, reporting and continuous improvement.
Teams were encouraged to:
- Reference real frameworks and legislation (e.g. Commonwealth Procurement Rules, Modern Slavery Act, Sustainable Procurement Guide)
- Consider whole-of-life costs and environmental impacts
- Think beyond compliance: how can procurement be used as a lever for innovation, inclusion, and resilience?
- Include sample KPIs or reporting mechanisms to track supplier diversity, ethical sourcing, or environmental performance
- Discuss supplier development opportunities (e.g. capacity-building for small or Indigenous-owned businesses).
"This challenge showed me that procurement isn't just about 'buying stuff', it's a powerful tool that shapes our society. I've learnt that even small changes in spending decisions can create lasting impacts.” - Priya Roop Rai
Priya’s team – The Pivot Point – responded with 3 main recommendations that were backed by policy to ensure their proposed strategy was actionable, measurable and enforceable:
- Spend smarter on consultants by choosing smaller firms that deliver social value, not just big names.
- Support local communities by working with Indigenous and regional groups through TAFE training programs.
- Make supply chains more inclusive by requiring big contractors to give at least 10% of work to small Indigenous and regional businesses.
As the owner of the Commonwealth procurement framework, we have a strong focus on supporting and building procurement and contract management capability across the Commonwealth.
Finance actively engages in initiatives and opportunities that encourage connection between Finance, the Australian Public Service, and aspiring professionals.
How confident are you that you could navigate a procurement challenge?
Finance has a range of initiatives, training and networks to enhance your skills, learn best practice, connect with colleagues and get all the support you need on your procurement and contract management journey.
Visit the below resources or contact our Procurement Training team for further support.
Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Training Suite
Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Community of Practice
Pathways to Procurement Program
Procurement and Contract Management Profession
