The Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Awards for Excellence help to promote the role procurement plays in delivering services and outcomes for government, citizens, and the business community.
The aim of the awards is to recognise the professionalism and capability of procurement and contract management professionals in the Australian Public Service, drive effective engagement with the business community, and demonstrate a commitment to excellence in procurement.
Categories
Finance periodically updates the award categories to highlight excellence in new areas of focus. The 2026 Awards categories were:
Contract Management Capability
This category recognises teams that have demonstrated excellence in strengthening contract management capability across their entity to assist officials consistently deliver value for money, build effective working relationships with suppliers and deliver outcomes when managing contracts.
Collaboration and Engagement with Industry
This category acknowledges entities that have demonstrated excellence in market research and collaborating with industry to inform key elements of a procurement, and/or the design of a procurement activity to achieve greater value for money outcomes.
APS Leader in Procurement and/or Contract Management
This category recognises individuals who are making a positive and influential impact on raising the profile and driving procurement and/or contract management best practice within their entity.
Results
Photograph of the 2026 Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Awards for Excellence award recipients.
The 2026 Awards ceremony was held on Tuesday, 1 September, at the Southern Cross Club Woden, Canberra. The Awards closed the 2026 Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Conference and were presented by Matt Yannopoulos PSM, Secretary of the Department of Finance.
Leader in Procurement and Contract Management
Gold Award Winner
Luke McLeod
Luke McLeod was recognised for his exceptional contribution and leadership within the Department of Defence. His work helped shift procurement from a transactional function to a strategic enabler, supporting stronger industry partnerships, better contracts, innovation and reduced risk.
Honourable mentions
Honourable mentions were awarded to the following nominees for significant contributions to strengthening procurement and contract management capability within their organisations:
- Roland Walker and Simon Eggins, Department of Defence
- Dawn Delaney, Australian Border Force
- Nicole West, Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator
- Wayne Hitchens, Australian War Memorial
Photograph of the APS Leader in Procurement/ Contract Management Gold Winner Luke McLeod with the Secretary of the Department of Finance.
Collaboration and Engagement with Industry
Gold Award Winner
Department of Defence
The SEA3000 General Purpose Frigate procurement team from the Department of Defence was recognised for working with industry under tight timeframes to manage technical, commercial and contractual risks while maintaining fairness, probity and value for money.
Highly Commended
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
The Australian Antarctic Division within the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water was recognised for its collaborative approach to procuring helicopter services for Australia's Antarctic Program, with industry feedback helping improve procurement design and outcomes.
Department of Defence
The Commodity Management Centre at the Department of Defence was recognised for developing a technology-enabled marketplace that improves the procurement experience for users.
Photograph of the Engagement and Collaboration with Industry Gold Winner Department of Defence with the Secretary of the Department of Finance.
Contract Management Capability
Gold Award Winner
Australian Border Force
The Australian Border Force was recognised for transforming one of its most complex and operationally critical contracts. The team strengthened governance, built capability, improved performance management and reset supplier engagement, creating a practical model for managing high-risk, high-value contracts.
Highly Commended
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry was recognised for strengthening contract management through innovation, stakeholder engagement and system improvements that improved governance and accountability.
Department of Defence
The Navy Training Force at the Department of Defence was recognised for turning a fragmented contract management portfolio into a coordinated system supporting critical workforce capabilities across the Australian Defence Force.
Photograph of the Contract Management Capability Gold Winner Australian Border Force with the Secretary of the Department of Finance.
Thank you to all entities that participated in the 2026 Awards. By sharing your achievements and lessons learned with the wider APS, you are helping showcase the diverse ways that Commonwealth entities procure and use public resources in an efficient, effective, economical, and ethical manner.
