Meet Our Speakers
View the list of industry experts who will be speaking at GovProcure 2026
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Andre Harvey
Seqwater
Anuj Saraogi
ACT Government
Bronwyn Williams
Byron Crawford
Triple Zero Victoria
Charlotte Payne
CIPS Australia & New Zealand
Coretta Bessi
ACT Government
Managing Director
CT Procurement Solutions
Dave Timm
Red Marble AI
David Hurrell
Infrastructure NSW
Deb Barwick
NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (NSWICC)
Dr Benjamin Marx
Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)
Eric Flynn
ACT Government
Fern Lees
IP Australia
Geoff Fietz
ACT Courts & Tribunal
Heike Rietzschel
Scenic Rim Regional Council
John Lambert
TAFE NSW
Kate Russell
Supply Nation
Kerryn Ellis
Victorian Ombudsman
Lace Wang
Attorney General’s Department
Laura Spikula
TasNetworks
Lorna Elisei
Victoria Legal Aid
Luke Kenny
Local Government Procurement
Madeleine Taylor
ACT Courts & Tribunals
Marea Getsios
Inner West Council
Mathew Baldwin
Thomson Geer
Michelle Robinson
City of Ryde
Mohsen Mousavi
Macquarie University
Nicole Croak
Endeavour Energy
Racheal Kuczma
Defence Australia
Rob Halsall
The Executive Athlete
Rozana Sabrin
City of Ryde
Sharon Morris
World Commerce & Contracting
Teresa Scott
Australian Procurement & Construction Council
Tod Cooper
Department of Corrections NZ
Tranquility Clinton
RSM
Bronwyn Williams
Keynote Speaker, Mentor & PhD ResearcherBy guiding women to understand their own drivers, needs and values Bron helps women reconnect with their own power, so they can confidently negotiate their salaries and pursue leadership positions, unapologetically celebrating their achievements along the way.
Speaking at
Masterclass A: Mastering Negotiation Skills – the Cornerstone of Procurement Success
Dave Timm
Chief Executive OfficerRed Marble AI
As a respected tech leader, Dave also brings decades of experience in mining and heavy industry.
His technical focus is AI Agents and creating the Digital Workforce through Artificial Intelligence.
Speaking at
Masterclass B: AI Toolbox for Procurement Professionals
Charlotte Payne
General ManagerCIPS Australia & New Zealand
Speaking at
How can procurement leaders harness new technologies to solve procurement challenges & deliver real value?
Tod Cooper
Director ProcurementDepartment of Corrections NZ
Speaking at
Procurement transformation in practice: smarter policies, stronger tools, better outcomes not paths - lessons in growth, rejection and resilience
Racheal Kuczma
First Assistant Secretary – Commercial DivisionDefence Australia
Racheal joined Defence as part of the 2004 graduate program and through her rotations discovered her passion for contracting. Since her completion of the graduate program, Racheal has undertaken a variety of commercial roles supporting acquisition programs in the Aerospace and Maritime domains, including MRH 90, P8-A Poseidon, C-27J Spartan and the Attack Class Submarine.
After 17 years in Defence, Racheal joined Northrop Grumman leading the Australian business in contracts and supply chain role that provided her valuable insight into understanding how US primes work.
In September 2024, Racheal was appointed to her current position, returning to Defence with a wealth of commercial, government and industry experience. Racheal is now driving an ambitious program of initiatives to uplift commercial policy, processes, resources and tools across the enterprise to support the Defence mission. Alongside this, Racheal is also leading Commercial Division on the Henderson Consolidation/Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement and a range of other projects across CASG, NSSG, GWEO Group, and more.
Speaking at
Making CPR reforms work for you: simplifying workflows, cutting red tape & boosting supplier participation
Coretta Bessi
Chair - Government Procurement BoardACT Government
Managing Director
CT Procurement Solutions
As the former Chief Procurement Officer for some of Australia's most iconic organizations—Westpac, nbn, BlueScope, and Ausgrid, Coretta is widely recognized for her expertise and sought after as a trusted consultant, trainer and coach for both public and private entities.
Her board and committee appointments reflect her depth of experience, including Chair of the ACT Government Procurement Board, Director on the Board of Local Government Procurement in NSW, and Independent Member of the Victoria Infrastructure Delivery Authority Procurement Oversight Committee, where she provides oversight of significant procurement expenditure across three jurisdictions.
With a Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA, Coretta also has over a decade of experience lecturing in procurement and negotiations at University for Masters programs. Coretta also co-founded Bravo - a female empowerment program now in its fifth year operating globally with several hundred attendees per annum further showcasing her commitment to diversity and advancing the profession.
Speaking at
How can government procurement teams cut red tape without losing probity?
Tranquility Clinton
National Lead for Probity, Procurement and Integrity ServicesRSM
Tranquility is known for her open, collaborative style and her strong commitment to building trusted relationships. She works closely with clients to understand their commercial objectives, operational pressures and risk environment, providing clear and practical guidance that supports informed decision-making while safeguarding integrity and fairness. Her approach ensures that project outcomes are both compliant and strategically aligned with organisational goals.
Her experience spans some of Australia’s largest and most complex procurements and divestments, with project values ranging up to $39b. Working across public construction, major infrastructure, IT/ICT, goods and services, and divestment programs, she has developed deep practical insight into procurement frameworks, probity requirements and government policies at state and local levels.
Tranquility’s expertise supports clients to confidently navigate complex commercial processes while maintaining the highest standards of integrity.
Speaking at
How can government procurement teams cut red tape without losing probity?
Lorna Elisei
Contract Management SpecialistVictoria Legal Aid
In the last 5 years Lorna has developed a passion for climate change, sustainability, and social engagement, focusing on optimizing supply chain accountability in these areas. Advocating for partnerships that highlight sustainable initiatives, social participation and transition to more circular economy models.
Speaking at
How can government procurement teams cut red tape without losing probity?
Rozana Sabrin
Procurement SpecialistCity of Ryde
Rozana’s ability to implement category management strategies has enabled her to deliver successful whole-of-government and client-specific projects that meet the highest standards of quality and client satisfaction. Throughout her career, she has been recognised for her strategic approach to procurement and her commitment to achieving efficient, high-impact outcomes.
With a proven track record in delivering value-driven procurement initiatives, Rozana continues to contribute to organisational excellence at the City of Ryde by fostering strong partnerships and driving supply chain improvements that align with community and stakeholder expectations.
Speaking at
How can government procurement teams cut red tape without losing probity?
Eric Flynn
Senior Director – Office for Women & Youth EngagementACT Government
Speaking at
Breaking silos: how the ACT is aligning departments & suppliers to deliver a complex multi-agency procurement project
Michelle Robinson
Manager – Procurement and ContractsCity of Ryde
She has been the recipient of multiple awards both at the Industry and Government sector levels in recognition of her achievements and the passion she brings to making a difference through procurement. Michelle has shared that passion in a variety of events across NSW Government, industry and at international events and is an active mentor of emerging procurement professionals.
Speaking at
Building genuine supplier diversity and strengthening trust in government procurement
Madeleine Taylor
Senior Director – Property, Procurement & ProgramsACT Courts & Tribunals
With an MBA, PRINCE2 Practitioner certification, and qualifications in procurement and training, Madeleine is committed to continuous professional development and staying at the forefront of her field. Her dedication to excellence has earned her multiple accolades, including the Jacinta Bartlett Award for Individual Excellence in Procurement (2019) and a position on the ACT Government Procurement Board (2020-2023).
Madeleine is a passionate advocate for social procurement, Veterans, education and women, demonstrated by her appointments as a mentor in the SoldierOn Boeing Veteran Mentoring Program and JLL Women’s Mentoring Program and as a member of the Property Council of Australia's ACT Social Sustainability Committee.
A respected thought leader, Madeleine regularly speaks at conferences and communities of practice across Australasia, sharing her insights on procurement and risk management to elevate best practices and foster collaboration across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
Speaking at
How can procurement teams overcome the most challenging obstacles to partnering with Indigenous suppliers?
Roundtable 4: Building confidence for presentations, meetings & negotiations
Deb Barwick
Chairperson & Executive OfficerNSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (NSWICC)
Deb’s many professional achievements include:
Establishing Australia’s first Indigenous chamber of commerce in 2006 and leading the establishment of a new national peak body in 2015 to represent the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business owners and enterprising communities. Today, the national body collectively represents over 5,500 members.
Deb received a NSW Premiers Award for Excellence in 2008 recognising the impact of her work over many years to support the establishment and growth of Aboriginal owned businesses in NSW and to advocate for their inclusion in the supply chains of government and industry. Today she is a Specialist Procurement Advisor for the NSW Government’s Business Connect program providing advice and guidance to small businesses seeking to improve their understanding of procurement and capacity to submit quality tenders.
Deb Barwick’s accomplishments as one of Australia’s leading grass roots advocates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business owners are complemented by her accomplishments as a private businessowner. Her company Winya Indigenous Furniture, established in 2016, has won multiple awards including the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Management Awards. Winya went on from this success to become the first and only Australian company to ever win a United Nations Sustainability Goals Award in 2018.
Speaking at
How can procurement teams overcome the most challenging obstacles to partnering with Indigenous suppliers?
Fern Lees
Director – Procurement & ContractingIP Australia
Speaking at
How can procurement teams overcome the most challenging obstacles to partnering with Indigenous suppliers?
Heike Rietzschel
Procurement ManagerScenic Rim Regional Council
Heike has developed category management and strategic sourcing expertise in areas including IT, HR, FF&E, Facilities Management, Business Consulting, Contingent Labour, MRO, Print, Transportation, Logistics, Fleet, Marketing, Engineering and Travel, spanning both private and public sectors. With a proven track record of building and sustaining high-performing procurement teams, Heike consistently delivers outcomes on total cost of ownership.
Experienced in end-to-end procurement, from strategic sourcing through to supplier performance and relationship management, Heike has managed large, complex, global and outsourced arrangements. Skilled at developing strong stakeholder relationships and understanding the key drivers of business partners, Heike works collaboratively to align procurement strategies with broader organisational goals.
Speaking at
How can procurement teams overcome the most challenging obstacles to partnering with Indigenous suppliers?
Kate Russell
Chief Executive OfficerSupply Nation
Additionally, Kate has spent time working at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Sydney and Canberra and for the Catalan Department of Education in Spain. Kate returned to Australia to work in the community sector to focus on Aboriginal employment and leadership development, and eventually joined the NSW State Government in 2016. Kate’s broad expertise and experience in diversity and inclusion, organisational culture, leadership, human resources and knowledge, and project management enables her to develop programs that recognise the intersectionality of diverse experiences.
Currently, Kate is the Chair of the Diversity Council Australia’s Indigenous External Advisory and a Director of the Committee for Sydney. In November 2024, Kate was appointed to the inaugural Advisory Board of the ASEAN-Australia Centre. She previously served as a Director for Yilabara Solutions and Interrelate. In July 2023, she commenced her role as Chief Executive Officer at Supply Nation, the Australian leader in supplier diversity. Kate holds a Bachelor of International Studies (Distinction), an MBA and an Executive Masters of Public Administration.
Speaking at
Tackling verification challenges and protecting the integrity of supplier diversity programs
Lace Wang
Assistant Secretary – Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking BranchAttorney General’s Department
Currently, Lace is the Assistant Secretary of the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Branch. In this role, she is responsible for Australia’s domestic response to modern slavery, including oversight of the National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020–25, the Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act 2018, and Australia’s modern slavery criminal justice framework. She also leads Australia’s participation in key international forums to combat trafficking in persons, such as the Bali Process.
Speaking at
Roundtable 1: Mitigating modern slavery risks in procurement
Byron Crawford
Deputy Strategy & Capability and Chief Risk OfficerTriple Zero Victoria
Byron specialises in aligning procurement with organisational strategy, ensuring that sourcing and supplier partnerships contribute to long-term value and resilience. His work has strengthened governance, improved risk management, and enabled innovation in service delivery.
Currently serving in senior governance and advisory roles, Byron provides insight and guidance to boards, executives, and policy leaders navigating the evolving demands of public sector procurement and commercial performance.
Speaking at
Roundtable 2: Climate-resilient procurement for the Australian public sector
Laura Spikula
Head of Procurement & Supply ChainTasNetworks
As Head of Procurement & Supply Chain at TasNetworks, Laura has led an enterprise-wide transformation delivering over $50 million in measurable benefits, embedding digital tools, and positioning her team as trusted strategic partners across the organisation.
Named the CIPS ANZ Leader of the Year 2025, Laura is celebrated for her visionary yet grounded leadership - balancing commercial acumen with a deep commitment to people. She believes procurement isn’t just about savings; it’s about shaping resilient, sustainable, and forward-looking organisations. Whether aligning strategy with broader business and regulatory goals or uplifting workforce capability, her leadership centres on purpose, progress, and collaboration.
A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and chartered member of CIPS, Laura champions procurement as a force for positive, lasting change. At GovProcure 2026, she will share how purposeful leadership and innovation can elevate procurement’s impact across government and industry alike.
Speaking at
Roundtable 3: Using supplier and market insights to make better procurement decisions
Madeleine Taylor
Senior Director – Property, Procurement & ProgramsACT Courts & Tribunals
With an MBA, PRINCE2 Practitioner certification, and qualifications in procurement and training, Madeleine is committed to continuous professional development and staying at the forefront of her field. Her dedication to excellence has earned her multiple accolades, including the Jacinta Bartlett Award for Individual Excellence in Procurement (2019) and a position on the ACT Government Procurement Board (2020-2023).
Madeleine is a passionate advocate for social procurement, Veterans, education and women, demonstrated by her appointments as a mentor in the SoldierOn Boeing Veteran Mentoring Program and JLL Women’s Mentoring Program and as a member of the Property Council of Australia's ACT Social Sustainability Committee.
A respected thought leader, Madeleine regularly speaks at conferences and communities of practice across Australasia, sharing her insights on procurement and risk management to elevate best practices and foster collaboration across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
Speaking at
How can procurement teams overcome the most challenging obstacles to partnering with Indigenous suppliers?
Roundtable 4: Building confidence for presentations, meetings & negotiations
Sharon Morris
Group Regional Head – APACWorld Commerce & Contracting
Speaking at
Roundtable 5: Value Erosion and the 10 Pitfalls of Contracting
Teresa Scott
Executive DirectorAustralian Procurement & Construction Council
Speaking at
Roundtable 6: Managing ethical and governance risks in procurement
Marea Getsios
Procurement & Contracts ManagerInner West Council
In her role at Inner West Council, Marea has been instrumental in developing initiatives that promote sustainability and support Indigenous communities. Notably, she has been involved in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Procurement Strategy, which aims to foster economic development within these communities.
Marea is also recognised for her contributions to the broader procurement community. She has participated as a speaker and panellist at various conferences, sharing her insights on integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into procurement plans and discussing pivotal practices to successfully bring stakeholders on the ESG journey.
Her expertise and leadership in procurement have been acknowledged in industry publications, where she discussed the importance of female voices in procurement and shared her experiences in the field. Additionally, Marea has been involved in initiatives to improve supplier relationships where she emphasises the significance of effective communication and collaboration with suppliers to enhance procurement outcomes.
Marea Getsios is regarded as a high-achieving procurement practitioner, known for her strategic approach and commitment to advancing procurement practices within the public sector.
Speaking at
Roundtable 7: Embedding supplier diversity into day-to-day procurement decisions
Rob Halsall
Managing DirectorThe Executive Athlete
Rob is the Founder and Managing Director of The Executive Athlete. He focusses on ‘Optimising Organisational Talent, Culture & Performance’ through providing Leadership Development, Coaching, Advisory and Training & Facilitation solutions.
Rob also recently held the position of ‘Expert Facilitator’ at the University of Technology Business School; he is a Certified Leadership Trainer and a Certified Behavioural & Emotional Intelligence Analyst.
Rob has a Doctorate in Business Administration, a MSc Procurement, a BSc (Hons) in Business Information Technology and is both MCIPS and FCIPS. (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply)
Rob is a Principal Faculty Member with leading training organisation AcademyGlobal, a CIPS ANZ Lead Trainer and CIPS Direct Associate, for Diploma & Advanced Diploma programs and a is an active CASME Facilitator in Asia Pacific.
In 2020, Rob was voted in ‘Top 10 Procurement Executives Worldwide’ by Supply Chain Digital. Rob has also been awarded the CIPS Australasia Procurement Professional of the Year, Procurement Leaders Asia Pacific Procurement Leader of the Year , New Zealand Procurement Professional of the Year and The Faculty CPO of the Year.
Speaking at
What the future holds for government procurement
Luke Kenny
Chief Executive OfficerLocal Government Procurement
Luke has been with Local Government Procurement for 8 years. He is a Board Chairman, and has spent the last 25 years in senior executive roles across public and private sectors.
Luke has an MBA, a Communications Degree, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, is a certified Executive Coach, and currently completing a post graduate law degree.
Speaking at
What the future holds for government procurement
Dr Benjamin Marx
Principal Officer – Corruption PreventionIndependent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)
Benjamin Marx commenced in the Commission’s Corruption Prevention division in 2006. Since then, Ben has performed or managed corruption prevention analysis on dozens of Commission investigations, and managed or led many Commission corruption prevention projects, including the Commission’s recent work on corruption control maturity. He has also led or managed many analyses of Commission datasets, including analyses of complaint, survey and document data. Prior to working at the Commission, Ben completed a PhD in Psychology at the University of Sydney that explored some of the cognitive and attitudinal elements of moral reasoning, having previously conducted research on relative risk judgments. From 2018-2020, he seconded to Transport for NSW for 18 months where he was responsible for TfNSW’s corruption prevention program. Ben is also a Certified Fraud Examiner.
Speaking at
Reinforcing ethics and governance in government procurement while mitigating risk
Mohsen Mousavi
Faculty of Science & EngineeringMacquarie University
He has delivered AI-enabled procurement automation for RFQs, RFTs, and RFIs, secured competitive innovation grants, and led programs worth over $ 500 million. His cross-sector work demonstrates how AI can reduce errors, standardise processes, and cut risks by up to 30% while achieving multi-million-dollar savings and supplier performance improvements.
Recognised for embedding AI-powered compliance and governance frameworks, I thrive at the intersection of AI, procurement, biotech, and engineering — building intelligent systems that deliver measurable impact for government, healthcare, and industry.
Speaking at
Using AI and automation to increase procurement efficiency and reduce bottlenecks
Andre Harvey
Chief Procurement Officer - Commercial ServicesSeqwater
He has consistently repositioned procurement functions from transactional to strategic, embedding digital enablement, governance and supplier innovation to deliver sustainable results. His leadership has accelerated cycle times, reduced costs, improved compliance and enhanced resilience across multi-billion-dollar portfolios.
Known for his collaborative and pragmatic style, Andre works seamlessly with executives and delivery teams alike. He is passionate about leveraging digital tools and data to unlock innovation and position procurement as a true enabler of organisational strategy.
Speaking at
How can procurement leaders harness new technologies to solve procurement challenges & deliver real value?
Anuj Saraogi
Senior Executive Leader – Customer Engagement Services (Digital Data & Technology)ACT Government
Dr Anuj Saraogi is a senior executive within the ACT Government, leading customer engagement, and service enablement across Digital Canberra. He has two decades of experience driving ICT strategy, public sector reform, and complex procurement across multiple jurisdictions. His work focuses on uplifting service delivery maturity and embedding whole-of-government platforms such as ServiceNow.
Appointed to the ACT Government Procurement Board in 2025, Anuj provides strategic oversight and assurance for high-value, high-risk procurement across the Territory. He advises on governance, probity, and financial sustainability, and contributes to whole-of-government procurement frameworks and capability uplift.
With postgraduate qualifications in management, health administration and portfolio delivery, Anuj brings a multidisciplinary lens to procurement transformation. He is passionate about applying digital tools, AI, and automation to reduce system complexity, strengthen resilience, and drive citizen-centred outcomes.
Speaking at
How can procurement leaders harness new technologies to solve procurement challenges & deliver real value?
John Lambert
Category Manager - ICT ProcurementTAFE NSW
John is originally an Engineer from the UK and has experience in technology startup business development roles prior to procurement. He has enjoyed taking on the challenges in the procurement of leading-edge technologies where the direction of supply chain is still in its early days of evolution and adoption.
He believes that effectively networking for practical, experiential based knowledge with his procurement peers has been one of the keys to his success and feels happy that he can contribute to an important conference such as this one.
Speaking at
How can procurement leaders harness new technologies to solve procurement challenges & deliver real value?
David Hurrell
Associate Director ProcurementInfrastructure NSW
Speaking at
Using analytics and dashboards to manage risks and track supplier performance
Nicole Croak
Head of Procurement & Supply ChainEndeavour Energy
Responsible for leading Endeavour Energy’s procurement and supply chain functions, Nicole’s strategic yet pragmatic approach to problem solving has seen her re-imagine how Endeavour Energy unlocks value and effectively manages risk as it leads the transition to a smarter, and more sustainable energy future. Nicole was awarded “Best in Leadership” for her solutions-based approach, and work in developing and delivering an enterprise-wide implementation of SAP, that has transformed ways of working for the business.
Endeavour Energy is the most efficient distribution network in NSW, powering over 2.7 million people living in Australia’s fastest growing regions including Sydney’s Greater West.
Speaking at
Building capability for the next generation of procurement professionals
Kerryn Ellis
Deputy Ombudsman – CorporateVictorian Ombudsman
Speaking at
Optimising cost management to deliver more with less
Geoff Fietz
Director – Procurement & ContractsACT Courts & Tribunal
Prior to this role, Geoff led ICT procurements with Digital Canberra, the ICT services arm of the ACT Government. These included procurement of essential software provided by companies like Microsoft and Oracle, and Cloud services procurements.
Geoff commenced with the ACT Government in 2014 when he accepted a position with Procurement ACT, the procurement advisory area of the ACT Government. In this role, he managed Whole of Government contracts covering a range of services including fleet, banking, travel, and form of payment. Geoff commenced his career with the Commonwealth Government in the late 1980s and participated in the exciting procurement processes to award a second telecommunications carrier licence to Optus and a third mobile carrier licence to Vodafone.
He went on to work with Price Waterhouse, Country Energy, and boutique consulting firms. His team provided technical consultancy services to the Commonwealth Government on the National Broadband Network Request for Proposal procurement process.
Speaking at
Strengthening negotiation skills to manage supplier costs with confidence
Mathew Baldwin
PartnerThomson Geer
Mathew specialises in advising on:
- complex procurement and contracting
- outsourcing, managed services, cyber security, software and cloud services
- privacy, data protection and data licensing
- commercialisation of new technology
- bespoke technology solutions and transaction structuring
- procurement strategy and template development.
Mathew’s advice is highly valued by his clients and he is recognised for his role advising government on procurement strategy and contracting, currently serving on the ACT Government's Procurement Board. He has published articles on a range of digital economy topics, including authoring a guide on pharma and privacy laws in Australia.
Speaking at
Managing performance and disputes in major government contracts
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