QLD Branch - Moving from a Servicing Capability to a Strategic Capability

Future-Focused Procurement: Moving from a Servicing Capability to a Strategic Capability

The CIPS Queensland Committee welcomes all members and procurement professionals to their in-person event, where you will gain invaluable insights from the latest research to come out of the ANZ region and hear from your peers on how they’re navigating the current challenges.

This event features discussions with four procurement leaders, each representing different stages of maturity in their journey towards strategic procurement with Adam Bowles, Country Director for Advanced, leading the discussion.  

They’ll reveal the main insights into procurement’s current and future desired state and 5 Key Barriers to being the strategic powerhouses they want and need to be. Over 300 procurement professionals were involved in this research and at its core, this research underscores the imperative for procurement to make a shift from a servicing capability to a strategic one. 

Don’t miss the chance to be part of an evening of knowledge sharing, networking and actionable insights that will set you on the path to procurement excellence.

Event Details: 

When: Thursday 26th October 2023

Where: Flight Centre Building - Rooftop - Level 15, 275 Grey St, South Brisbane, Queensland, AU, 4101

Time: 5:00pm - 8:30pm AEST


A huge thank you to Portt, an Advanced Company and Advanced for sponsoring this event and providing food and refreshments during the evening. 

Speaker Details:

Adam Bowles - Country Director, Advanced 

Adam Bowles is the Country Director for UK head quartered private equity-owned tech software and services firm Advanced. 

Advanced’s mission is powering the world of work. 

With 12 years of leadership positions in SaaS companies in both the UK and Australia, Adam joined Advanced via an acquisition in 2018. Adam is responsible for executing Advanced’s corporate strategy in the Australia and New Zealand markets. 

Adam enjoys working with our extensive, diverse range of local customers and helping their businesses be more efficient and effective through technology.

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Obre Pemberton - Director, Procurement, Queensland Hydro 

Obre is a seasoned Procurement Professional boasting an impressive career spanning over 25 years. She has held senior roles at Microsoft, Qantas, British American Tobacco before moving to the public sector to run where she led agency procurement capability development at NSW Procurement, Transport for NSW and NSW Justice.  

Her passion projects are developing contract and supplier management frameworks and embedding contract and performance management thinking into the sourcing process.  

Recently, Obre returned to her hometown to take up the role of Director of Procurement at the newly formed Qld Hydro, a visionary project that will meet the energy needs of Queenslanders for the next century.  

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Tivolee Spragg - Associate Director (Strategic Procurement), Queensland University of Technology 

Tivolee is a highly experienced, FCIPS qualified, results-driven, commercial procurement professional with experience across the end-to-end procurement function, including significant experience in procurement transformation and leading large teams to achieve business outcomes.  Tivolee has a proven track record of delivering commercial benefits - financial and non-financial - across the supply chain and numerous organisations, coupled with excellent stakeholder engagement and leadership skills. Tivolee’s expertise transcends traditional procurement boundaries and extends across diverse categories and industries, as well as across source to contract, purchase to payment and finance services functions. Tivolee now leads the Finance Services function at QUT including Strategic Procurement, Finance Support, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable.

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Damien Sheehy - Chief Procurement Officer, Flight Centre 

Damien is a visionary leader in the world of procurement, boasting over 15 years’ of experience in the field. As the Chief Procurement Officer for Flight Centre and beginning his career at The Star, he has consistently pushed the boundaries of traditional procurement practices, embracing a forward-thinking approach that redefines how businesses achieve their goals. Damien’s career in procurement has been marked by a relentless pursuit of innovative solutions that drive transformative change within organisations. He firmly believes that procurement should not merely be a cost-saving function but a dynamic force that actively serves the business to deliver tangible outcomes.  

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Bronwyn Sloan - General Manager Procurement, Virgin Australia

Bronwyn is a seasoned procurement leader with a rich and diverse background in the airline industry, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), and management consulting. With a career spanning multiple leadership roles across various sectors, she has honed her expertise in strategic procurement and end-to-end Procure to Pay (P2P). Bronwyn is renowned for her ability to drive sustainable procurement transformations that optimise value chains and enhance organisational efficiency. She has navigated the complexities of monopolistic markets with finesse, demonstrating her strategic thinking and determination to deliver results. Her international experience has equipped her with a deep understanding of foreign markets, enabling her to build strong relationships and drive successful negotiations on a global scale.  

Spaces are limited so register now to secure your place! We can't wait to see you there.