Regional Tender for Success - Mount Gambier
Description
Regional Tender for Success - Mount Gambier - State Government and Business Focus
Ready to unlock opportunities in the South Australian Government market and beyond? This foundational training will equip you with the essential knowledge and practical strategies to successfully navigate government procurement processes and tender for work with both SA Government agencies and private sector businesses. Delivered in Mount Gambier, this session is tailored to the unique opportunities, support and challenges facing businesses in regional South Australia.
Speakers:
Phillip Dowsett, Deputy Industry Advocate, Office of the Industry Advocate
Dan van Holst Pellekaan, South Australian Small Business Commissioner
Elise Gordon, Regional Manager Southern SA, AusIndustry
Small Business Support Officer, Office for Small and Family Business (Limestone Coast; Murraylands; Riverlands; Eastern Suburbs)
Justin Sara, Director, ProbitySA
What You'll Learn: Gain a comprehensive understanding of SA Government procurement and private sector tendering, from initial engagement through to winning and retaining contracts. This interactive session covers:
Procurement Process Overview - Navigate the key phases and understand procurement thresholds that shape your approach across both government and private sector buyers.
101 of Influencing Government and Private Sector Buyers - Learn who to talk to, how to engage efficiently, and why the specification is critical to your success whether you're bidding for public or private work.
Mastering the RFQ - Step-by-step guidance on responding to Requests for Quotation (targeted at contracts under $550k) and equivalent private sector procurement processes.
Inside the Evaluation Process - Gain valuable insights and observations from real SA Government evaluation panels, with parallels drawn to how private sector businesses assess and select suppliers.
Reading the Signs - Identify indicators that your bid is on track (or needs adjustment) regardless of whether you're pursuing government or commercial contracts
Winning Beyond the First Contract - Discover how effective contract management and relationship building create pathways to future opportunities with both government agencies and private businesses.
Best Practice Engagement with OIA - Key takeaways on leveraging support and resources available to the Limestone Coast and regional businesses.
Support and Programs Available with Small and Family Business, Small Business Commission and AusIndustry - Overview of support programs, resources and state and federal selling to government resources that local businesses can utilise.
Q&A - The session includes dedicated Q&A time to address your specific questions and challenges, including those relevant to operating from a regional base.
Who Should Attend: Limestone Coast businesses new to government procurement, regional suppliers looking to strengthen their tendering approach, and any business seeking to understand the fundamentals of selling to SA Government or breaking into private sector supply chains. Whether you're in construction, manufacturing, services, or any other industry, this session will give you the tools to compete and win.
Exclusive One-on-One Consultation Opportunities: Following the session, Justin Sara, Director of ProbitySA, and Phillip Dowsett, Deputy Industry Advocate, will be available until 5:00pm to undertake a limited number of site visits at participating businesses. These consultations offer practical, in-depth guidance on tendering and procurement opportunities relevant to your organisation.
To express your interest in a site visit and nominate your preferred time, please contact oia@sa.gov.au.
Lineup
Justin Sara
Justin is Director of ProbitySA, an independent Adelaide based Procurement and Probity Advisory practice. As a probity advisor oversighting SA Government procurement, Justin regularly works with evaluation panels as they review and assess tender offers and is able to provide some unique insights on how the best bids become successful bids. Justin is a public sector procurement leader with more than 15 years public sector procurement experience and has worked with more than a dozen SA Government agencies including Treasury and Finance, Energy and Mining, Renewal SA, SA Health and the Attorney General’s Department to name a few. He has also acted as a bid advisor to a range of SA based companies who have successfully bid for SA Government procurements. Justin is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS) and currently holds Chartered Status. Justin was the procurement lead for Australia’s largest energy storage battery which won the CIPS ANZ Award for Best Public Sector Procurement Project. He also holds an Executive Master of Public Administration from Flinders University and also holds a Bachelor of Management (Marketing) and a Bachelor of Applied Science, both from Adelaide University.
Dan van Holst Pellekaan
Commissioner, South Australian Small Business Commission. Dan van Holst Pellekaan commenced as South Australia’s Small Business Commissioner in August 2025. A former Deputy Premier and Minister for Energy and Mining, he represented the regional electorate of Stuart for 12 years. With seven years’ experience as an owner operator of outback roadhouses, Dan brings a practical understanding of the challenges faced by businesses across metropolitan and regional South Australia. Dan is committed to supporting, advocating and collaborating for small business across South Australia, ensuring owners are heard, supported, and empowered to grow.
Elise Gordon
Elise Gordon is the Regional Manager Southern SA for AusIndustry – part of the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources. Elise’s role is to connect businesses to programs, services, and information to support their growth and innovation, and to feed regional business insights into government. Elise’s office is based in Mount Gambier on Boandik Country, with coverage of the Limestone Coast, Murraylands and Riverland.
Small Business Support Officer (TBC)
Small Business Support Officer, Office for Small and Family Business (Limestone Coast; Murraylands; Riverlands; Eastern Suburbs)
Phillip Dowsett
Phillip Dowsett has served as Deputy Industry Advocate since 2016, supporting the strategic implementation of the South Australian Industry Participation Policy (SAIPP) to maximise the State’s economic benefit from government spending. His role focuses on increasing the number and diversity of South Australian businesses securing government contracts. With over 17 years of leadership experience across international sales, marketing, operations, and contract management—including managing director roles and running his own business—Phillip has successfully driven growth and managed government and private sector contracts across the Asia Pacific region.
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