Shared Value In-Practice Series | Building capacity for long term social procurement partnerships

Social procurement is gathering momentum as a mechanism to create long term social value. Social procurement is when an organisation purchases goods or services from an enterprise that creates social value in their business model. In the construction sector social procurement has gained prominence as government buyers are often required to allocate a certain percentage of their expenses to creating social value. By creating long-term sustainable and scalable partnerships, organisations support the growth of the social enterprise sector whilst helping enterprises deliver on projects requirements. You might also call it… creating shared value.

The Shared Value partnership between Aurecon and KBR Joint Venture (KAJV) and SA Water flowed from early discussions on identifying a social procurement partner for Aurecon in their supplier relationship with SA Water. In the process, SA Water and KAJV adopted the Shared Value model as the basis for building sustainable partnerships for social procurement that would inform and influence the practices of their network of contractors in their Capital Works program.

Fiona Lewis, Head of Impact and Innovation Strategy at Apricot Consulting, shares her insights and examples of social procurement and shared value in action. Fiona will be joined by Mike Gibbons, Senior Supply Chain Manager at SA Water, and Simon Ward, Program Manager at SA Water Capital Works, to further unpack how they are working together to apply this approach as a collaborative initiative.

This webinar will help you to understand:

• How creating long-term relationships sets you up for more sustainable and scalable partnerships
• How supporting the growth of the social enterprise and indigenous business sectors helps organisations to deliver on their project requirements
• Best practice approach to social procurement, and the opportunity taking a shared value lens unlocks

Fiona Lewis, Head of Innovation and Social Impact, Apricot Consulting   

Fiona is a skilled public sector professional with expertise in operations, policy and planning, monitoring and evaluation. Fiona has worked for over 25 years in programs committed to social change and social impact, predominantly in the education sector. She brings with her experience in working with and across different levels of stakeholders, that come with different perspectives and objectives, to achieve as close to win-win solutions as are possible. Fiona holds an MBA in Strategic Management, a PG Diploma in Business Management, and a Health Science under-graduate degree.  At Apricot Consulting, Fiona works as part of the team focussed on social impact, sustainability and innovation. 

Mike Gibbons, Acting Senior Manager Supply Chain, SA Water

Mike is SA Water’s supply chain category manager for capital works and services.  Originally a civil engineer, Mike has 20 years’ experience in public and private sector procurement in Australia and the UK and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply.  Mike and his supply chain team at SA Water have a passion for maximising the wider social benefits that can come through an annual spend of approximately $400M and are delighted to be participating in this exciting shared values initiative. 

Simon Ward, Program Director, SA Water Capital Works

Simon is the Program Director for SA Water at KBR (Kellogg Brown and Root Pty, Ltd). As the Water North Portfolio Manager, he oversees the delivery of a $400m program of capital works in Adelaide and throughout northern South Australia. In this role, his key objective in delivering successful outcomes is the development of a high performing culture and consequently teams that maximise the benefits to all individuals, partners, stakeholders and customers. Being passionate about making a real difference in our community through the integration of community, social and indigenous outcomes within projects and programs is one of the core drivers for this partnership with SA Water, its’ contractors and suppliers in the partnership and the social enterprises participating.