Presenter Biographies
Please find below a list, in order of appearance, of presenters for the 2009 National Finance and Procurement Conference.
Biographical details for each presenter will be listed as received.
Mr Wayne Myers, Deakin University, Conference Master of Ceremonies
Dr Brian Spencer, Higher Ed Services, Board Chair
Dr Spencer has over 42 years of experience in university administration in Australia. He is a graduate of the University of New South Wales in Commerce and of Macquarie University in Education.
Until his retirement in July 2007, he was Registrar and Vice-Principal of Macquarie University for 21 years. As a member of the University's Senior Executive, he was responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for supporting the academic administration of the University, for the management of student services and for corporate governance.
Brian was a member of the original CASMAC Steering Committee which established standards for the development of information-technology based enterprise systems in Australian Universities, particularly student systems. He continued as a member of the Boards of Union Pty Ltd and its successor Higher Ed Systems Pty Ltd.
Over the years, Brian has been involved in a large number of projects for the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee ranging from Administrative Staff Training Courses in Australia to Shadow and Leadership programs in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Austria and Hong Kong.
Brian is currently:
- Chairman of the Board of Higher Ed Services Pty Ltd, the professional services company owned by Universities Australia
- Director of Dunmore Lang College Ltd at Macquarie University
- Director of the nation-wide Universities Co-Op Bookshop Ltd
- Chairman of the Board of the travel company Odyssey Edventures Ltd
- Vice-President of the Board of
- Member of the National Board of Advisors of AIESEC Australia.
From 2000-2005, Brian was Vice-President of the International Leadership Council of the Golden Key International Honour Society. In 2005, he received the President's Award for service to the Golden Key International Honour Society in Los Angeles and was admitted to the AIESEC Alumni Hall of Fame in Agra, India. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.
Brian's interests include sailing, bushwalking and rugby union.
Mr David Rumbens, Director, Access Economics
David is a macroeconomist specialising in retail forecasts, labour market analysis, project investment and government program reviews. His expertise includes economic modelling of consumer demand and retail sales, monitoring and analysis of trends in investment, and studies of regional economies.
David is the author of Retail Forecasts, a subscription based publication providing a detailed analysis of the drivers of retail spending and trends likely to emerge - a widely used planning tool for the retail industry.
He also writes Investment Monitor, providing detailed coverage of current and prospective construction and investment projects in Australia, and analysis of trends in project investment. David is available for guest speaker appearances at annual conferences or for more informal discussions, to assist with your corporate planning.
Peter Naujoks, Director, Strategic Procurement Group, Monash University
Dorian Borin, Director and Chief Information Officer, MaxSoft Pty Ltd
Dorian is the Director and Chief Information Officer of MaxSoft Pty Ltd, parent company to SmartaPay and is one of Australia's leading Software and Financial Services Companies. Dorian has over 17 years experience in the IT Industry both based internationally and nationally and has held senior positions in a number of international organisations including Sun Microsystems, Hewlett Packard and Origin.
In 2000 Dorian was awarded the Chairman's Award for Innovation for his work for Sun Microsystems customer Telecom New Zealand. Dorian's contribution was recognised as giving Sun a distinctive competitive advantage in Asia Pacific.
Over the past 10 years he has focused on leading and managing broadly skilled senior teams whose focus is on architecting, selling and supporting software and financial solutions. Dorian and his team are focused on continuing MaxSoft's innovation and leadership across the company's core businesses.
Upon completing his Bachelor of Applied Science Degree with Distinction in Software Engineering and Computer Science in 1992, Dorian was awarded the Eric Bode Prize for best final year applied science student.
Mr David King, President, Nelnet Business Solutions, USA
David King serves as President of Nelnet Business Solutions higher education division. Mr. King co-founded infiNET (now Nelnet Business Solutions) in 1997 and served as Chief Technology Officer responsible for the development of QuikPay®. In 2003, Mr. King took over as President and Chief Operating Officer of infiNET with responsibility for product development and operations. In 2007, he assumed the role of President of Nelnet Business Solutions' higher education division. This division now serves colleges and universities throughout the USA with a broad set of campus commerce related products including e-billing, e-payments, refunds management, credit card merchant processing and tuition payment plan administration.
In 2006, Mr. King was invited to serve as an advisory member to the Payment Industry Data Security Standards Council (PCI-DSS). He is also currently involved with the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA), which is one of the largest electronic payment networks in the world, where he has served on their electronic billing and payments committee. Mr. King applies his many years of experience in e-commerce, security, and compliance to help education institutions manage their electronic payments and reduce their risk exposure.
Harry Banga, Director of Procurement Services, University of Sydney
Harry holds a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Laws Degree. Harry has held national procurement roles at Stockland Pty Ltd, David Jones and has also had successful senior roles in the construction and water resource industries.
Harry's current role, as Director of Procurement Services at the University of Sydney, will involve managing the influencable portion of the University's current $1.1 billion annual spend. The role will provide the opportunity to build on the already established Procurement platform, driving the evolution towards a more sophisticated delivery model. This will entail developing holistic `best practice' business processes that support the vision for the University going forward. Within this role, the Procurement Services department is a key member of the Professional Services Board that directly reports to the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Vice Chancellor.
In Harry's previous roles as General Manager, Strategic Sourcing and Group General Manager, Contracting Services, NSW Procurement at the Department of Commerce, Harry led significant change within the Procurement environment and brought about improvement and innovation to the way government business has traditionally been conducted. NSW Procurement is a self funding business within the government which generates close to $50 million per annum in revenue and delivers ongoing annual savings of $330 million across a $4 billion goods and services portfolio.
Rob Halsall, Procurement Manager, University of Sydney
Rob Halsall is a Certified Procurement Practitioner (MCIPS), and a Strategic Sourcing Leader for the University. Rob has over thirteen years domestic and international procurement experience with Public Sector, Chemicals, Aerospace, Automotive and Telecommunications companies, providing leadership in strategic sourcing and integrated supply chain management.
Rob has been working at the University for almost 3 years and has enjoyed the diversity and exposure to different client areas, which are unique to the University environment.
Rob holds an honours degree in Business Information Technology, a Graduate Diploma in Purchasing and Supply Chain Management and has recently completed an MSc in Procurement.
Sarah Collins, Procurement Manager, University of Sydney
Sarah Collins is a Strategic Sourcing Leader for the University and is also currently using her experience to lead and develop the Category/Vendor Management team. Sarah has over 12 years Supply Chain experience within the Financial Services and Manufacturing sectors working for global multi-national organisations (JP Morgan and Unilever respectively). The last 10 of these years have been in a direct Procurement function focusing on Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Management, Category Management and Contracts Management both domestically across highly fragmented locations and spend portfolios, and within the Asia region.
Sarah is a graduate of the University of New South Wales having achieved a Bachelor of Science with 1st Class Honours, majoring in Manufacturing Management. Sarah is also a NSW committee member for the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).
Darren Cook, Corporate Payments Manager, Australia, Custom House.
Darren joined Custom House in 2002 after many years developing business in financial markets. He has a wealth of experience in selling a variety of foreign exchange products available in today's market. His knowledge of the Custom House online system is second to none and attributes the success of this product in the market.
Custom House is fast becoming a market leader as a provider of international payment services. As the Corporate Payments Manager for Australia, Darren's primary responsibility at Custom House is leading a national team dedicated to developing, designing and implementing fully integrated on-line payment solutions to larger organisations.
Over the past 5 years Darren has worked closely with educational institutions around the country and has successfully implemented a number of integrated payment solutions for the National Gallery of Australia (Finance 1), the University of Ballarat, (Finance 1) and RMIT University (SAP). More recently, Darren introduced a new product suite for managing international student fee payments. Monash University in partnership with Custom House implemented a customised Student Pay solution which includes an automated integration with SAP & Callista. A number of implementations are underway at other institutes including the University of Tasmania, University of Canberra and the University of Wollongong.
Darren is an ASIC PS146 accredited representative of Custom House.
Grahame Scriven, Agility Consulting
Grahame was born in the UK town of Worksop and because he aspired to watch world class sport he emigrated to Australia in 1974 to watch Australia repeatedly beat the Poms at cricket, rugby union, rugby league and swimming.
After working at NAB and major consulting firms, Grahame established Agility Consulting in 1995. Agility specialises in delivering corporate performance reporting solutions including; Profitability Reporting; Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting; Scorecards and KPI Reporting; and Business Intelligence Solutions.
They have major clients including The Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Australia Post, Singtel Optus, Westpac New Zealand and the University of Technology and work in the finance, telecommunications, government and education sectors.
Grahame enjoys theatre and red wine!
Monish Paul, Partner - Perth, Deloitte
Monish is a Partner in our Perth Consulting practice with over 19 years experience in Australia and overseas. He leads Deloitte's Education practice in Australia and has been the Program Partner on transformation and improvement projects at various institutions across Australia.
His experience covers:
* Business strategy development
* Enterprise Information Management
* Complex operational efficiency programs covering organisational re-structuring, business process
re-engineering and systems design and implementation
* Supply chain management
* Business case development
* Benchmarking and related analysis; and
* Change management
Email: mopaul@deloitte.com.au
Bhavesh Chavda, Director, Enterprise Information Management - Perth, Deloitte
Bhavesh is a Director in Deloitte's Consulting Practice in Perth, Western Australia, where he leads the Enterprise Information Management capability. His experience extends over 10+ years in consulting within the Business Intelligence, Enterprise Information Management and Data Warehousing arena. Bhavesh's domain expertise stems in defining and delivering business solutions and managing large-scale Data Integration projects. He has experience in all components of consulting from strategy development through to implementation.
Bhavesh has program/project managed major integration projects in a multiple industries and verticals ranging from small to large global organisations such as Vodafone, Barclays, Hewlett Packard, HBOS and BT. These engagements have covered leading integrated teams, consisting of consulting, client and 3rd Party vendor teams through the strategic design, development and deployment/ implementation of solutions.
Bhavesh's other areas of expertise include:
- Enterprise Information Management & Information Dynamics
- Systems & Data Integration
- Solution & Technical Architecture
- Data Integration, Governance and management
- Project and Programme management, including large complex projects and cross-functional/geographical client teams
Email: bchavda@deloitte.com.au
Nat McGregor, Director, Risk & Commercial Services, The University of Newcastle, Australia
Nat McGregor is the Director, Risk & Commercial Services at the University of Newcastle, where he oversees both the University's Risk Management Unit (responsible for the functions of risk management, internal audit, statutory compliance, fraud & corruption prevention and control, business continuity and critical incident management and insurance) and the University's Commercial Services Unit (responsible for the functions of strategic sourcing and contract management and commercial operations such as fleet, leasing, commercial systems, tendering, and travel, credit card and expense management).
Nat is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Insurance & Finance, a Certified Practising Accountant and holds an MBA from Deakin University, a B.Com from the University of Newcastle and Diplomas in Risk Management and Business & Strategic Planning.
Karyn Hughes, Manager Risk Strategy and Risk, Deakin University
Karyn Hughes--[BTech Monash, GradDipTech Deakin, MHlthSftyEnv Curtin, AIOH (Ass), RMIA(mem), ANZIF(mem)--leads the Risk Management function at Deakin University. The team manages enterprise risk management for the University including all aspects of insurance and business continuity. Karyn's background ranges sectors including manufacturing, utilities, local government as well as higher education. Not only is there a breadth in sectors but also in roles ranging from plant and equipment design; facilities management, quality, OHS and environmental management systems and auditing; health, safety and environment; business continuity and risk management with qualifications in Industrial Design and Health, Safety and Environment. She is a passionate believer in risk management in adding value to every organisation not being a compliance tool and attempts to imbue her drive, passion and quest for improving risk management both within her institution and across the University sector.
Kari Arbouin, James Cook University
Kari Arbouin's involvement in quality assurance, improvement and enhancement has spanned over 20 years in the health and university sectors. As Director of Nursing of a small rural hospital her hospital was the first hospital to become fully accredited in the Queensland Western Sector. She went on to assist a number of western hospitals in the sector to gain their accreditation and in her next position as Hospital Manager led a large private hospital through a newer process focussed on outcomes and improvement. Within her current position Kari has developed and launched the University's recent Quality Enhancement Framework which encourages a whole of University approach to quality with particular focus on the student experience. Her role provides her with the opportunity of reviewing both Faculties and Division of the University and across campuses and so she can identify many similar issues relating to the implementing of quality improvements in both academic and the professional areas. She maintains her links with hospital quality processes and has recently been appointed as an international reviewer for UK Universities.
Harry Rosenthall, General Manager, Risk Management Services, Unimutual Pty Ltd
Harry is the General Manager of Risk Management Services for Unimutual, a discretionary mutual of Australian universities and affiliates which provides a wide range of property and liability protections for its members. He is the former Director of the Risk Management Unit of the University of New South Wales, and past President of the Australasian University Risk and Insurance Management Society (AURIMS). He has published numerous articles on loss control and risk management related topics and is a frequent presenter at conferences and symposiums on risk, insurance and higher education loss exposures.
He holds a Master of Business Degree, from the Florida Institute of Technology, as well as Associate's Degree in Risk Management from the American Insurance Institute. In addition he holds the professional designation of a Chartered Casualty and Property Underwriter (CPCU), with the American Insurance Institute, one of the highest professional titles in the American insurance industry.
Harry began his professional career as an archaeologist working in the Mediterranean, Europe, the US and Mexico. Leaving Archaeology, in the late `70s, he began a career in government administration and has over 25 years experience in risk management and claims administration in the utility, government and private sectors in both Australia and the United States. He has been an adjunct lecturer and facilitator in both undergraduate and post graduate programs at UNSW and UTS, and is active in the development of risk management education in Australia
Greg Cousley, Manager, Government , NSW Department of Commerce
Twenty eight years in internal audit and review roles. The last 24 years in the NSW Public Sector across a range of departments, including Department of Education and Training , Department of Commerce & the former Department of Public Works and Services; the Department of Local Government; the former National Parks and Wildlife Service; the former Department of School Education; the Office of State Revenue and the Eastern Area Health Service.
Nineteen years in management roles in the NSW Public Sector and leadership roles for the last 11 years. Worked on secondment to the Office of Communications Technology (Commerce) as the Project Manager, Benchmarking and Process Realignment. Last 15 years in investigations, corruption prevention and corporate governance/internal audit related projects.
William Aukett, Adelaide University
Bill Aukett is the Manager, Strategic Procurement for the University of Adelaide, a position he has held for some years. He has previously worked in professional development and organisational development for the University of Adelaide. Prior to this he worked for many years in the public education system in South Australia as a secondary teacher, school manager and internal consultant.
Bill is the current Chair of the Australian Universities Procurement Network (AUPN) and the immediate past National Steering Group Chair for the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) (ANZ)
Trish Thomson, Manager, Commercial Services, Griffith University
Suzanne Grob, Australian Procurement & Construction Council
Suzanne holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree with honours from the University of Technology, Sydney and returned to UTS in 2004 to undertake a PhD at the Institute for Sustainable Futures. Her research examines the current state of sustainable procurement adoption in Australian organisations. Complementing her research Suzanne sits on the Green Procurement Working party as part of the Environmental Sustainability Initiative at UTS.
Over the past eight years Suzanne's work has focused on integrating sustainability into government procurement in NSW, across Australia and New Zealand. She chaired the Working Party that developed the Australian and New Zealand Government Framework for Sustainable Procurement released in 2007 on behalf of the Australian Procurement and Construction Council. After a number of roles in the NSW public sector Suzanne left last year to establish a small consultancy specialising in sustainable procurement. She continues to be involved in the implementation of sustainable procurement in government whilst completing the final stages of her doctorate.
Alister Cairns, MIS Manager, Budgeting and Reporting - Finance, University of New South Wales
Carol Brown, Senior Internal Auditor, Deakin University
Carol Brown is a CPA, member of the Australian Institute of Professional Investigators and Certified Internal Auditor. She has been with Deakin University for over 4 years. Prior to this she worked in Coles Myer Internal audit for 12 years, and before that with the Victorian Auditor General. During her time at Deakin, Carol has been instrumental in the effective implementation of a continuous monitoring regime incorporating key University functions, such as Finance, Human Resources and Student Administration. She brings to her audience a hands-on knowledge of the key ingredients for a successful CM project.
Adam McInnes, Chief Executive Officer, Open Windows
Adam McInnes is CEO and founding Director of Open Windows, the highly successful and leading supplier of Contract Management Software in the Australasian region.
Adam's background is in commercial construction management and contract management consulting and gained his depth of experience and knowledge of contract management working as a contract manager in Victoria in the 1990s. He has a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from The University of Melbourne and regularly lectures on contract management techniques and the state of the industry for the University's business school. Adam has presented papers titled `The Importance of Contract Management', `15 Compelling Reasons for Enterprise Contract Management', `Positive Contract Management in Outsourcing', and `The Benefits of Good Contract Management'.
Open Windows is the only company effectively solving the Contract Management Problem for Australian organisations. Trusted by Government and top 10 BRW companies to automate and manage the contract management life-cycle, Open Windows continues to deliver the best and most relevant Contract Life-cycle Management Software system in the country.
Adam is currently presenting the following seminar topic, among others:
"Contract Management: Delivering value, it's still about people"
With many organizations embracing electronic contract and procurement automation, Contract and Commercial Managers today must focus on value delivery in contracting as the overriding driver and key element influencing procurement success both pre and post-contract. Managers must retain the ability to drive decisions based on best outcomes, however these may be defined. They must find mutually beneficial solutions to the problems they face each day in contracting, using communication and negotiation as their most powerful tools. Gone are the days of lawyers at ten paces, and usher in `business at the speed of thought'. Managers who understand the issues, how they are affected by them, and possess the ability to prepare and to plan desired outcomes in contracting will still succeed over those who do not.
Adam will discuss the essentials of contract management and how, utilising these positive management techniques, managers have the ability to positively improve organizational performance, and certainly create better outcomes in procurement. Adam's presentations are based on practical experience, not theory.
Danella Stolz, James Cook University
James Conlon, Flinders University
Sue Dallison, Flinders University
Michael Hampton, Diners Club International
Philip Dennett, Tenderlink
Jeremy Hill, Onesteel
An accountant by trade, Jeremy has worked with Smorgon Steel for the past 19 years, being part of the company's evolution from a large family industrial company, Smorgon, to Australia's leading steel producer, Onesteel. During this time, the company grew through acquisitions and mergers and is now a publicly listed steel company. During his career with Onesteel, Jeremy held several senior financial positions within the operations areas, and over the past seven years, Jeremy has established and managed the shared services centre for Smorgon Steel, which he now managers under the Onesteel banner. Onesteel set up their corporate card program in 2002, encompassing travel and entertainment spend and small purchases.
