Procurement Assurance Specialist

Laura is an experienced procurement and probity specialist with over 12 years of experience in the Public Service in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. She has previously held positions within the Department of Conservation and Ministry for Primary Industries’ procurement functions, UK National Health Service commissioning and commercial contracting, and several large UK Councils in both procurement and programme management functions. She holds a diploma in Purchasing and Supply and membership to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

Laura’s career highlights with respect to probity, procurement, internal audits and project assurance include:

• Provided probity and procurement advice to several central Government Departments, Ministries and Crown Entities.
• Led probity reviews of tendering and evaluation processes and conducted investigations and complaint resolutions for Public Sector organizations.
• Reviewed, developed and implemented procurement and contract management processes and documentation that align to best practice and the Government Rules of Sourcing for Public Sector organizations.
• Developed good practice procurement processes for tendering, evaluation and contract management of social care services for Nottingham City Council, a large unitary council in the UK.
• Led strategic procurement initiatives including developing category strategies, re-tendering/re-negotiation processes and vendor rationalisation for central Government organizations, Health and Local Authorities.