MCIPS Event

Held at the Terraces on Wickham Hotel, attendees networked over canapés and bubbly but more importantly to listen to Louisa Frisby, Membership Manager of CIPS Australia present ‘Pathways to MCIPS’. Louisa delved into the different methods to obtain MCIPS-the degree level qualification recognized as the global standard for professional competency. Explained and outlined the breadth and depth of our professional qualification. Once her presentation had finished, the event morphed into a forum for questions, with Louisa commenting on the interest from all attendees to progress through this path.

May event

The next event to be held in the QLD region, titled “Implementing a strategic procurement change program”. It is to be held on the 24th May at a destination to be confirmed. Ian Maynard, from Brisbane City Council and Keith Trower, CIPS Deputy CEO from the UK will both be presenting. Stay tuned for the upcoming invite via email shortly.

Committee Member Profile – René Kling

René Kling operates his own consulting and training organisation, RMK Business Consulting. He has 25 years experience in the Logistics and Supply Chain fields, including holding a National Logistics Manager position and several years as a Senior Management Consultant. Organisations he has worked for include the RAAF, Mobil Oil, Ford Motor Company, Local Government, Import and Distribution companies and a national consulting firm. René is currently the Queensland Regional Chair for the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Australia (MCIPS qualification), and holds memberships in a number of other organisations, including the Australian Institute of Management, the Logistics Association of Australia and the Australian Institute of Training and Development.

Qualifications include a Master of Business in Logistics Management, an MBA and a Master of E-Commerce, and he is currently completing a Doctor of Education. He delivers training in procurement and contracts for the Queensland and NSW Governments and lectures in Strategic Management, Logistics Management, Quality Management and Purchasing and Materials Management for Central Queensland University on a sessional basis.

René specialises in assisting organisations achieve process improvements, and has published articles in the Australian Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management (AIPMM) magazine ‘Australian Purchasing and Supply’. He has also contributed two chapters to the new AIPMM textbook “Supply Chain Management: A Procurement Perspective”, which replaced the previous editions entitled “Purchasing and Supply for Australia”, first published in 1980 and has been an indispensable guide to the Purchasing and Supply sector.

Regional Chairs reappointed

The CIPSA Steering Group met for the tenth time on the 21st of March 2006 at the CIPSA offices in Melbourne. The wide ranging agenda covered the recent membership survey, CIPSA business plans for 2006, several ongoing current CIPSA projects, the ACT regional business plan and crucially, the tenure of the Regional Chairs and the Regional Committees for each CIPSA region which is due to expire 31st October 2006.

The Steering Group unhesitatingly recommended that in view of the fact such a positive start had been made in all of six regions, that the Regional Chairs and current regional committees should be invited to remain in tenure until the 31st of December 2007. Before then, the Steering Group would consider and suggest how best to appoint new Regional Chairs and committees in the future. Congratulations to all the regional committees for a great start to the CIPSA regional network.

The Public Sector Procurement Forum

The PSPF event will be held at the Hyatt Hotel, Canberra on 17-18 May 2006. The agenda will include many of the primary issues facing Government buyers today. Confirmed speakers include the top UK civil servant from the Office of Government and Commerce (OGC) responsible for the attainment of a £7 billion savings target from professional procurement efforts set by UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown. Several other top speakers from around the public sector procurement community in Australia are also confirmed. Full details are available on www.cipsaconferences.com.au.

The Knowledge Club

CIPSA members now have a new benefit of membership – The Knowledge Club. Circulated quarterly, The Knowledge Club is a digest of brief articles on current aspects of procurement, which are relevant, topical and interesting. The first issue was circulated on email in html format recently. Further reading on many of the topics included in The Knowledge Club are available in the members-only area of the main CIPSA website www.cipsa.com.au. Of course, members can print The Knowledge Club articles individually and circulate them to colleagues where relevant. The Knowledge Club email circular is next due out in early July.

CIPSA membership survey results

The CIPSA Member Satisfaction Survey was completed by almost 360 CIPSA members during November 2005 – over 20% of the membership at that time with some very positive results. The detailed results from the membership survey are published in the edition of Procurement Professional magazine published in late May. The results will also be published on the CIPSA website at www.cipsa.com.au soon afterwards.

University of Melbourne Survey-Supply Chain Uncertainty

CIPSA members are invited to participate in the new University of Melbourne survey of supply chain uncertainty. Click here to download and print the PDF survey, complete and send it to University of Melbourne – it should take no more than 15 minutes of your time.

WA Region raises the bar

What began as a business lunch with Sam Walsh, CEO Rio Tinto Iron Ore, soon transformed into a major event for the WA region recently. Over 170 people networked over a gourmet three course meal held at the Hyatt Regency Perth. Sam Walsh presented “Boom and Beyond-Rio Tinto’s supply chain opportunities in a changing world”. Sam called for a FTA with China and a new ‘national interest’ test on anti-dumping laws. The three journalists in the room reported the speech extensively with articles appearing in WA Business News and the Age. Sam also spoke in detail about the Rio Tinto procurement strategy. A business card drop was completed for a one-off prize to the Perth Conference, “SUPPLY MARKET INTELLIGENCE” in September, congratulations to Brain Henman! Special congratulations to the WA committee for a job well done-extremely well done! But instead of reeling in their success, it’s straight back to the drawing board to begin planning of the next event with Woodside Energy in May…stay tuned!

The BRW Client Choice Awards 2006

The 2006 BRW Client Choice Awards held on the 8th of March 2006 in Sydney are profiled in the latest edition (March 9 – April 5) of BRW magazine. These annual awards are presented to the best professional services firms across a range of criteria. Professional services firms including accountants, lawyers, consulting engineers, actuaries, specialist consulting firms and management consultancy firms compete for the awards. All firms participating in the awards scheme have their clients independently surveyed by research firm Beaton Consulting. CIPSA was one of 20 top professional bodies and institutes endorsing the research methodologies and supporting the awards.

PP6

The sixth issue of Procurement Professional magazine is out now. Published on the 3rd of April 2006, PP6 focuses on the management of indirect expenditure and is timed to coincide with the “Managing the Tail” conference event in Sydney on 6th of April which addresses the different ways in which organisations can manage their indirect expenditure lines. Specific topics include buying marketing services, supplier management, doing business in China and the basics of travel buying. Look out for your copy now. All the key articles published in PP magazine are subsequently made available on the CIPSA website www.cipsa.com.au.

CIPSA membership fees are tax deductible

April is a good time to start planning ahead to maximise your tax allowances before the end of the tax year – 30 June 2006. Last year, CIPSA had an extraordinary amount of membership renewal forms received on the 30th of June itself - since membership fees are tax deductible and many members needed a tax receipt inside the financial year to qualify! Membership fees are deductible at your marginal rate of tax. So, for example, a member paying a marginal rate of tax of 42% could save $84 in tax deduction against the standard membership renewal fee of $200. A saving of 42%. However, this example is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute formal tax advice or financial advice in any way. CIPSA advise that you contact your accountant or financial advisor regarding your tax affairs on your personal financial situation prior to taking any action with the aim of reducing your tax liability.

CIPSA Executive Open Training Programme for 2006

The CIPSA Executive Open Training Programme has been filling up fast, with Strategic Price Management already sold out. These courses have been specifically designed to help procurement practitioners achieve their objectives, build professional knowledge, learn core skills and change behaviors towards better practices-but at an executive level.
Visit www.cipsa.com.au and look under ‘training’ to book yourself into one of the courses best suited to you. Don’t wait, these courses will be sold out soon!

CIPSA office opening times for Easter break

CIPSA will close the office at 3pm on 13th April for Easter and re-open 8.30am as normal on 18th April.

CIPS Australia Level 10, 520 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Tel: 1300 765 142, Fax: 1300 765 143, Email: info@cipsa.com.au, www.cipsa.com.au

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