Last week, the prestigious Nigels Awards took place at the 13th Annual PASA Premier ConfeX in Melbourne, seeing the procurement teams at ACCIONA-led M80 Ring Road Completion, Metropolitan Cemeteries Board WA and AirTrunk take home coveted trophies.
Recognising the extraordinary achievements of successful procurement professionals throughout Australasia, the PASA Annual Procurement in Practice Awards – rebranded the ‘Nigels’ in 2021 in memory of PASA Founder Nigel Wardropper – saw the shortlisted finalists present their case study entries live in person before the ConfeX audience voted the winners.
First up, the Best Procurement Project Delivery 2025 Award – sponsored this year by GEP – celebrated mature procurement projects that have gone beyond planning and are at the stage of execution.
AirTrunk’s winning entry showed a strong focus on implementation, execution and overcoming challenges to deliver tangible results.
Daniel Checchin, Associate Vice President of Supply Chain and Procurement at AirTrunk, said he was incredibly proud of AirTrunk’s supply chain and procurement team.
“This award reflects their relentless drive for improvement, innovation and partnership across the region,” he said on LinkedIn.
“The effort, collaboration and consistency that goes into delivering these outcomes is unreal. Recognition like this belongs to every person who’s been part of the journey.”
Finalists included The Salvation Army and Lotto NZ.
Elsewhere, the Most Impactful ESG Project 2025 Award, which was sponsored and endorsed by the Australasian Procurement and Construction Council (APCC), focused on ESG projects that have delivered outstanding results.
ACCIONA’s winning entry, presented and accepted by Tim Myles, showcased specific ESG objectives and impressive results, focusing on the M80 Ring Road Completion.
The project created employment opportunities for priority job seekers, supported and exceeded targets, and left a legacy by promoting social procurement programs within the broader construction industry.
Finalists included Fluence and WEHI.
Finally, the Most Improved Procurement Team 2025 Award recognised the greatest improvement in a procurement team’s capability – whether through people, process, technology, strategic, organisational or cultural improvement, or just good leadership.
This coveted award reflects Nigel Wardropper’s strong passion that relative improvement is a greater prize than scale or inherited corporate capability.
This year’s winner was Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (MCB) WA, with Adam Blackheart presenting the case study and accepting the award on behalf of the organisation.
Praised for his engaging, brilliant and humorous presentation by ConfeX delegates, Adam explained how MCB has transformed its approach to procurement, now leading instead of following with a clear focus on its people as experts.
“I’m back in Perth, a little jetlagged, utterly exhausted and still in shock from our success,” said Adam on LinkedIn, suggesting he would be spending his weekend polishing MCB’s award!
Finalists included Treasury Wine Estates and Racing & Wagering WA.
PASA’s Managing Director Lesley Wardropper extended her congratulations to the 2025 Nigels winners.
“It is a privilege to recognise and celebrate your outstanding contributions to procurement. Each of you has gone above and beyond, setting new standards of excellence and inspiring those around you,” she said.
“On behalf of the entire PASA team, thank you to everyone who entered this year’s Nigels awards and congratulations to all of our finalists who have set a high standard for others to follow.”
Want to win your own Nigels Award? Watch this space for 2026!
