4th & 5th June, 2025 | Royal Randwick Racecourse
The 10th Annual PASA Health & Aged Care Procurement Conference.
Bringing together the largest gathering in the country of health sector and aged care sector procurement leaders and their teams.
The challenges facing procurement in the health and aged care sector in 2025-26
With a significantly aging population, the challenge facing procurement in the health sector is no less than helping to make healthcare in both Australia & New Zealand affordable in both the short term and the long term. As yet, the national debate on health & aged care affordability and caring for an aging population still has no easy answers and Procurement is in the front line.
Together with the lasting impact of the Covid pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis, ongoing supply chain stresses, skills shortages, budget constraints, environmental, social & governance demands plus the lasting effects of the aged care Royal Commission demanding higher standards, are all exacerbating this core challenge. So, what is procurement’s role, when we cannot just ‘save’ our way to success?
Perhaps leveraging the triple opportunity of EFFICIENCY, COLLABORATION and TRANSPARENCY can help deliver lasting benefits from the supply side? … improving process, technology and utilising new innovations as well as working closer with stakeholders, suppliers and colleagues to deliver broader solutions encapsulating economic gains, ESG benefits and stronger governance can drive a more professional and strategic approach to procurement capability across the health sector?
Why attend this event?
This event will help procurement practitioners at all levels in the health and aged care sectors to better understand the exacting issues they face and the potential solutions. It will also offer real-time CASE STUDIES of how others are tackling the very same challenges that you face.
Traditionally, this event brings together the largest gathering in the country of health sector and aged care sector procurement leaders and their teams. Over 300 attendees are expected to register for ‘The 10th Annual PASA Health & Aged Care Procurement Conference 2025’ this June.
Attendees will get an instant benchmark from the case studies presented by their direct peers at this event, who most often face the same scenarios, and yet may be further down the road towards implementing solutions and how particularly they are delivering increased efficiency, closer collaboration and better transparency in the solutions they are implementing on the supply side.
This event will showcase best practice procurement in all elements of the health and aged care sector across the two days of the event meaning you can:
- Learn from other procurement leaders in the health & aged care sector on how they are forging and prioritising their procurement strategies through a range of CASE STUDY presentations from health providers large & small, public & private and direct & indirect
- Understand how vendors are innovating and working to meet the exact needs of the health sector post-Covid and post-Royal Commission with specific regard to the aged care sector – over 40 exhibitors will be present at this event and a handful will preset short, relevant solutions during the conference.
- See how up to 50 specialist healthcare vendors are innovating new solutions for new problems that you face across the health sector and are ready for immediate implementation
- Network with your peers and industry experts both throughout the event - including frequent refreshment breaks and the complimentary drinks reception on the evening of Day One at 5pm
Who should attend?
Buyers
Responsible for procurement of assets, goods or services for all segments of the health sector including public, private and not-for-profit providers of all forms of healthcare and aged care: including CFOs, CPOs Procurement heads, supply managers, vendor mangers, contract managers, category managers, analysts, FM managers as well as finance managers or financial controllers.
Suppliers
To the health and aged care sector
- Meet key procurement decision makers and influencers from health & aged care providers. No other conference delivers you such a targeted audience!
- Gain a better understanding of the challenges your customers are facing and how you might help address them and bring new solutions with better outcomes
The Stats.
The Programme.
Day 1
8.00am
Registration opens & pre-event coffee, networking and vendor exhibition
9.15am
The 10th anniversary event
WELCOME and EVENT HOUSEKEEPING
Lesley Wardropper, Managing Director, PASA and HACP10 event manager
9.25am
Jonathan Dutton FCIPS - Conference MC
9.45am
Over the last hundred years life expectancy has increased by around two to three years every decade. Does this additional time fill you with a sense of excitement, or ambivalence, or even doom?
For decades government and policy makers have been aware that a major demographic transition is underway – an aging population. But, the challenge is not how we deal with more old people in the future, it’s about how we adjust to living healthier, longer lives today. We need to understand and seize the opportunities that more time can offer us by rejecting an ageing society and adapting to an evergreen one.
How will this longer lifetime journey challenge our own beliefs and behaviours, require major shifts in our healthcare systems right now, and how can we afford It?
Dr Stephanie Allen, Senior Partner, Global Healthcare Lead, KEARNEY
10.15am
The financial insights by ‘StewartBrown’ continue to indicate real and sustained financial pressure on aged care provider’s bottom-lines in the short term, with some long-term greens shoots relating to the changes to accommodation pricing. However, the new Act continues to bring transition and transformation pressures in relation to governance, risk and compliance, the skills shortage, cost-of-living crisis, the cost of capital and the mandated direct care minutes continues.
Whilst the bigger question of long-term financial sustainability of the sector is discussed by key stakeholders, in the meantime there is much for procurement and finance managers working in the sector to focus on – to realign commercial models with rising standards, consider all forms of cost management, and forge a commercial strategy to underpin long term viability.
Siobhain Simpson, Partner, Stewart Brown
10.45am
Morning coffee break and networking
11.20am
Margaret Reid, GM Strategic Procurement, BOLTON CLARKE
11.50am
Procurement functions often design their operation as a mostly linear process, which risks the full value available of interconnecting elements of the life-cycle.
Whilst initiatives like SRM and eProcurement systems attempt to address non-compliance and inefficiencies, procurement leaders have to recognise the true value of procurement comes from origins of their design for the entire outsourcing life-cycle.
Striving for efficiency, transparency and collaboration are three of the keys to realising value proposition of the procurement life-cycle, that’s particularly important in health sector procurement.
Stuart Smith, Divisional Director, Western Health (VIC)
12.30pm
LUNCH BREAK with open networking
1.45pm
Erin Murray, Senior Manager, Procurement Excellence, Healthdirect
Neil Banerji, Commercial Manager, VendorPanel
2.00pm
Procurement has a crucial role in safeguarding healthcare and aged care systems against cyber threats. Focusing on strategies to evaluate and secure suppliers and their supply chains, this brief session highlights best practices to mitigate risks and ensure the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive health data throughout the procurement process.
Louise Hanna – General Manager, Excite Cyber
2.15pm
ResMed are global leaders in sleep medicine and operational in over 140 countries, yet were founded in Australia back in 1989 in Sydney, the site of their local headquarters and from where they still manage a local manufacturing operation.
Efficiency, collaboration and transparency are not new ideas for the ResMed procurement team and are very much at the heart of how they work today sourcing internationally to support a global operation.
Ama Aidoo-Sam, Director of Procurement Operations, RESMED
2.45pm
At Kimberly-Clark, we have spent over a century focusing on innovation and sustainability in hygiene, safety, and productivity. Our commitment to ‘Better Care for a Better World’ drives us to improve the lives of one billion people by 2030 while reducing our carbon footprint by 50%. We view ethical procurement as a partnership with our customers, aiming for a sustainable future that genuinely benefits the communities we serve. Together, we can create meaningful change that goes beyond compliance.
Ann Carmody, Category and Sustainability Manager, Kimberly-Clark Professional ANZ
3.00pm
Afternoon tea break & networking
3.30pm
The National Health and Climate Strategy sets out an ambitious plan to tackle the health impacts of climate change and the contribution the health system makes to Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. A recent estimate suggests that domestic greenhouse gas emissions from purchased goods and services alone make up over 40% of Australia’s total health system emissions. To address these emissions, the Australian Government is focusing on developing robust guidelines for green procurement and sustainable resource use, building on existing progress by the states and territories and Australia’s participation in an international collaboration to decarbonise healthcare supply chains, with the aim of delivering a high quality, net zero health system.
Procurement has a key role to play in building traction for this national strategy.
Dr Alice McGushin, Assistant Director – National Health, Sustainability and Climate Unit, Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
4.00pm
Metro South Hospital & Health Service is one of 16 Hospital & Health Services in Queensland. With an annual operating budget over $3.0 Billion, Metro South Health are a major provider of public healthcare in the Brisbane south side serving over 1.2 million people through five main Hospitals and several major health centres. Efficiency, collaboration, and transparency are all key elements to enhance the Commercial, Procurement and Supply Chain function to drive performance and deliver value.
Steven Jennings, Executive Director, Commercial, Procurement & Supply Chain, Metro South Health (QLD)
4.30pm
With demands on the supply side growing exponentially, it is possible for a small procurement team to quickly outgrow their remit.
Balancing the needs of a wide range of stakeholders in a small agency, weighed against commercial imperatives, can be a real challenge.
One solution is to “decentralise’ the procurement workload and share effort within a designed control framework – like at MCB in WA
Adam Blackheart, Manager – Procurement & Capital Works, Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, WA Government
5.00pm
Close of Day One & Exec Summary
Jonathan Dutton FCIPS – MC
5.15pm - 6.30pm
Event cocktails & refreshments ‘Happy Hour’ with open networking opportunities
Day 2
8.00am
Registration opens & pre-event coffee, networking and vendor exhibition
9.15am
Executive Summary of Day One & preview for Day Two
Jonathan Dutton FCIPS - Conference MC
9.30am
The health and aged care sector faces urgent transformation, with 46% of global healthcare CEOs worried their companies won’t survive another decade without change.
With an aging population, changing consumer preferences and innovation remaining a focus, reimagining business models becomes imperative for the health and aged care sector.
Procurement has a strategic role to play in supporting organisations navigate near-term challenges while positioning to capitalise on long-term megatrends.
Discover how leading the charge through efficiency, collaboration & transparency can unlock value and drive core business strategies.
Ilandi Croucamp, Director and Marty Jovic, Partner, Procurement Advisory Team, PwC Australia
10.00am
Plan, source and manage are essential pillars of a procurement – and Supply Chain provides strategic capability – but what about the bit in the middle? … ? Modern slavery, ESG, SRM, certainty of supply, quality, contract management, warehousing/distribution cost, surgeon engagement, robotics. We went looking for a ‘trojan horse’ project and discovered a supply chain solution to fix a procurement problem…
Greg Penfold, Head of Procurement, Southern Cross Care (NZ)
10.30am
Morning coffee break and networking
11.00am
Your chance to ask questions of our Q&A Panel in a discussion hosted by MC, Jonathan Dutton FCIPS, in conversation with key HACP10 speakers on the practical day-to-day challenges facing procurement within the aged care sector particularly.
Jonathan Dutton FCIPS - Conference MC
11.45am
A panel discussion on how NEXUS Hospitals embraced the challenges of building efficiency, driving collaboration, and increasing transparency in transforming procurement performance through strategic supplier & product consolidation, enhanced data transparency, and strong executive engagement.
This session will provide valuable insights into overcoming common procurement roadblocks and showcases a proven approach to delivering measurable impact in healthcare procurement. Ask your own questions
Rachel Hart, Commercial Director: Supplier Partnerships & Sustainability from Nexus Hospitals
Tracey Shearer, Managing Director, August Consulting
12.15am
LUNCH BREAK with open networking
1.15pm
The ANZ Health Procurement Roundtable is an interactive forum where membership elevates senior leaders in public health procurement, provides peer-to-peer access to a bespoke network of internal and external experts and takes members beyond a single jurisdictional approach. This collaborative environment is run by the APCC from Canberra to reduce the learning curve for addressing complex issues in health procurement, increase capability, and speed up local solutions to best practice – driving better value for every stakeholder in the health sector, but especially patients.
Rowena McCarthy, ANZHPR (Health) Program Manager, APCC
1.30pm
Many organisations often lump health & education sectors together when organising their teams due to the stark similarities.
In procurement terms, the education sector often seems more mature than in the health sector.
So, what can mid-sized health & aged care procurement teams learn from how education teams approach the same problems?
Turning new SPEND DATA into ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS was the start of a rapid journey of professionalisation and a substantial delivery of tangible benefits from proactive procurement for SCS.
Stefano Ferrarini, Head of Procurement, Sydney Catholic Schools
2.00pm
PTA is the peak body for the manufacturers and suppliers of 95% of the tests and technology used in path labs, hospitals, primary care and home testing.
Procurement framework agreements are often constructed for a broad range of potential goods and services. But optimising frame agreements for the supply of critical health devices such as pathology tests and technology could provide wins for the purchaser, supplier and the environment. And the biggest win should always be for the patient. The CEO of the PTA proposes how we could work together to reframe how we work together.
Dean Whiting, CEO, Pathology Technology Australia (PTA)
2.15pm
ICN work to encourage and enable SME sized suppliers to pitch for government and public sector work – particularly in the health sector.
So, what can you do to enable smaller local suppliers to better meet your supply needs? What is the value of being valued by local small suppliers to health?
Michael Buchanan, Tendering Advisor (Health), Industry Capability Network (ICN), NSW
2.30pm
Procurement in Australia is responsible for spending approximately $250bn on goods and services every year. What if every procurement team was tasked with ensuring 2% of its spend was directed towards Social Enterprises, First Nations organisations or environmental programs? Uniting shares how it works hand in hand with such suppliers and how this strategy has benefited Uniting in return.
Chris Heptinstall, Head of Procurement, Uniting Care NSW
3.00pm - 3.30pm
Executive Summary and Close of conference
Speakers.
Dr Stephanie Allen
Dr Stephanie Allen is the global health care leader for Kearney. Stephanie brings more than 20 years’ experience advising public, private and consumer healthcare clients from around the world to design effective strategies to grow and enter new markets, improve their financial and operational performance, apply new technologies, build strategic partnerships and manage large, complex programs of work.
Stephanie has a passion for women’s health, mental health, and longevity. She is known for her considered approach to complex challenges and bringing together teams that deliver tangible outcomes.
Stephanie also holds board positions on the North Foundation, NSLHD, NSW Health, is an advisor to the Tony Blair Institute and has judged the annual Asia Healthcare, Asia Pharma and Asia MedTech innovation awards for the last five years (2020 – 2025).
Siobhain Simpson
Siobhain Simpson is a Partner at StewartBrown, working primarily across the firm’s Audit and Payroll Compliance Divisions. She is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand with over 20 years of professional services experience. Siobhain and has provided audit and consulting services to not-for-profit organisations, focusing on the Aged and Disability space, over the last 15 years, resulting in a deep understanding of the critical drivers of financial performance for operators in those sectors.
Margaret Reid
Margaret Reid has 25+years procurement experience -spending 14 years in the FMCG industry with experience in international sourcing, food manufacturing, and supply chain before switching to the not for profit aged care sector 11 years ago. Over her time with Bolton Clarke, Margaret has expanded and transformed the procurement team, delivered on strategic procurement objectives, supported the Covid 19 response and taken an active role in the merger and acquisitions that have resulted in the organisation doubling in size in the past 2 years.
Stuart Smith
Stuart’s 28 year career spans professions in Procurement, Property, Technology, Finance, Risk and Consulting on client operating model design. This expertise applied in industry sectors, including Banking, Private Equity M&A, Retail, Fitness, and Healthcare.
A strong believer in Continuing Professional Development (CPD), Stuart ensures professional experience is based on latest techniques, frameworks and applications available. His resume of organisation success outcomes, attributed to accreditations and qualifications, including 2 Master degrees, GAICD, FCIPS, Black-Belt 6-Sigma process engineering, and several project management and change management accreditations.
He brings insights applicable to any organisation designing efficient life-cycle of its procurement operation, or seeking out inefficient causes for management. Stuart’s presentation combines best practice procurement life-cycle technical design with real-life successes from both health and non-health sector backgrounds.
Tracey Shearer
Tracey Shearer is an experienced procurement executive with a multinational background spanning healthcare, aged care, community services, IT, and manufacturing. With senior leadership roles across public and private sectors—including global corporates, government, and not-for-profits—Tracey brings deep expertise in designing and delivering commercially sound, fit-for-purpose procurement strategies.
As Managing Director of August Consulting, Tracey leads a team that works extensively with health and aged care providers across Australia, supporting them to address financial pressures and regulatory demands through tailored procurement and supply chain solutions.
August Consulting partners with providers to develop innovative service delivery models, reduce their cost base, and drive operational efficiencies—while maintaining a strong focus on quality of care and compliance.
Tracey is passionate about the evolving role of procurement in health and aged care and believes targeted investment in people, systems, and supplier relationships is essential to achieving long-term financial sustainability. Her team is known for their practical, hands-on approach—translating complex procurement challenges into clear, actionable strategies that deliver results.
Rowena McCarthy
Rowena McCarthy is the dedicated Program Manager for the Australian and New Zealand Health Procurement Roundtable (ANZHPR), her primary focus is supporting connections and enabling collaboration across jurisdictions.
Rowena has been the ANZHPR Program Manager since early 2018 and is passionate about adding value to public Health procurement through her role.
She works via the Australasian Procurement and Construction Council Inc (APCC) which is the peak council whose members are government agencies responsible for procurement, construction, asset management and property management policy and delivery for Australian State, Territory and New Zealand governments.
Through the leadership and collaboration provided by the APCC, governments across ANZ come together to create opportunities, increase procurement expertise through knowledge sharing and add value to procurement activities.
Dean Whiting
Dean Whiting is the CEO of Pathology Technology Australia, the peak body for manufacturers and suppliers of pathology tests and technology. Dean has over 40 years’ experience in healthcare – having been a senior clinical biochemist in major teaching hospitals, working in large health corporations in product manufacturing and product health and now advocating for better patient outcomes through technology.
Michael Buchanan
Industry Capability Network (NSW) is funded by the NSW government to match NSW Suppliers to Buyers across all industries, leading to economic growth, employment, and greater sovereign capabilities (40th year celebrations in 2024).
In my role as the Tendering Advisor, I support our regional consultants (covering all of NSW), improve the success rates of their cohorts of SME, with a range of approaches.
I also bring to SME’s attention other potential channels, such as Buyer-Supplier ‘Meetups’ like the PASA Health & Aged Care Procurement Conference, which perform an important role:
- Time efficient for Buyers to survey the industry for new suppliers and the latest innovations
- Time efficient for Suppliers to survey the buyer market, allowing them to identify demand themes
- Provides visibility of low threshold low risk procurements (below Open Tender) to potential new suppliers, to demonstrate credible delivery of products and services.
Michael Buchanan. B.E. (Hons), M.Eng.Sc (Res), UTS PhD Candidate, is the ICN Tendering Advisor, a Procurement and Commercial Leader with over 15 years experience across all sizes of organisation and most industries. His role and doctoral research is on improving SME engagement in Projects and Supply Chains – supporting economic growth, employment, and sovereign capabilities.
Ann Carmody
Ann Carmody is the Category and Sustainability Manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional (KCP) ANZ, where she has dedicated 15 years to roles in capability, sales, and category management. Over the past three years, Ann has focused on sustainability, translating enterprise strategies into local programs and collaborating with business and functional teams to launch initiatives that support customers’ sustainability goals. Passionate about incremental improvements and understanding that sustainability is a journey, Ann is committed to helping customers enhance their impact through practical and achievable solutions.
Stefano Ferrarini
Stefano Ferrarini is a seasoned procurement and commercial leader with over two decades of experience in strategic sourcing, contract management, and supplier partnerships across complex organisational environments. Known for his pragmatic approach and strong stakeholder engagement, Stefano has held senior roles across public and private sectors, where he has driven transformational procurement outcomes and operational efficiencies. With a strong focus on value delivery, governance, and innovation, he brings a wealth of insight into sustainable procurement practices and commercial strategy.
Steven Jennings
A senior Procurement leader with over 30 years of experience in Commercial, Procurement and Supply Chain Management across Public Health, Infrastructure & Engineering, and Automotive Manufacturing. Extensive leadership in complex environments to drive change and optimise both the function and the broader business
Rachel Hart
Rachel is an accomplished healthcare executive with over 20 years’ experience spanning procurement, commercial operations, health fund negotiations, and large-scale organisational transformation. As Commercial Director at Nexus Hospitals, she leads the procurement function nationally—driving commercial outcomes, strategic supplier partnerships, and sustainability initiatives across a rapidly growing network of day and short-stay hospitals.
A Chartered Accountant by training, Rachel began her career in top-tier accounting before moving into the private healthcare sector in 2004. Her commercial acumen has been shaped by leadership roles across high-growth medical services and hospital groups including MIA/I-MED Radiology, National Hearing Care, LifeHealthcare, Vision Eye Institute, and now Nexus Hospitals.
At Nexus, Rachel has been instrumental in maturing procurement capability—leading a major review of organisational spend, supplier consolidation, and targeted cost optimisation programs. Her team has delivered significant operational efficiencies while enhancing service levels and aligning supplier partnerships with Nexus’s growth ambitions.
Her experience extends across procurement strategy, health fund negotiations, clinical procurement, and doctor engagement models. She has also led commercial due diligence, systems integration, and post-merger transitions for numerous acquisitions.
Since joining Nexus, the group has expanded from three to 22 hospitals. Rachel has played a key role in supporting this expansion through fit-for-purpose commercial frameworks, scalable procurement systems, and governance structures that enable innovation while maintaining compliance and quality.
Rachel is passionate about strengthening procurement’s role as a strategic enabler in healthcare—building value-driven partnerships and embedding procurement in decision-making that supports both clinicians and patients.
Louise Hanna
Louise brings over 25 years of experience in the IT industry. With a Master of Science in Internetworking, she possesses extensive expertise in network design, security protocols, and operational management.
At Excite Cyber, Louise leads a dedicated team in developing innovative cybersecurity and risk management solutions, including Managed IT Services, Managed Security Services, Advisory GRC, Digital Forensics, and training programs. Her focus on best practices and collaboration ensures the company remains a leader in the industry, empowering organisations to navigate complex security challenges effectively.
Dr Alice McGushin
Dr Alice McGushin is Assistant Director at the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care National Health, Sustainability and Climate Unit, an Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine Registrar and Honorary Research Fellow at University College London. Alice has over a decade of experience working in climate change and health in Australia, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Prior to returning to Australia, Alice was Technical Advisor to the Greener NHS programme for England’s National Health Service and a public health registrar and academic clinical fellow at the University of Cambridge MRC Epidemiology Unit. Alice was the Programme Manager for the Lancet Countdown: tracking progress on health and climate change and was Co-Director of Lancet Countdown Australia and co-author of the annual global, Australia, and China reports, as well as other publications. Alice has undertaken medical and public health physician training in Tasmania, Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and London.
Ilandi Croucamp
Ilandi is a Director in PwC’s Corporate Transformation team, with over 16 years international experience helping clients across a broad spectrum of procurement activity such as procurement transformation, cost optimisation, procurement operating model design, strategic sourcing, etc.
She is passionate about helping clients in the Health and Aged Care sector drive cost optimisation and value creation by bringing technology and data analytics together with industry insights and procurement expertise.
Marty Jovic
Marty Jovic is a Partner in the Consulting practice, PWC Australia. Marty is a health economist who has provided economic and public policy advice on social issues related to health, disability, child protection, education and skills development. His experience includes quantitative and qualitative analysis to conduct program evaluations, cost-benefit analyses, assess economic impact and provide advice on health and social policy issues.
Marty’s qualifications – Adjunct Professor, Health Economics, University of Notre Dame, Master of Public Health (Health Economics), University of Sydney and Bachelor of Commerce (Honours, Economics), Deakin University
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What people say about our events.
The PASA conference was the best conference I had attended in many years – many practical advice and applications that my team and I can put to use straight away, a great investment of our time.
Procurement Professional
It was great to hear a wide range of presentations from a diverse mix of speakers, especially in person.
Procurement Professional
I very much enjoyed the depth and variety of skills experience of the presenters.
Procurement Professional