Strategic Procurement and Commercial Management at Elysium EPL: A dynamic and experienced team solving complex problems by focusing on relationships
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Elysium EPL’s Strategic Procurement and Commercial Management Business Unit has a proven track record in delivering solutions to complex procurement and commercial management issues – especially within compressed timeframes. The Team’s Business Unit Lead is also one of the original team members: Josh Choong.
Josh is a solicitor with a background in Defence and Industry. He began his career with what is now Defence’s Capability, Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), where he honed his skills in complex procurement, contracting and commercial management, combining legal expertise with business (and a love of delivering capability).
“More than anything, I enjoy solving complex problems,” Josh said about his approach to work. “Working for Elysium EPL means there are often multiple complex problems to solve for our clients, and I like adding value, achieving an outcome and leaving things better than I found them.”
Josh leads a team of seven, all with experience in a variety of areas including legal, procurement, commercial management and finance. Together, they develop innovative, tailored solutions for complex commercial requirements across government and industry.
And complexity is what Josh and his team enjoy unravelling – all to the letter of the law, with no deadline too daunting.
“We are a great team to come to if you can’t solve a complex commercial problem in the usual way, and need it solved quickly,” Josh said.
“We will creatively apply the best agreed approaches, but still ensure compliance.”
Josh emphasised that his team takes a holistic approach that considers the broader organisational context and needs to design, administer, and implement solutions that will set organisations up for success.
“One of our specialties is in developing collaborative contracting arrangements that make the most of business relationships and seek to encourage and support Australian businesses into supply chains,” Josh said.
Josh believes that the team’s unique commitment to working collaboratively is key to its success, as well as their commitment to delivering an outcome “for the satisfaction of knowing they’ve made a difference”. Josh is also passionate about how human beings interact with systems, and how those systems can be codified to improve business relationships (“And a contract is a relationship!” Josh said).
This interest in the systems approach has led Josh to become Director of the Institute for Collaborative Working Australia, where he teaches these principles to executives from a range of business disciplines – and embodies them himself in his everyday work.
The team’s early work involved several multi-billion-dollar Defence procurements and has expanded to include helping finance and capability functions procure advanced Defence capability and developing a sustainment strategy for AUKUS activities under Pillar 1 and Pillar 2. Critically, the team focuses on working with Industry to improve their collaborative business arrangements so they can achieve major projects – with multiple partners – efficiently and on time.
A significant milestone for the team was the successful delivery of the Dock Operation and Reticulated Services Contract (DORSC) Re-tender Project, where they supported Defence in developing, drafting, and tendering a new contract for the operation and maintenance of the Captain Cook Graving Dock and its supporting Systems and Assets at the Garden Island Navy Base, Sydney.
The team have also recently expanded their work into Export controls, providing insight, advice and training on the increasingly complex export control framework and its impact on the Defence and National Security sector.
“Building robust, collaborative supply chains is key to Australian Industry thriving, whether it’s a small enterprise or a multinational,” Josh said.
“There is more than one way to solve a complex problem, and knowledge of the multiple variables that impact export controls will decrease the likelihood of a delay or even serious criminal consequences – especially if it could’ve been avoided.”
As for Josh personally, if you want to get into a good chat with him, feel free to bring up Cryptocurrency and blockchains.
“I am passionate about the potential this technology has to improve economic systems – and as a result, people’s lives,” Josh said of his interest in this area.
“And this is what our team brings to a client, when they come to us with complex issues – we want to bring our qualifications and experience to the table, solve their problem, and make their lives easier.”
To read more about our Strategic Procurement and Commercial Management Business Unit, and how we can channel our expertise to solve your complex problem, visit our webpage: Strategic Procurement | elysiumepl
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