Small furniture business Winya was hailed the overall winner at the CIPS Australasia Supply Management Awards 2018 at the ceremony on 5 July at the ICC in Sydney.
The Indigenous-owned national office furniture supplier won the category for Best Contribution to Corporate Responsibility, and was then voted the winner of the winners.
Winya set out to design Australia’s most socially inclusive business, focusing on disadvantaged indigenous populations and remote communities.
Over two years, it rolled out its procurement strategy, using the government’s commitment to indigenous procurement to scale its business and secure high-profile contracts, and working with with other indigenous businesses.
The judges credited its use of the procurement function to grow by engaging and using the wider community to deliver jointly beneficial outcomes.
See the full list of winners, below, and download the Winners Book:

Overall Winner
Winya Indigenous Furniture
Best Contribution to Corporate Responsibility
Winya Indigenous Furniture
Best Cross-Functional Teamwork Project
Newmont
Best People Development Initiative
Air New Zealand
Best Process Improvement Initiative
CIMB
Best Procurement Consultancy Project
ZED Management Consulting
Best Public Procurement Project
Department of the Premier and Cabinet, (SA)
Best Supplier Relationship Management
NSW Procurement
Most Improved Procurement Operation - Start Up
Hemmes Trading Pty Ltd T/A Merivale
Most Improved Procurement Operation - Step Change
Roads and Maritime Services (RMS)
Most Innovative Use of Technology
VendorPanel
Best Contribution to the Reputation of the Profession
Rio Tinto
CIPS Young Procurement and Supply Professional of the Year
Ricky Baharwal, procurement lead, Shell
CIPS Procurement and Supply Professional of the Year
Rob Halsall, head of procurement, Westpac New Zealand