The Advantage Sessions
From Function to Valued Partner™
A free half-day pilot workshop on spend intelligence, stakeholder engagement and true cost. Five cities, five seats in each, and you work on your own spend.
Spend intelligence, stakeholder engagement and true cost are the first three domains of the nine-domain operating model behind Practical Procurement.
Each city has its own page and registration
Every session runs the same agenda, 9:00am to 1:00pm with a light lunch to 1:45pm. Register only for the city you plan to attend.
Albury-Wodonga
NSW / VICRegional business and councils
Registration closes Mon 23 Nov 2026
View Albury-Wodonga session Wed 2 Dec 2026Canberra
ACTPublic sector, water, health and schools
Registration closes Wed 25 Nov 2026
View Canberra session Fri 4 Dec 2026Wollongong
NSWCouncils, health, aged care and regional business
Registration closes Fri 27 Nov 2026
View Wollongong session Mon 7 Dec 2026Sydney
NSWAll sectors
Registration closes Mon 30 Nov 2026
View Sydney session Wed 9 Dec 2026Newcastle
NSWWater, councils and health
Registration closes Wed 2 Dec 2026
View Newcastle sessionIt's a pilot, and you should know that upfront.
I've built new apps and a new way of working through spend, stakeholders and supplier cost. Before I take them to a wider market, I want honest feedback from people who buy for a living, including where it falls short.
There's no sales pitch, no card, no auto-renewal and no obligation. If you find it valuable and feel disposed to say so, a short testimonial is welcome, but it's your call and only used with your written permission.
Three one-hour workshops on your own spend
Bring one category you buy. In three focused workshops you'll see where the value is, who needs to be behind it, and what it should really cost. Each workshop is 30 minutes of guided discussion, then 30 minutes hands-on in the matching app. These are the first three domains of the nine-domain operating model behind Practical Procurement.
Domain 1 of 9
Spend Intelligence
See which spend drives your profit.
We work through seven pillars, from spend visibility and demand discipline to cost and market understanding, commercial alignment, risk, planning and collaboration. The app scores where you stand and shows the pillar holding you back most.
You leave with: a spend intelligence outline for your chosen spend, and your first action.
Domain 2 of 9
Stakeholder Engagement
Get the people who own, fund and use the spend pulling the same way.
We work through five stages of engagement maturity, from sponsorship and mandate to measuring and sustaining value. We also draw out what the business values, using the SOURCE Framework.
You leave with: a stakeholder engagement map for that spend, and where to act first.
Domain 3 of 9
True Cost
Know what it should cost, not just what it does cost.
We work through six dimensions, from cost driver visibility and commercial arrangements to negotiation foundation, value sustainability and untapped opportunity. The app shows your gaps and your two priority focus areas.
You leave with: a true cost draft and a roadmap to progress it.
We pull the three outputs into a draft project action plan, so you walk out with a next step, not just notes. You also keep three months' access to all three apps.
It's free because I want honest feedback from people who buy for a living. A short testimonial is welcome if you feel disposed to give one, never expected.
Agenda
- 8:45
Doors open
Tea and coffee, log in to the apps
- 9:00
Welcome and pilot briefing
Why it's free, and choosing the spend you'll work on
- 9:10
Workshop 1: Spend Intelligence
30 min guided discussion, 30 min hands-on in the app
- 10:10
Break
Tea and coffee
- 10:20
Workshop 2: Stakeholder Engagement
30 min guided discussion, 30 min hands-on in the app
- 11:20
Break
Tea and coffee
- 11:30
Workshop 3: True Cost
30 min guided discussion, 30 min hands-on in the app
- 12:30
Action plan and close
Combine the three outputs into a draft project action plan
- 1:00
Light lunch
Informal 1:1 time, to 1:45pm
- A spend intelligence outline
- A stakeholder engagement map for your chosen spend
- A true cost draft and a roadmap to progress it
- A draft project action plan
- Three months' free access to all three apps
Procurement and finance professionals, and interested budget holders. No software or prior training needed.
A laptop, and one category you buy regularly, ideally your top ten suppliers by spend. De-identified figures are fine. If you have no data, come anyway and we'll work from your estimations and qualitative knowledge on a category together. We will confirm details in the week prior.
Warwick Shaw
Principal Consultant, Practical Procurement™
Warwick's procurement career spans more than two decades across automotive, pharmaceuticals, health care, aviation, FMCG, transport, government and more. He has worked globally in a vast variety of geographies and cultures. Client focus is currently public and private organisations across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
Seats
Maximum 5 per open session. When it's full it closes, and the waitlist covers cancellations only.
Team sessions
Up to 10 people from one organisation, hosted at your own site. Same agenda, same three-month access.