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Entry Fee
Free
Location
100% online (via Zoom)
Empowering Future Leaders to Tackle Real-World Challenges through Public Sector Procurement
The Australian Commonwealth Government and New Zealand Government award approximately over $150 billion in contracts each year. Public procurement is more than purchasing, it’s a powerful tool for delivering public value, advancing social and environmental goals, and ensuring ethical supply chains. The Procure for Impact: Procurement Challenge 2026 invites university students across Australia and New Zealand to take on this challenge through a dynamic, hands-on case competition.
Delivered by AcademyGlobal in partnership with the Australasian Procurement and Construction Council (APCC)
The Australasian Procurement and Construction Council (APCC), as the peak Council for public-sector procurement and construction, is proud to support this university student competition that challenges participants to respond to a government policy scenario through procurement strategy.
This initiative aligns with APCC’s commitment to advancing procurement as a recognised profession that delivers maximum public value, integrity, and sustainability. By engaging future leaders, we are investing in capacity building, professional excellence, and the continuous improvement of procurement practices.
The competition promotes critical thinking, innovation, and strategic decision-making — skills essential to modern, agile procurement. It also strengthens awareness of procurement’s vital role in delivering positive social, environmental, and economic outcomes.
Through fostering early talent, encouraging collaboration, and showcasing procurement’s ability to translate policy into action, APCC is helping build a resilient, capable procurement workforce that can meet evolving public-sector needs. This competition reflects our core values of professionalism, transparency, sustainability, and delivering the greatest value for communities we serve.
Judges
Sabrena King
Assistant Secretary,
Australian Government
Department of Finance
Deanne Hawkswood
Chief Procurement Officer,
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Queensland Government
Andrew Bennett
Deputy Director General,
Department of Housing and Public Works,
Queensland Government
Kyla Kerkow
Executive Group Manager, Pipeline,
Capability and Estate
ACT Government
Why Participate?
- Step into a real-world role: Tackle policy-linked procurement issues just like a government advisor
- Choose a theme that matters to you: Environmental, ethical, or social impact
- Sharpen your skills: Build practical procurement, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Impress senior leaders: Present to experienced senior public sector procurement leaders
- Stand out in the job market: Show initiative, critical thinking, and public policy understanding
- Win prizes and recognition: Finalists receive exposure across professional networks and cash prizes for the top teams
Overview
Participants will work in teams to respond to a real-world-inspired government procurement scenario.
Teams will act as procurement advisors to a hypothetical public sector agency, developing a procurement-led response that demonstrates how policy objectives can be delivered through procurement strategy, market engagement and contract design.
Key Features:
- Entirely online and free to enter
- Teams of 3 students from the same university
- Maximum 3 teams per university (first come, first served)
Who Can Participate?
- Undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled at any university in Australia or New Zealand
- Teams must consist of three students from the same university
- A maximum of three teams per university will be accepted
How to Register?
- Form a team of 3 current university students
- Visit https://academyglobal.com/procurement-challenge/ and complete the registration form by Friday 24 July 2026
- As part of eligibility criteria, make a mandatory post on LinkedIn regarding your participation
- Attend the online Information Session on Monday 27 July
Competition Structure
Preliminary Round
- Teams submit a 10-minute video presentation responding to the case brief.
- Evaluated by a panel using a standardised rubric.
Final Round
- Top teams present live via Zoom (10-min presentation + 5-min Q&A).
- Optional coaching sessions with experienced procurement professionals for finalists.
- Judged by senior government leaders.
- Virtual Awards Ceremony
- Winners announced with representatives from universities and procurement networks in attendance.
Prizes
- First Place: $1,000 cash prize, digital badge and certificate
- Second Place: $500 cash prize, digital badge and certificate
- Third Place: $250 digital badge and certificate
All participants will receive a certificate of participation.
Key Dates
| Milestone | Date | Details |
| Registration Closes | Friday 24 July | Final day to register your team |
| Case Released | Monday 27 July | Case materials distributed |
| Information Session | Monday 27 July | Live briefing and Q&A |
| Round 1 Submission | Wednesday 5 August | Deadline for video presentations |
| Final Round & Awards | Friday 14 August | Finalist presentations + awards ceremony |
Australasian Procurement and Construction Council
The Australasian Procurement and Construction Council (APCC), as the peak Council for public sector procurement and construction. Through fostering early talent, encouraging collaboration, and showcasing procurement’s ability to translate policy into action, APCC is helping build a resilient, capable procurement workforce that can meet evolving public sector needs. This competition reflects our core values of professionalism, transparency, sustainability, and delivering the greatest value for communities we serve.
Badges
1st Prize
AUD$1,000
2nd Prize
AUD$500
3rd Prize
AUD$250
Participant Spotlight
Priya Roop Rai
University of Canberra · 3rd Place – Procure for Impact Challenge 2025
What motivated you to participate in the APCC & AcademyGlobal Procurement Challenge?
My motivation was the lack of knowledge I had on procurement. I didn’t know what it was and wanted to challenge myself to learn something new.
What was the most valuable aspect of the experience for you?
The opportunity to present in front of highly regarded procurement professionals was incredibly valuable as it gave more weight and importance to our presentation.
How did the competition help develop your skills (e.g. procurement, teamwork, strategic thinking)?
The competition strengthened my researching skills, particularly finding real-world procurement case studies which were relevant to our topic. I was also able to develop my multi-tasking and prioritising skills, juggling the competition with full-time university studies and part-time work commitments.
What stood out about working on a real-world, policy-driven procurement scenario?
Knowing that the procurement strategies we come up with could be feasibly used in the real-world and the positive impact that it would have on various communities stood out the most.
How has participating in the competition influenced your career thinking or opportunities?
I’ve never considered procurement as a career path, but this competition has given me the opportunity to experience what a career in procurement would look like.
What would you say to students considering entering the competition in 2026?
Come to the competition with an open mind. You’ll be amazed at how much you can learn in a short amount of time if you have an open mind set and give it your all.
Do you have a favourite moment or highlight from the competition experience?
The nervousness and adrenaline while the winners were being announced at the end of the competition was my favourite moment and being relieved that we secured a spot on the podium!
Luella Green
University of Technology Sydney · 1st Place – Procure for Impact Challenge 2025
What motivated you to participate in the APCC & AcademyGlobal Procurement Challenge?
I was motivated by the opportunity to experience turning public policy choices into real-world decisions. In particular, I was drawn to exploring how social and environmental outcomes can be embedded into everyday policy decision-making.
What was the most valuable aspect of the experience for you?
I really enjoyed breaking down how procurement worked and, from there, evaluating how the current gaps could be addressed through meaningful social and environmentally driven solutions.
How did the competition help develop your skills (e.g. procurement, teamwork, strategic thinking)?
The competition significantly strengthened my critical thinking skills, team work and my ability to look beyond surface level insight. Particularly, I was able to learn how to shape the current gaps in the system as opportunities to embed social and environmental outcomes into our government.
What stood out about working on a real-world, policy-driven procurement scenario?
What stood out most was realising how complex real procurement decisions are in practice. Balancing cost, efficiency, and social and environmental outcomes simultaneously was quite challenging at times, and it really reinforced just how much influence procurement decisions can have on broader societal outcomes.
How has participating in the competition influenced your career thinking or opportunities?
The competition opened my eyes to the wide range of career paths within government and broader public policy. I have since seriously considered pursuing a career in an area that drives social impact through public policy decision-making, and this competition has been a key influence in that shift.
What would you say to students considering entering the competition in 2026?
I would say absolutely participate. It was such a brilliant experience that really opened my eyes to how much policy decisions can advance the social and environmental outcomes of society.
Do you have a favourite moment or highlight from the competition experience?
I really loved working with my team to bring our presentation together. The mentoring session was also such a highlight, as it was a brilliant opportunity to hear feedback from someone with fantastic industry insight – which I have not had the opportunity to experience before.
Participant Testimonials
I was motivated by the opportunity to experience turning public policy choices into real-world decisions. I really enjoyed breaking down how procurement worked and evaluating how current gaps could be addressed through meaningful social and environmentally driven solutions. The competition strengthened my critical thinking, teamwork, and analytical skills, and it opened my eyes to careers connected to public policy and social impact.
Faculty Testimonials
I have had a very positive experience working with AcademyGlobal Competitions. Their competitions provide students with valuable exposure to real-world business and risk management challenges while helping them strengthen their analytical thinking, teamwork, and presentation skills. I appreciate the opportunities they create for universities and students, and I look forward to future collaborations.
