David Turnbull

I'm a former career diplomat with experience in procurement in London and across the UK Foreign Office global presence. I've worked on change programmes and am familiar with many aspects of procurement. One thing that always struck me is how often procurement is given 'second place' at decision making time, when from my own perspective procurement teams should be seen as 'trusted advisers' who can play a significant role in driving down costs and gaining efficiencies across the procurement spectrum, all of which lead into an overall business strategy for any company/organisation. The caveat here is that vfm should not be at the expense of quality and sustainability. International Procurement Project Manager, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and British High Commission, South Africa - 2012 - 2013 Responsible for delivering a multi-Lot contract project for change in providing security services at HMG offices in South Africa; paving the way for an HMG Africa-wide guarding project for British Embassies; cross-Whitehall stakeholder management with FCO, DfID, SOCA and MOD in Pretoria and in the UK (for government collaboration); supplier relationships management in South Africa; strategic communications planning with British High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa. Author of a Security Project Category Management Plan. Head of Corporate Procurement Group Global Procurement Network and Communications, Foreign and Commonwealth Office - 2011 - 2012 Radically transformed procurement in the FCO through policy and guidance awareness, specialist recruitment, hands-on stakeholder management and promoting the procurement ‘brand’. Developed the concept of Regional Procurement Specialists and negotiated their co-location in Washington, Brussels and Manila. Developed Corporate Service Manager procurement training. Successful roll out of Procurement Audit interaction between London Procurement Group and British Embassies worldwide. Manager, Procurement Group Business Operations, Foreign and Commonwealth Office - 2010 - 2012 Set up a Global Business Plan and Communications Strategy following a Cabinet Office change review of Corporate Procurement Group: Delivered business plan and first communications plan for the FCO/FCO Services Partnership Board. Negotiated efficiency savings, oversaw finance and contracts management, Risk Assessment and Mitigation and Corporate Service Training;