Innovative Procurement Strategies with Thomai Veginis In this engaging episode of the RFP Secrets Podcast, John welcomes Thomai Veginis, Chief Procurement Officer at the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning. Thomai shares her extensive experience in the field of procurement, highlighting her journey through various prestigious roles within IBM, the National Australia Bank, Telstra, and the public sector. She discusses the challenges and innovative approaches in procurement, particularly focusing on the XPD process and its impact on procurement strategies. Thomai emphasizes the importance of fairness, transparency, and the benefits of an expertise-driven project delivery methodology. This episode is packed with insights valuable for procurement professionals and business leaders aiming to improve their procurement practices and achieve the best outcomes. 00:00 Main 00:16 Introduction to the RFP Secrets Podcast 00:31 Meet Thomai Veginis: A Procurement Leader 02:44 Thomai's Journey in Procurement 05:08 Challenges in Procurement Across Industries 08:05 Transitioning from Private to Public Sector 08:48 Fundamentals of Procurement: Public vs. Private 12:16 Exploring the XPD Approach 18:53 Anonymous Proposal Evaluation 25:31 Ensuring Data Security in Virtual Data Rooms 26:04 Adapting Processes During COVID-19 26:30 Building Trust with Executives 27:40 The Importance of a Project Champion 29:02 Effective Proposal Techniques 30:15 Evaluating Supplier Proposals 33:25 The Role of Key Personnel Interviews 38:11 Clarification Phase in Procurement 41:47 Risk Mitigation Strategies 45:16 Final Thoughts and Advice for CPOs