Meet Dan Renfrey – Infrastructure & Renewables Expert

How did you end up here? What is your professional background? 

I think a lot of professionals get to a point in their career where they want exposure to different industries and a wider range of specialist problems to solve. Consulting provides both those opportunities.

I’ve always been in Supply Chain and Procurement and can thank the Army Reserves for providing the amazing training early in my career that has steered me in this direction. I have a Master’s in Strategic Procurement, Blackbelt in Six Sigma and Post Grad in Enterprise Resource Planning.

How do you spend most of your days?

I try to strike a balance most days between valuable face time with clients and smashing out the work. A big part of my day is spent reading through material or researching the latest market trends.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently working on an exciting business transformation project with Flinders Port Holdings that aims to deliver a new capability for the Adeliade Container Terminal. My role is to develop and execute an overarching procurement management plan for the significant capital investment.

What trends do you see in your work?

Information fatigue. AI tools are assisting us in accelerating the research process, delivering greater volumes of information in a shorter period of time, unfortunately our brains are not designed to process information at the same speed.

What do you enjoy about working in consulting? 

Variety, and the rush associated with having to quickly adapt to a client’s industry, company culture, and overarching challenge that we’re engaged to help solve.

What do you love best about procurement?

The best feeling in Procurement is when an end user proactively returns for more help, or tells everyone why they should engage the Procurement team as early as possible.

What is the one thing you wish everyone would understand about procurement?

I’ve always seen Procurement as the glue in organisations with a foot in both camps, bringing the Field/Operations and Corporate/Support Functions closer together. Procurement is not about buying stuff – that’s purchasing. Procurement is about understanding needs and value, and then managing relationships to maximise the delivery of those two things.

What are you currently trying to upskill in?

I’m constantly curious about new AI applications, and I’m currently trying to improve how I provide context and clarity to the questions I pose the various tools that are available.

How long have you been at ArcBlue? What made you join us?  

Six months this time around, I’m on my second tour of duty. I loved my time with ArcBlue several years ago, working on the GROW Gippsland initiative and helping businesses make a positive impact in the communities where they were delivering major infrastructure projects. The main reason I joined ArcBlue is that the company is the market leader in positive social impact through procurement projects.

What project has been the most fun / the meatiest to work on at ArcBlue?

Fun can be interpreted in many ways, for me fun is about the people and the environment that you’re working in. When a client brings you into their world, makes you feel like you’re a key member of the team, invites you for a drink or to join their footy tipping comp that’s what it’s all about.

What’s the reason you love to work at ArcBlue?  

Coming back to ArcBlue was easy, the consulting team are so collaborative and willing to share their knowledge and help each other. All egos are checked out at the door.

What’s something not many people know about you?

I’m dangerous with an axe… A few years ago I took up axe throwing as a sport, without a doubt the most inclusive sporting environment in Australia.