Argus Probity – Experts in Probity and Procurement Governance
Argus Probity Managing Director Lindsey Alford, Director Joseph Manner, and Consultants John Burn, and Robert Laidely, together draw on more than 40 years combined experience providing probity services and regulatory advice to government. All team members have legal qualifications.
Argus Probity clients receive only the experience and expertise of this executive team. This assures clients that advice is based upon a solid foundation of integrity, knowledge and principle, providing a probity framework for projects regardless of scale or complexity.
In addition to their legal qualifications in commercial, administrative contracts and construction law, the extensive experience of Argus Probity in government and regulatory matters, benefits clients considerably. Their expertise ideally equips the Argus Probity Team to understand the legal complexities of probity and procurement governance, and the legislative framework in which public procurement, and implementation of policy is conducted.
The Argus Probity Team offers a unique insight and understanding into the tender and procurement process. Argus Probity can provide you with the executive expertise needed to ensure your project meets the probity principles of government procurement.
Joseph Manner
Director, Joseph Manner, a Barrister-at-Law, is a Professional Probity Advisor with over 20 years’ experience in the property development, government and finance sectors managing and advising upon residential, commercial, industrial, tourism, educational and aged care development within the Government and private sectors at project values of up to $9 billion including the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2, City and South West Rail Link in Sydney, and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Joseph has undertaken work for both Government and the private sector, managing all aspects of the property development and financial backing process
Lindsey Alford
Managing Director, Lindsey Alford is published author in probity, a Barrister-at-Law, and is considered an expert in the field of probity advisory and auditing. His article, ‘Tendering for Government Businesses: process contracts, good faith, fair dealing, and probity’ appeared in the Australian Law Journal and is cited in Seddon’s Government Contracts text. His experience, over 20 years in probity, has resulted in him having obtained the confidence of the highest levels of the State Government executive branch.
Lindsey has completed over 250 Probity Advisory and Probity Auditing assignments. He has, with Joseph Manner, provided probity advisory and auditing to some of the largest projects in Queensland and New South Wales including the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2, City and South West Rail Link in Sydney, and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
John Burn
Consultant John Burn is a very experienced Procurement and Supply Chain Professional, with extensive experience in Commonwealth and State Government Procurement and Procurement Policies.
He is a Direct Associate to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply providing training on Probity, Procurement, Contract Management and related topics for that Professional body,
John's extensive experience includes:
Probity advice and audits • Provide Probity advice to state & commonwealth funded bodies for specific Procurement Projects • Audit and advise State Government departments on their compliance with state policies and procedures.
Training for Procurement Professionals for both ArcBlue and CIPS • Probity in Procurement • Introduction to Procurement • Contract Management • Advanced Contract Management • Contract Management (Infrastructure)
Project Management of Procurement & Supply Chain improvement projects, including • Development of Category Management and Strategic Sourcing Strategies • Procurement Policy and Process development and Implementation • Contract and Vendor Management Process development and Implementation • Business and Operational requirements identification • Stakeholder engagement and management • Benefits identification and management
Project Management of IT acquisition projects
Project Management of ERP Improvement Projects • Negotiation Skills • Category Management • Strategic Procurement
Working with the senior stakeholdfers to develop a strategy for Social Procurement that would increase the ESG benefits from procurement activities.
Previous Contracts have included: Glencore, Public Trustee Queensland, QBuild, James Cook University, NQPHN, Glencore, Origin Energy, Aurizon, Seqwater, Ausgrid, Aquila & Western Medicare Local
Robert Laidely
Consultant, Robert was admitted as a legal practitioner in 2005. He worked as a solicitor at both Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Crown Law before commencing his practice as a Barrister-at-Law in 2010. Robert has maintained a strong regulatory focus in his almost two-decades of legal practice. He has carried out regulatory audit and review projects, for both government and industry clients to provide targeted regulatory advice and skilled advocacy. Since 2022 he has focused on providing regulatory consulting services as Principal of the firm, In-House Connect. Robert brings extensive knowledge and experience in the application of administrative law and regulatory process requirements
As a consultant he has regularly been called to provide project specific advice and project management services to ensure high standards of compliance with legislative and government policy requirements are met. A few examples include:
• managing a complete review of one of the largest SEQ local government’s suite of local laws and working with the relevant State Department to complete the necessary State interest checks
• assisting in the development of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, including working with various stakeholders on specific provisions, participating in OQPC drafting processes and representing the State at industry and community forums as part of the Act’s roll out; developing and drafting site remediation plans for multiple contamination sites, which included the incorporation of expert advice from multiple and overlapping disciplines and converting that advice into legally enforceable and practically workable procedure
• acting as lead advisor for a market led proposal (MLP) for an innovative Queensland Police Facility. This involved providing advice to the market proposer, regular liaising with the Evaluation Panel and their consultants, and ensuring that Key Commercial Principles were consistent with the State’s MLP policy
His involvement in several large-scale projects, providing representation in numerous appeals in relation to statutory approval processes, large scale resumptions and enforcement proceedings for regulatory offences, equips him with skills to meet specific project requirements,
He was also required to manage conflict, confidentiality and apprehension of bias issues when sitting as the legally qualified Member of the Building and Development Tribunal.
Probity Auditing & Advice
Need help with the legal complexities of probity governance and the relative legislative framework?