John joined Commerce Decisions in January this year and heads up the APAC sales team based in Canberra.
In this blog we get to know a bit more about John and his new role.
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
As a relatively new team member, why did you decide to join Commerce Decisions?
I was drawn to the holistic approach in helping clients with their procurement challenges, specifically tender evaluation, support, consulting and training all delivered by the local APAC team. Having been engaged with Federal Government for over a decade, this was a great opportunity to support clients to deliver real value for money procurements. Apart from that, it’s an amazing team!
Tell us about your role
I’m focused on growing our existing client base in Australia and New Zealand and expanding our portfolio of SaaS tools and services to the wider APAC region, adding value to important projects for our neighbouring countries too. Commerce Decisions has a solid history of supporting strategic procurements including significant multi-billion dollar defence projects in Australia, large rail and road infrastructure programs for state governments, and other sectors including health, education, construction and ICT; I will be developing strategies to ensure our continued growth in this region with our market leading solution.
What is your focus this year?
This will be very much an education and engagement process. Commerce Decisions is well known and has strong relationships in the defence and infrastructure sectors; developing our brand across sectors where we are not well known and understanding how we can support them will be a large part of my first year.
What are you most looking forward to?
Growing the team! We already have exciting plans moving forward to significantly expand our team of consultants, technical analysts and account managers to better service our clients.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I’m an absolute music nut and will listen to almost anything (I draw the line at thrash metal!!) in my spare time. My hi-fi system basically plays all weekend and any other time I can fit in some tunes (I love both digital and vinyl!). I also spend time with my 13 year old son, tinkering with computers – he’s a bit of a whiz… My family loves travelling too. Our favourite places include Japan, Greece and good old Australia!
Where did you start your career?
I have always loved technology and have been involved in IT in some shape or form since the start of my career working for a small computer sales and support company selling some of the first luggable computers (remember Kaypro, anyone?) and fax machines! Later moved on to 3D animation and digitising systems, computer graphics pre-press and graphic design systems, and later still digital media streaming systems, audio visual/unified communications solutions, data storage and cloud solutions.
What energizes you at work?
An awesome team!
What one thing are you currently trying to make a habit?
More mindfulness and kindness. We’re all busy and need to make the time to look after ourselves and each other.
What one new skill or hobby are you focusing on now and why is it important?
Building guitars (see my photo below). I started this hobby last year and love spending time sanding, more sanding, and sanding again to within an inch of its life and then do the same with stain, and finishes. Very cathartic! It’s important to me because all work and no play, well, you know how it goes….
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
My dad gave me the best advice ever; do what you love and love what you do. Might sound a bit cliché but it’s always rung true in my life. If you don’t love it, don’t do it!
Find out more
If you would like to find out more about how we can support your strategic procurements in the APAC region, please get in touch via email
You can find more information about the Commerce Decisions team, including details of our current vacancies, on our Careers page
