Ask The Expert

I’m Alana, a bid professional with 20 years’ experience. I’ve printed, bound, packaged, and couriered my fair share of bids. We’ve come a long way since those days, but there’s so much more the profession can do to achieve its potential.

I lead bidding functions, believing a true measure of success is how well everyone supports each other in these high-pressure environments during the toughest times.

I’ve been a Head of Bids in the construction industry for the past 15 years, working in public sector competitive tendering. My bidding experience covers planned maintenance and capital works, Repairs and Maintenance (R&M), Total Asset Management (TAM), retrofit, building safety, facade remediation, and new build. I have managed teams in the facilities management and transactional banking industries too.

Coaching, mentoring, and life-long learning is the way I get the most out of my team. Recognising the challenges of attracting new talent to a profession that doesn’t have a professional body, I’m working on a more structured career pathway for the next generation of bidders.

For my Masters Degree in Senior Leadership, I’m exploring the way that bid function leaders organise and design their teams to ensure competitive advantage.