Meet Stephen Bailey

With over 14 years of experience in Commonwealth procurement, Stephen brings a wealth of expertise to any project. He has led procurement teams that advised and conducted procurement and contract management advice to projects, including End User Computing, Infrastructure, Communications and labour hire procurement. Stephen also loves the competition of field hockey on a Saturday afternoon.

Q Tell us how you came to join Proximity.

A I was ready for a new challenge in my career and saw that Proximity has some great opportunities available. From our first conversation, Proximity’s innovative approach resonated with me, and I knew it was the perfect fit. The timing felt just right, and I haven’t looked back.

Q What is your proudest moment in a professional context?

A Reflecting on my career, my proudest moment has to be when I served as the project manager for the High Frequency Surface Wave Radar project. It was a challenging and rewarding experience that culminated in winning two prestigious awards in the same year: the Australian Institute of Project Management award in South Australia and the Essington Lewis award for project management.

Q As a manager of people what is your biggest challenge?

A As a manager, my biggest challenge is ensuring that each team member is in the right role. I firmly believe that everyone has unique strengths and talents to offer. It’s my responsibility to understand those strengths and preferences, and to align them with the right roles. By doing so, we can maximise both individual satisfaction and team performance.

Q What advice do you give to someone starting out in a career?

A My advice to someone starting out in their career is to learn from those around you. There’s a wealth of experience in the workplace that you can tap into. Remember, it’s rare that you need to start from scratch.

Q What keeps you awake at night?

A Deadlines. Having spent a lot of time managing projects, I’m always aware of the ticking clock. From day one, the countdown to the project’s completion is on.

Q With an eye to the future, what does success look like for you?

A Success for me means providing top-notch procurement support to projects and programs. It’s about ensuring they achieve the procurement outcomes they need while staying compliant and delivering the desired benefits. Helping teams navigate these complexities and achieve their goals is what drives me.

Q Away from work, what is your passion?

A Away from work, I have two passions. The first is field hockey—I still love playing, and I still love the 70 minutes of competition on a Saturday afternoon. My other passion is fishing, which offers me complete relaxation.