Executive Search

Appointing a Chief Corporate and Commercial Officer for a Disability Services Agency

Date Posted:11 February 2026

Delivering an Executive Search to appoint a Senior Commercial and Corporate Leader for a National Disability Services Agency

The Brief

Future Leadership was engaged by a national disability services agency to appoint a Chief Corporate and Commercial Officer. The role was newly created to centralise procurement, elevate commercial capability and drive consistent corporate processes across a large, dispersed workforce.

 

An internal audit had identified significant gaps in procurement maturity, contract management, record systems, accessibility processes, and management of outsourced work. The organisation was seeking a leader with the capability to embed a commercially informed operating model. The role would oversee major functions including procurement, commercial contracting, corporate services and internal consulting, representing approximately 100 to 150 staff across more than 190 offices nationally.

 

The ideal appointee required strong commercial acumen, deep knowledge of public sector procurement frameworks, proven experience in corporate modernisation and the ability to lead organisational uplift across complex environments.
9.19.1

Candidate net Promote Score

Future Leadership combines truly personalised relationships with innovative technology solutions to ensure an approachable and efficient process for all our Net Promoter Score across clients, successful candidates and unsuccessful candidates is well above industry standard.

10,000+10,000+

Candidates supported every year

We maintain genuine relationships with past candidates and continue to support them with leadership solutions long term, after they land their role.

50.5%50.5%

We maintain genuine relationships with past candidates and continue to support them with leadership solutions long term, after they land their role.

Over half of the executive search assignments undertaken by our team have resulted in the appointment of outstanding female or LGBTQI+ leaders to high profile roles.

98%98%

Candidate Retention Rate for 12 months since 2002

Our thorough briefing process and ability to engage passive candidates mean that we go to great lengths to find the right person for the role – long term!

The Process

Commencing with senior stakeholder meetings, Future Leadership™ sought to understand the strategic purpose of the newly created role, the commercial and corporate challenges facing the agency, and the scale of transformation required. This informed a national search strategy supported by targeted online advertising.

 

The search focused on identifying senior leaders with significant experience in commercial and corporate functions across public sector and aligned environments, including those with blended private sector backgrounds relevant to Commonwealth procurement frameworks. In addition to drawing from proprietary databases, referral networks and previous related assignments, the process also considered candidates with demonstrated analytical capability, strong problem solving skills and experience leading large teams through organisational change.

Candidates were assessed against the role’s requirements, including commercial acumen, procurement and contract management expertise, capability uplift experience and the ability to shift organisational culture. Shortlisted candidates progressed through the structured evaluation process, with final discussions and interviews aligned to the organisation’s assessment timeline.

Top 5 Capabilities

01.

Commercial Acumen

Ability to lead complex sourcing activity, assess contract value and strengthen commercial decision making.

02.

Stakeholder Relations

Ability to influence across government, service providers and internal partners within a complex national environment.

03.

Organisational Capability

Experience uplifting corporate systems, procurement processes and enterprise operating models.

04.

Strategy and Purpose

Strong strategic acumen and alignment with organisational mission and public impact.

05.

Culture and Engagement

Capability to lead large, dispersed teams through change with clear communication and a collaborative approach.

The Outcome

The process resulted in the identification of senior commercial and corporate leaders with the capability to drive the agency’s commercial transformation. The recommended appointee brought substantial experience in Commonwealth procurement, complex contract negotiation and vendor relationship management, as well as a strong understanding of government procurement frameworks gained across multiple Commonwealth agencies.

 

Their background included senior leadership roles that strengthened commercial, contractual and project capabilities, supported by demonstrated success in managing significant organisational interfaces. At interview, the candidate articulated a compelling vision for how innovative procurement practices could create meaningful, long‑term benefit for people with disability. Their approach reflected an ability to balance commercial discipline with a clear commitment to public value.

The candidate also provided evidence of improved employee engagement results under their leadership, highlighting their capability to lead large teams, uplift culture and strengthen organisational performance. They presented a confident and well‑considered view of the future direction of the role, combined with strong operational understanding and a high level of professional judgement, influence and organisational commitment.

Consultant

David Baber

Senior Partner, Executive Search View Profile
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