I have known Ms Josette Robert, now Managing Director of Global Logistics, since 1987. My first contact was in my capacity as manager of this Department’s forms design, production and distribution until 1990. Since then I have been a recipient of forms supply, being the manager of one of the largest posts overseas and currently manager of a large program in a state office.
As manager of the forms section, I experienced major problems with production and distribution, and as a result I initiated contracting-out of the function. This forms contract proved to be highly successful and was renegotiated last year.
Ms Robert has been involved in both contracts – first as project manager for Ansett International and now as Managing Director of her own company.
I can give very positive testimony to Ms Robert’s abilities.
In the formative stages of the contract, her advice was very professional in every way – generous in ideas and detail on the technical side, objective and fair in relation to possible competitors. Ansett international’s bid, prepared by Ms Robert, showed thorough research and obvious familiarity with the nature of work required, making the final choice of contractor a much easier task than we anticipated.
Once the contract was let, the outstanding feature of Ms Robert’s team was reliability and flexibility in their response to the unexpected. Inevitably there were problems on the printing side – such as delays in the production of forms, incorrect labelling of consignments, inadequate packing, and on the delivery side – such as strikes, diversion of aircraft, water damage when off-loaded at Singapore etc. In each of these situations, the team quickly came up with solutions. I recall one situation in particular, when the team – from the manager to the typist spent all night repacking and sorting consignments so that a deadline was met.
Essential to the success of the contract was the idea of the faxed “pre-alert” developed by ms Robert. This gave overseas posts and onshore offices advance waring of a shipment, and because they were required to acknowledge receipt accordingly, it gave the contractor a record of performance and provided an audit trail.
Ms Robert is familiar with the Government’s purchasing guidelines and financial systems. She is also innovative in the use of computer technology.
Ms Robert has also been highly focussed on client satisfaction and initiated surveys of our posts and onshore offices to find out whether standards were being met and where improvements could be made.
As a recipient of the forms overseas and onshore, I can vouch for the continued success of the contract. The expertise and continuity provided by Ms Robert would be a significant factor in this success.
I am happy to provide further comment and can be contacted at the address above. My direct telephone number is 03 612 3001 and my fax number is 03612 3955.
Anne Coutts PSM
State Manager
Entry and Compliance
9 September 1994
