Meet the Chair of the Commercial Working Group: An Interview with Boyd Bostock

A conversation with Boyd Bostock, Head of IT Systems and Platforms at Brisbane Catholic Education and Chair of the Catholic Network Australia's Commercial Working Group.

Boyd Bostock, Chair of the Catholic Network Australia's Commercial Working Group (CWG), is a dedicated advocate for collaborative procurement in Catholic education. In this interview, we explore the CWG's mission, current achievements, and strategic vision for the future.

Q: What is your role within Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE)?

As Head of IT Systems and Platforms at BCE, my role involves leading a team of technical experts and regularly engaging with a range of technology vendors to support the 146 schools and over 85,000 students and staff within Brisbane Catholic Education. Through my position I am able to leverage my experience and vendor relations in BCE to advance the ambitions of CNA’s Commercial Working Group (CWG).

I'm passionate about leveraging collective purchasing power to benefit every Catholic school across Australia. The CWG’s mission is to drive cost efficiency and operational excellence by negotiating arrangements that individual dioceses couldn't achieve on their own. As Chair of the CWG, I collaborate with other Catholic education leaders to share procurement expertise and deliver tangible savings to our communities.

Q: What is the role of the Commercial Working Group (CWG) in supporting Catholic education?

The CWG focuses on delivering both tangible cost savings and intangible benefits through collective procurement expertise. We work to identify commercial challenges within the Catholic education sector and collaborate to find solutions that leverage our combined purchasing power. Our overarching goal is to minimise the growing burden of IT costs while empowering schools and systems of schools with the autonomy of choosing the best technologies to support their unique environments.

The CWG plays a crucial role in supporting Catholic education by negotiating master service agreements, managing vendor relationships, and ensuring schools have access to essential technology services at competitive rates. A key aim is to ensure that all Catholic education providers can access the best learning technologies regardless of their location or size - something that would be impossible for many schools or small Dioceses to achieve independently.

Q: Are there any specific initiatives/projects the Working Group is currently working on?

Over the next year, we will focus primarily on renewing our Data Carriage agreement and the Microsoft agreement. These represent our most critical commercial priorities.

Beyond these, we are exploring partnerships with manufacturers and resellers to optimise our hardware procurement costs. Our approach will balance value for money with environmental responsibility, incorporating Laudato Si' principles that emphasise energy efficiency, sustainable recycling practices, and minimising environmental impact throughout the hardware lifecycle.

Q: How is the CWG addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies, particularly AI?

AI is making rapid entry into multiple areas including student learning, productivity, and administrative functions. We're taking a multi-faceted approach that considers not just securing the best pricing on new technologies but also evaluating their efficacy and utility.

We acknowledge that if technology is intended for student learning, we need evidence that it leads to better outcomes. We're also committed to ensuring that AI implementation is safe for students, staff, and families. By promoting responsible procurement of emerging technologies, we aim to help schools navigate these opportunities while managing associated risks effectively.

Q: How does the CWG ensure that smaller Catholic Dioceses benefit from commercial arrangements?

While we can't guarantee completely equal benefit, we work to make single pricing available and negotiate consistent terms and discount structures across all participants.

The CWG includes representatives from a range of dioceses, ensuring that negotiations consider input from both large and small systems. We lean on CNA Executive, newsletters, in-person events, and other engagement activities to share information regarding new commercial engagements and any changes to existing engagements. This collaborative approach ensures that smaller dioceses gain access to pricing and expertise they wouldn't otherwise have.

Q: How does the CWG envision the future of Catholic education procurement?

The CWG is uniquely positioned to help build stronger commercial relationships across the sector, sharing procurement expertise and vendor intelligence to overcome shared challenges and opportunities. This collaborative approach strengthens both our operational efficiency and our ability to focus resources on educational excellence.

By embracing collective purchasing power, fostering collaboration between dioceses, and prioritising value for money, we envision a future where Catholic schools continue to operate efficiently and effectively, ensuring resources are directed toward what matters most - student learning and faith formation.

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If you'd like to learn more about the Commercial Working Group or have any suggestions about procurement opportunities, please contact us at info@cna.catholic.edu.au.