George Denny-Smith

George is a Scientia PhD Scholar at the University of New South Wales who lives and works on the traditional lands of the Bidjigal people. His PhD research maintains collaborative working relationships with First Nations organisations to examine the social value of Indigenous procurement policies in the Australian construction industry. His recently published work is on Indigenous policy and cultural values.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Construction Management and Property from UNSW in 2015, George has worked in the construction industry since 2011. He has experience in construction planning, design, procurement and operation. He is interested in the use of construction purchasing and supply chains are being used to deliver social benefits through social procurement. He is focused on the use of Indigenous procurement policies as a tool of economic development and the social value they create in communities where projects are undertaken.

He is currently working with organisations to co-design and investigate social value through the lens of people who have worked on projects covered by Indigenous procurement policies. He wants to use his research to advocate policy improvements that result in meaningful and sustainable employment and economic development opportunities for Australian First Peoples.