Susan Robertson

Susan is a commercial and contracts professional with more than 15 years’ experience delivering procurement, contracting and commercial advice across the public and private sectors. She is known for providing trusted commercial guidance in complex and sensitive environments, and her expertise spans the full procurement and contract lifecycle. This covers everything from commercial strategy and market engagement through to tender evaluation, negotiation and contract management.

Much of Susan’s career has been spent supporting Department of Defence capability acquisition and sustainment programs. She has advised on major Defence procurements, Australian Industry Capability and sovereign capability requirements, export programs and international collaborative projects, with a strong focus on governance, probity and policy compliance. Her work on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the export of an OTHR type capability to Canada saw her manage complex commercial arrangements involving Australian industry and foreign government agencies, prime contractors and original equipment manufacturers.  

Before joining Defence, Susan held a commercial management role in a large ICT service delivery environment, where she developed her ability to resolve commercial and operational issues while balancing customer expectations and service delivery.

Susan thrives in environments marked by complexity, ambiguity and competing interests. She works closely with capability managers, engineers, legal teams and industry partners, and is valued as a trusted advisor who builds strong relationships quickly and handles sensitive issues with care. Whether working independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team, she brings a collaborative, practical approach that helps organisations reach outcomes that are commercially sound, strategically aligned and achievable.