vendor management experts

Trusted advisor to both enterprise buyers and strategic vendors—building stronger, more valuable client partnerships.

I help organisations turn critical supplier relationships into resilient, high-value commercial partnerships.

Through Vendor Management Experts, I advise procurement, technology, risk and executive teams on strategic sourcing, vendor governance, supplier resilience and CPS 230 readiness—helping them reduce risk, strengthen accountability and realise lasting value from their most important vendors.

I’m Agostino Carrideo, a #1 Amazon best-selling author in vendor management with 25+ years of client-side procurement and commercial experience. From multimillion-dollar negotiations and complex technology contracts to relationship recovery and regulatory readiness, I help organisations make better supplier decisions and build partnerships that deliver.

After watching too many vendor relationships turn from promising partnerships into costly failures, I set out to understand why some thrive while others break down. That curiosity became a practical methodology that has helped organisations across Australia strengthen their vendor ecosystems. From NAB to Australia Post, I have guided teams through complex negotiations, compliance challenges and high-stakes relationship recoveries—turning difficult supplier situations into stronger, more sustainable partnerships.

For technology and professional-services vendors selling to complex enterprises, I bring the buyer-side perspective.

I help sales leaders understand what procurement needs to approve a deal, equip champions with a defensible business case, navigate security, legal and commercial decision gates, and protect value through purposeful negotiation—not unnecessary discounting.

The result: a stronger path to signature and strategic client relationships built to implement, govern, renew and grow.

Build trust and assurance into every supplier relationship with robust contract governance, measurable performance standards, and transparent collaboration.

Transform vendor relationships from transactional to strategic—delivering mutual growth, resilience, and innovation alongside regulatory alignment.

Partnership Optimisation

Dedicated oversight, relationship improvement, and innovation initiatives with material service providers to strengthen operational resilience and value creation for the future

Strategic partnership governance

Mentoring sessions for technology and procurement leaders and their teams, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage vendors and navigate complex vendor relationships.

Executive and Staff Mentoring

“Agostino is a highly skilled leader with expertise in the value of mutually valued relationship building. He thoroughly understands the ecosystem of outsourcing, the benefits, and value creation when parties align their core values in their ongoing actions in business relations. Highly recommend working with Agostino for his positive insights and forward thinking based approach.”

Amanda Pugh - Vice President, Relationship Management - Genpact

“Agostino is a highly commercial sourcing manager with a deep appreciation of deal dynamics and the financial interests of the contracting parties.”

Lazaros Zikou - Senior Legal Counsel - CitiPower, Powercor and United Energy

“Charismatic expert in IT and Sourcing with sensational network of contacts. Agostino can design and deliver with equal depth. Highly recommended.”

David Ward - Managing Director - Mission Dynamics® - Board Chair, Non-Executive Director and Chair Advisory Board - Life Sherpa®

“Agostino is a very experienced senior procurement, vendor management and commercial manager who worked for me for over 3 years within NAB undertaking a large and diverse range of very complex and challenging procurement activities. He engaged very well with colleagues, stakeholders and suppliers alike, to obtain the best value outcome for NAB, whilst taking into consideration impacting factors including risk and regulatory requirements. Agostino was a valued team member who contributed significantly to our organisation.”

Philip Barrett - Head of Strategic Sourcing - Technology Infrastructure - National Australia Bank

“It has been a difficult relationship and you tempered the broader engagements to enable us to get resolutions and outcomes in pointing the NAB business to where they needed to be and that was desperately needed at the time. You also communicated honestly and with integrity enabling us to respond and act accordingly. Your level of experience and expertise is just what was needed for this engagement at this time. ”

Louise Breccione-Mattucci - Regional Sales Manager - Splunk Inc.

“Really appreciate the level of headedness you brought to Splunks discussions with NAB over the past year.”

Pat Breen- Regional Sales Director - Strategic Accounts - Splunk Inc.

“I am thrilled to endorse Agostino Carrideo for his outstanding contribution to the CST program's Gen AI Digitise Service Stream. Agostino played a pivotal role in helping us achieve a historic milestone: the first Generative AI Master Service Agreement and SOW in Australia Post's history.

At a critical juncture, Agostino stepped in to assist our Procurement team, offering invaluable guidance in this complex area. His calm demeanor and extensive experience were instrumental in helping our team accomplish this key strategic and critical path task. Without his expertise, we would have faced significant impacts on our timeline and deliverables.

Agostino's dedication and willingness to go the extra mile truly set him apart. His hard work and commitment were deeply appreciated by the entire team. Thank you, Agostino, for your incredible contribution to Australia Post's success in this groundbreaking initiative.”

Eric Thomas - Gen AI Digitise Service Stream Program Manager - Australia Post

Agostino is a rare breed and one in a billion. He possesses deep end to end Procurement Source to Contract, Vendor Lifecycle and Supplier Relationship Management knowledge which is uniquely coupled with his wellbeing and resilience advisory.

Agostino exercises this toolkit to coach and mentor junior to exec level professionals and demonstrates the "care and human factor" for each of his mentees. He demonstrates the ability to zoom in on specific career discussions whilst zooming out on external factors such as economic aspects that can impact career paths within organisations.

As a mentee, I would recommend anyone seeking coaching or mentoring to tap into Agostino's wealth of knowledge whether it be for a career discussion and/or simply improve your wellbeing and resilience for the mind body and soul.

Protect Your Savings: The Costly Consequence of Neglecting Vendor Management.

Without effective vendor management, sourcing savings can erode quickly after contract signature.

Professional Highlights

National Australia Bank (NAB) & Australia Post

As Senior Strategic Sourcing Consultant at NAB, I led high-stakes IT procurement initiatives, executive mentoring, and key compliance projects including CPS 230 remediation. At Australia Post, I managed multimillion-dollar vendor portfolios, overhauled frameworks, and resolved complex supplier challenges to create resilient, high-value outcomes for both organisations.

Distinguished Client Portfolio

Over 25 years, I’ve delivered results for Australia’s leading corporates—IBM GSA, KPMG, GE Money, BAE Systems, AGL Energy, Telstra, Origin Energy, SP AusNet, Capgemini, Jetstar, Australian Unity, Nab and Australia Post. My sustained client relationships reflect a consistent record of trust and value across diverse sectors.

Recognition & Expertise

#1 Amazon Bestselling Author Vendor Management
Master of Information Management and Systems (Monash University)
Graduate Diploma in Business Technology
(Monash University)
Senior Member / Board Director, Australian Computer Society (2016–2018)
Keynote speaker and mentor to hundreds of Technology and procurement professionals

Beyond my professional life

I am also the creator of Dial Up The Joy, a platform focused on micro-resilience and practical ways to sustain energy, wellbeing and performance in demanding lives. It reflects a personal interest that complements my advisory work: helping people and organisations build stronger, more sustainable ways of working.

Explore Dial Up The Joy → dialupthejoy.com

Hear me on Real Conversations podcast where I share practical ways you can reduce your stress levels in the workplace and at home in order to pursue your life goals.

Let’s work together

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and I will be in touch shortly! I can't wait to hear from you!