What a probity advisor does
Launch library · evergreen read
A probity advisor is brought in to watch a procurement or major decision process from the outside, checking that it stays fair, transparent and properly documented from start to finish. Their role is not to make the decision themselves, but to give independent assurance that the process reaching that decision was sound.
In practice this means reviewing conflict of interest declarations, sitting in on evaluation panel meetings, checking that criteria are applied consistently across every bidder, and flagging anything that looks like a departure from the agreed plan. A good probity advisor raises concerns early, while there is still time to correct course before a decision is finalised.
Their final report becomes a useful record if a process is later challenged, since it shows an independent party was watching the process as it unfolded rather than only being asked to comment after the fact. That contemporaneous record is often more persuasive than any explanation offered after a decision has already been made.