CIPS Futures | The Procurement and Supply Chain Podcast
Exploring the forces that are about to shape the lives of procurement and supply professionals, with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).
Episodes
Confronting nature loss and climate change: why it’s a procurement problem
At a point where biodiversity loss is higher now than at any other time in human history, the World Wide Fund for Nature's (WWF) New Zealand CEO Kayla Kingdon-Bebb has an urgent message for procurement: every sourcing decision you make is a chance to shift the needle.
The picture is stark. Wildlife populations are in sharp decline, while nature loss and climate change are amplifying each other. Th
Chokepoints, supply webs and risk concentration: is your organisation resilient enough?
As CIPS launches The Great Conversation – a world-wide dialogue about the future of the profession – we talk to David Shillingford, a leading investor in supply chain innovation. His message to procurement and supply chain professionals: extreme complexity is here to stay.
Also on the agenda: why procurement professionals must learn cross-functional scenario planning; where your hidden vulnerabili
Managing supply chain challenges: insights from NHS Supply Chain
A critical supplier goes into administration. There are only eight weeks of stock left, yet it will take nine months to switch to a new supplier. What would you do? In this episode, we hear how the NHS Supply Chain's head of supply chain resilience, Tom Brailsford, and his team responded to ensure hospitals and healthcare providers never ran out of the stock they needed after an essential hand hyg
From back office to boardroom: why supply chain leadership is now business critical
We're joined by Nick Nanos, chief supply chain officer and SVP of wholesale at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), an organisation on the frontline of navigating tariffs, labour disruption and complex global logistics. Hear how his team is spearheading change and innovation in practice to become the strategic lever the crown agency now relies on to respond to challenges and consistently d
"Play the game in front of you": steering through trade and commodity price turbulence – without a rulebook
Are we witnessing a "rupture" of the rules-based international order? How have tariffs and geopolitical events played out on the ground? And what does this all mean for procurement and supply chain professionals? CIPS global economist Dr John Glen and Fastmarkets commodities expert Ross Yeo make sense of all the noise.
Related links
CIPS Pulse results Q4 2025: Procurement professionals sound the
Modern slavery: a survivor's story
Modern slavery survivor Moe Turaga shares his personal story of forced labour in the Australian horticulture sector. Moe offers a rare and vital insight into this complex crime as part of his mission to place people with lived experience at the centre of the global response to modern slavery.
His message for procurement and supply professionals is clear: you hold the leverage to make a real diffe
A time of change: why co-innovation and resilience will define procurement success
Departing CIPS Chair Alison Barto on horizon scanning, co-innovation with suppliers and why procurement's role is now about bringing the outside world in. Plus, the remarkable sense of belonging that CIPS members enjoy as part of a global community.
Alison also shares her proudest achievement as CIPS' Chair and the biggest changes she's made during her tenure.
Related links
Find out more about b
CIPS Foundation tackles modern slavery: the five hundred billion dollar crime in your supply chain
An estimated 28 million people are employed in forced labour in supply chains. Procurement professionals are on the frontline of this global crime - one estimated to be worth half a trillion dollars. It is a challenge the CIPS Foundation is working with UK-based modern slavery charity Unseen to tackle head on by providing funding to turn data from its Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline int
Navigating supplier disputes, part 3: dispute intelligence with AI
Is AI the answer to resolving disputes with your suppliers? Yes... and no - as we find out in the final instalment of this mini-series. While the human input and experience of professionals remains critical to forging and maintaining supplier relationships that keep businesses running, we explore where AI is reshaping procurement roles when it comes to negotiation, contract management and resolvin
Navigating supplier disputes, part 2: mastering resolution skills
Part two of the CIPS Futures navigating supplier disputes mini-series puts conflict resolution skills and capabilities in the spotlight. We're once more joined by CIPS trainer, Kurt Warren, as he reveals the foundational strategies that procurement and supply professionals must hone to better manage commercial conflict. Realignment of responsibilities and expectations, understanding your "walk awa
Navigating supplier disputes, part 1: the anatomy of disputes
Commercial conflicts are increasing, taking longer to resolve and costing more. And it is procurement and supply professionals on the frontline of supplier disputes. Listen to part one of this CIPS Futures mini-series where we delve into this critical challenge facing the profession. We unravel the common causes behind supplier disputes and ask whether this is a result of bad practices, or simply
Think like a futurist: how to make decisions with certainty
How do you bridge the gap between today's urgent requests and your long-term, strategic goals? What tools and strategies can you use to plan and lead change better? And why is the simple act of writing things down the best habit to learn to become more confident in your decision making? Procurement futurist and leadership keynote speaker Dr Graham Norris is our guest for this episode. He offers pr
Professionalising procurement, part 3: a career of choice
The third episode of the Professionalising Procurement series, brought to you by the CIPS ANZ team, features quickfire interviews from public-sector practitioners from across Australia and New Zealand. Head of Procurement at ABC, Sarah Collins, shares a candid story of why procurement should always be in the room, while Emma Morrow, Manager Commissioning for Outcomes at New Zealand's Department of
Pursuing profit responsibly: how to protect human rights in global supply chains
What do businesses owe to faraway workers who make their products? That's the question put by Professor Michael Posner from the NYU Stern School of Business in his new book, Conscience Incorporated: Pursue Profits While Protecting Human Rights. Posner is a world expert in human rights with extensive experience as a human rights lawyer, State Department official under the Obama administration and c
Professionalising procurement, part 2: raising the bar for all
In our second episode of the CIPS Futures podcast mini-series brought to you by the CIPS ANZ team, we talk to Jane Wagner and Samir El-Sabagh, both procurement professionals from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Aged Care. As a former CIPS Leader of the Year, Jane explains what procurement can learn from the finance profession in following a maturity path to develop c
Professionalising procurement, part 1: recognition as a value driver
In this CIPS Futures podcast mini-series brought to you by the CIPS ANZ team, CIPS Australia & New Zealand general manager Charlotte Payne hosts Julia Pickworth and Richard Windeyer, co-heads of the Australian Public Service Commission's Procurement and Contract Management (PCM) Profession, launched in 2024. What is the PCM Profession and why now? How will the initiative drive capability to ac
Trump's tariffs, global trade and what all this means for procurement and supply
"This is VUCA on steroids." The Trump administration's constantly-changing US tariffs are wreaking havoc on the markets – and on procurement professionals' planning. To find out what it means and how you can mitigate the risks, we speak to CIPS global economist, Dr John Glen.
Could the turmoil forge fresh connections between the UK and EU post Brexit? Will we see opportunities in emerging markets
Get to know your CEO: what's next for CIPS and the profession
CIPS CEO Ben Farrell reflects on his first 100 days in the role. After connecting with the global CIPS community across the world, Ben unveils his exciting vision for the future of CIPS and the wider profession. His message: today's procurement and supply professionals are tomorrow's business leaders.
Plus, hear Ben's thoughts on the transformational impact AI is having on procurement; the role
Overcome imposter syndrome and be curious to free your potential
To celebrate International Women's Day 2025, we hear from two inspiring female procurement leaders. Lauren Feery, group procurement director of global packaging company DS Smith, shares why curiosity and speaking up are valuable tools in your career arsenal.
Plus, you might have more in common with David Bowie than you think… Executive coach, CIPS trustee and ex-procurement and sustainability lead
Unlocking procurement superpowers: how diverse skills and inclusive practices can drive team success
Findings from the CIPS Procurement & Supply Salary Guide 2024, supported by Hays, showed hiring procurement and supply talent remains a critical challenge globally. So, how can you think differently to recruit and develop a well-rounded and capable team?
Dave Jones, Head of Procurement – IT & Digital, Virgin Media & O2; and Dan Robertson, Global MD, Fairer Consulting, discuss the posi
Procurement's great enabler: unlocking potential with AI and digital technology
How do you build capacity within your procurement function to deliver the value now expected? Sebastien Bals, CPO at Merck Group, reveals how his team is using digital solutions and AI at scale to create new ways of working, enable process orchestration and meet the pharmaceutical and technology giant's wider sustainability goals.
Further reading:
CIPS Sustainable Procurement Pioneers - 30 innov
Procurement Act, part 4: opening up public sector procurement
Good procurement is not just about initial cost, but also about whole life value. The Procurement Act has been designed to transform procurement and create engaging, competitive and open marketplaces, says the UK's Cabinet Office. Rebecca Rees and Alan Heron explore the mechanisms that have been put in place to enable practitioners to create more competition and flexibility in their procurement pr
Procurement Act, part 3: building a culture of integrity
With around £300 billion a year spent on public sector procurement each year, professionalism and integrity are essential characteristics of good procurement officers. How is this being addressed in the new Procurement Act? Will the new regulations drive further use of framework providers? And, how will the debarment list of suppliers work in practice?
Rebecca Rees and Alan Heron help unravel thes
Procurement Act, part 2: the requirement for transparency
Transparency is 'hard baked' throughout the Procurement Act, but what does this mean in practice? Episode two of the CIPS Preparing for the Procurement Act series focuses on the new notice requirements, the resulting practical implications for contracting authorities and how you can prepare for the changes.
Rebecca Rees, partner and head of public procurement at Trowers & Hamlins joins the P
Procurement Act, part 1: how we got here
A new CIPS Futures Podcast mini-series to help UK public sector practitioners and suppliers prepare for the incoming Procurement Act. Lindsay Maguire, deputy director for procurement reform at the Cabinet Office shares the motivations behind the new Act, the opportunities it will create for public sector practitioners and the long term ambitions for public procurement.
Plus, the Procurement Hub's
Uncovering corruption in procurement: red flags and remedies
What are the telltale signs of corruption? Lenushka Parannath MCIPS explains what red flags to watch out for. And shares how to take control of the procurement process to avoid becoming a 'mailbox' between suppliers and the business – leaving the door open for corrupt deals. Plus, is a hierarchical structure to decision-making holding your function back?
Mentioned in this podcast:
CIPS Salary Guid
Time for new risk management strategies? Building resilience in an age of relentless change
Geopolitical risk consultant and author of Zero Sum Charles Hecker has an uncompromising message for procurement and supply chain professionals: geopolitics is now in your job spec. Borders are returning and "there is nothing to get used to anymore". So, how do practitioners and businesses respond?
Mentioned in this podcast:
CIPS Global State of Procurement & Supply 2024, supported by GEP
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Procurement leadership 101: How to be an agent of change and value
A revealing interview with CIPS MENA Leader of the Year, Sulaiman Abdulla MCIPS, director at the UAE Federal Tax Authority. What are the traits of a successful leader? How do you use influence to drive change? And, is it time procurement had a rebrand…?
Mentioned in this podcast:
CIPS MENA Procurement & Supply Excellence Awards 2024
Driving positive social change through procurement - the Nationwide story
Why should social value be at the heart of a cost transformation programme? How can you find and engage social enterprises? And, is it possible to drive positive social change through your supply chain in the highly regulated financial industry?
Laura Faulkner FCIPS, of the market-leading UK mutual building society Nationwide, has the answers in this special episode of Futures recorded live at the
"It's our job to sell this profession": how to attract and retain the best procurement talent
Stephen Day, chief procurement officer at Kantar, is on a mission to bring a new, diverse generation into procurement. He's calling on other procurement and supply leaders to join him in breaking traditional recruitment cycles to create a truly accessible profession fit for the future.
Eliminating waste: the secrets of lean management for procurement
Step into the world of lean management as Professor Danny Samson from the University of Melbourne explains how you can reenergise your procurement function by adopting lean principles. Where can you find wasteful processes holding you back? Why do most companies fail in implementing lean principles? How does technology play a role in success?
Why (and how) procurement must think differently to drive sustainability performance
How can you think differently to build better supply chain relationships? Why do we need a culture shift to really embed meaningful change? What does the 'broken windows' theory have to do with sustainable procurement? George Mosey and Rossella Nicolin from global construction firm, Laing O'Rourke, delve into this critical subject.
Creating a world-class procurement function: Anna Spinelli, DHL
DHL's chief procurement officer and head of mobility on transforming a 700-strong global team to world-class standards. Plus: electric planes, anyone?
Women in leadership: Embedding gender equality into procurement and supply
In the third episode of CIPS Futures we hear from CIPS' own Alison Barto, chair of our global board of trustees and chief partnership officer at Carbonaires, and Jane Wagner, assistant secretary of the Vaccine Supply Management Branch at the Australian Department of Health. Leaders in their field, Alison and Jane share their personal career journeys, offer advice on leadership and discuss what it
‘Don’t wait for the data’: Sustainability priorities for the procurement and supply professional
How can procurement and supply professionals tackle the sustainability challenges facing them today? In this episode, Oliver Hurrey, Sustainability Procurement Pledge champion, discusses everything from Scope 3 emissions and incoming legislation to value chain collaboration and carbon reporting mechanisms. His message? Act now, don’t delay.
Procurement and sustainability: our role in combating climate change
A revealing conversation with Amanda Davies, chief procurement and sustainability officer, Mars Wrigley
