CIPS Futures

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 Corrections, offers a fascinating insight into an ongoing procurement process that focuses on engaging and collaborating with Māori communities for better outcomes. Finally, Gareth Williams gives a passionate pitch to the opportunities the profession gives people and why procurement should find you - rather than the other way round. Why wouldn't you want to get paid to spend someone else's money...?

We ask each guest what makes procurement such an exciting career choice; the influence professionals have to drive positive change; and the lessons they've learned from mistakes they've made. 

Further reading:

• Cool heads in the storm: CIPS Global State of Procurement & Supply 2025, supported by GEP
• CIPS ANZ regional hub
• Make CIPS your career companion - become a member

Have you seen the new and improved CIPS Professional Register? The directory shares the professional status of procurement and supply chain practitioners around the world, and you can now personalise your profile with specialisms and expertise.

• Check out your listing on the Professional Register

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 chair of the Fair Labor Association. He offers a unique perspective on what we can learn from the significant progress the apparel sector has made, the complexities of the solar panel industry, and why human rights should be a business priority alongside performance and revenue. Plus, the evolving risks to human rights coming from the AI space.

His message to procurement and supply professionals facing these issues on the frontline is clear: you must find ways of meaningfully delivering on the promises companies are making.

Further reading:

• Purchase Professor Posner's new book - Conscience Incorporated: Pursue Profits While Protecting Human Rights
• CIPS Ethics eLearning and Test
• Read: demand fair pay and a living wage for your supply chain
• CIPS Foundation supports development of Modern Slavery Helpline

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 capability and ensure that the value of highly qualified procurement and contract management professionals is recognised in strategic roles. 

And we get under the skin of how professional qualifications translate to being better at your job. Samir shares his journey to becoming CIPS qualified, why it's opened new doors in his career and offers candid examples of how he's delivered improved outcomes for the Australian public sector as a direct result of embarking on a learning pathway. 

Further reading:

• About the Australian Public Service Commission's Procurement and Contract Management Profession
• CIPS ANZ regional hub
• Make CIPS your career companion - become a member

Have you seen the new and improved CIPS Professional Register? The directory shares the professional status of procurement and supply chain practitioners around the world, and you can now personalise your profile with specialisms and expertise.

• Check out your listing on the Professional Register

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 accelerate the professionalisation of the workforce? And what is Julia and Richard's vision for the future of Australian procurement and contract management professionals?

Plus, ever thought of buying submarines and robots? Public sector procurement might be the place for you...

Further reading:

• About the Australian Public Service Commission's Procurement and Contract Management Profession
• CIPS welcomes the announcement of Procurement and Contract Management as a professional stream
• CIPS ANZ regional hub
• Make CIPS your career companion - become a member

Have you seen the new and improved CIPS Professional Register? The directory shares the professional status of procurement and supply chain practitioners around the world, and you can now personalise your profile with specialisms and expertise.

• Check out your listing on the Professional Register

 

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 in Africa and South America? John explains the fundamentals of tariffs and answers your burning questions in this special edition of the podcast.

Further reading:

• Join the discussion thread on the CIPS Community platform
• Dr John Glen's analysis of the CIPS Pulse Q1 2025 results
• Watch Dr John Glen speaking to international media outlets about supply chain disruptions
• CBS article: "Walmart, Target CEOs privately warned Trump tariffs could lead to empty shelves soon"

CIPS resources and events:

• CIPS Global State of Procurement & Supply 
• CIPS Futures Conference - London, 1 July

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 CIPS must play in amplifying global best practice; and leadership lessons from his time serving in the British army and leading John Lewis' pandemic response.

Further reading:

• Ben Farrell shares his insights from conversations with CIPS members in the Asia Pacific region
• The CIPS Foundation
• Watch: CEO Ben Farrell shares his vision for CIPS

 

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 leader Juliet Sotnick reveals the common signs of imposter syndrome and offers five ways to overcome it.

Additional links and further reading:

• International Women’s Day CIPS
• Global voices: Inspirational women in procurement and supply

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 positive impact an inclusive culture has for recruitment, retention and talent development. Plus, why diverse skills and perspectives set your procurement function apart to drive future success. 

The CIPS Procurement & Supply Salary Survey 2025 is now live! Share your views on inclusive practices and other important areas to contribute to this year's findings. Just follow the link below:

• Take the CIPS Procurement & Salary Survey 2025, supported by Hays, here >>

To find out more about the 2024 findings at the CIPS Salary Guide hub, use the Salary Calculator, or explore the findings on ED&I in procurement and supply, follow the links below:

• Salary guide hub 
• Driving equality, diversity and inclusion: time to make this a priority

 

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 innovators shaping the future of sustainable procurement
• CIPS AI in Procurement and Supply Report - How automation will change your career and the function, supported by Posterity Global

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 processes. Will new skills be required of practitioners to take full advantage of the opportunities? 

Plus, hear Rebecca and Alan's final thoughts on the expected impact of the Procurement Act 2023 once it goes live in February 2025.

Further reading:

• An Essential Guide to the Procurement Act 2023, from Procurement Hub
• Procurement Act guidance documents from the Cabinet Office
• What is Public Sector Procurement?
• Procurement Hub

This mini-series is brought to you by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) in partnership with the Procurement Hub, part of Places for People.