This motivational and engaging conference will discuss the globalised world in which we live and work and the challenges facing the profession in ensuring the relevant skill sets for it to be both a doer, and enabler along with ensuring that it goes beyond the savings and delivers tangible value.   Focussed on the key areas of research of the CIPS 80:20 Vision, the event will consider how the business environment has changed and what the next two decades hold for the procurement and supply profession to ensure it is best equipped to meet the demands of today’s business world.  You will learn from global senior procurement practitioners across both public and private sectors, how they have changed, how they deal with new challenges that they face, and what successes they have achieved.

Following the global food supply chain crisis, in the afternoon session we will facilitate a highly topical debate - ‘Supply Chain Risk – how do we effectively manage our suppliers to mitigate risk?’ Our panel of leading experts in procurement and supply chain will discuss the recent crisis and examine what best practice looks like whilst answering questions from the audience.

The event also provides excellent networking opportunities enabling you to share ideas and make new connections which can lead to long-lasting and profitable business relationships.

All delegates at the event will receive a complimentary copy of 'Leadership in procurement and supply' one of the official course books for the Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply.

Please note: if you are a Member of CIPS or the British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce based in Switzerland, please contact rebecca.goff@cips.org to book your place. Otherwise please book below.

Simon Eagles supply chain experience covers medical devices and pharmaceuticals. He has deep subject matter expertise in the area of ‘Demand Driven Planning & Replenishment’ (DDPR) having successfully piloted ‘demand pull’ at Smith & Nephew, designed and configured ERP to support it and having shared experience and knowledge with Prof. Stephen Disney (Cardiff Business School) who is one of the world’s leading authorities on Supply Chain Dynamics or “bullwhip”.

Simon has written a paper for CIPS Supply Management with the title “Are your Supply Chain Replenishment Processes Ruining your Procurement Performance?” in which he describes how forecast driven DRP/MRP can prevent suppliers from achieving the cost reductions that are required to enable Procurement to more significantly, and sustainably, contribute to the bottom line. Simon will be sharing with us how our own supply chain replenishment processes may be limiting our Procurement performance and how they could be managed instead.

Cloud control

Come and hear the latest on how to harness the full power of 'the cloud' whilst minimising the risks for your business. Speakers will include a senior representative from Rackspace (one of the world’s largest hosting providers), a procurement professional from Direct Line Insurance, and IT and data law specialists from radiant.law.

The evening will offer different perspectives and tips for ensuring security in the cloud and rare insights into the emerging industry standards, as well as being an excellent networking opportunity.