DAY 2: Evolving the Roles and Priorities of Supply Chain + Procurement

In today's market, integrating sustainability into supply chain operations is vital for meeting regulations, navigating supply demands, and driving long-term success. Join Chris Shanahan, Vice President of Global Sustainability – Supply Chain Operations at Thermo Fisher Scientific, as he unveils the strategies and best practices for implementing sustainable sourcing throughout the supply chain to address future regulations and challenges. Get insights into how to integrate sustainability principles into global supply chain operations, ensuring environmental responsibility, social equity, and economic viability. From implementing ethical sourcing practices to reducing carbon footprint, attendees will gain practical knowledge on how to: 

• Navigate evolving regulatory landscapes in an increasingly complex ecosystem of ESG metrics and regulations 
• Identify key sustainability principles to integrate into supply chain operations for long-term resilience  
• Evaluate current ethical sourcing practices and make changes as needed to future-proof your ESG practices 
• Collaborate with suppliers and third parties to advance sustainable sourcing practices and addressing shared challenges in the supply chain 

Chris Shanahan

VP Global Sustainability – Supply Chain Operations
Thermo Fisher Scientific

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Recent years have proved how important it is to have a flexible and resilient supply chain to offer alternative sourcing options, mitigate risks and ensuring business continuity, and increasingly, companies are looking at supplier diversity as a way to create a more agility and resilience. Dive into an insightful exploration with our expert panelists as they delve into supplier diversity and its implications on both innovation and the bottom line. We will not only dissect the impact but also furnish practical tips for discerning and effectively engaging with diverse suppliers. Participants are guaranteed to depart with: 

• A heightened comprehension of the strategic advantages that supplier diversity can offer 
• Invaluable best practices to seamlessly integrate and implement successful supplier diversity programs 
• Tips for embarking on the initial stages of your supplier diversity journey or seeking to elevate existing efforts, this session promises to equip you with transformative insights and guidance that transcend experience levels. Don't miss this opportunity to fortify your understanding  
• Good change management and stakeholder practices to catalyze positive behavior within your organization's stakeholders 

José Manuel Velarde

Sr. Procurement Manager– Indirect Procurement, Americas Region
Huntsman Corporation

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Berri Heinz

Director, Supply Chain Procurement & Supplier Diversity
Prisma Health

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+ Supply Chain Scavenger Hunt in the Exhibit Hall

Get ready for a procurement and supply chain extravaganza like no other! Join us for a lively and interactive reverse-pitch session where the roles are reversed, and the spotlight is on YOU, the procurement and supply chain professionals. Instead of traditional pitches, you'll take the stage to present your challenges, needs, and wish list to a dynamic audience of solutions providers, advisors, and suppliers.

Imagine the thrill of flipping the script, turning your procurement puzzles into opportunities to get ideas from the brightest minds in the room. This session encourages collaboration, creativity, and collaborative problem-solving. Come with one challenge or need you are facing and get ideas, and recommendations from other attendees. Let's turn this reverse pitch into a symphony of solutions and leave with a playbook for procurement success! It's not just a session; it's an invitation to get targeted takeaways for procurement together.

Procurement should not be only a cost center or a reactive supplier management process but a proactive force that can shape and add value to the supply chain from start to finish. Our expert speaker will guide procurement professionals through a transformative exploration of value beyond mere cost considerations. Discover nuanced methods for quantifying and measuring multifaceted aspects such as supplier performance, risk mitigation, and innovation, extending the scope beyond traditional cost savings. Walk away with: 

• Tools to identify, measure, and effectively communicate the comprehensive range of benefits that procurement can contribute to organizational success
• A comprehensive approach to value beyond the confines of price-centric evaluations
• Methods to redefine your perspective on procurement excellence and elevate your strategic contribution 

Ahmed Azzam

Director of Global Indirect Procurement
Husky Technologies

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Creating and strengthening your supplier and partner relationships can create mutual value and measurable success for procurement and supply chain leaders. Join our panel experts to delve into the strategic importance of communication and transparency, emphasizing the pivotal role these elements play in building trust and fortifying relationships. Explore the nuances of crafting mutually beneficial agreements, establishing frameworks that extend beyond mere transactions, and contributing to the long-term success of both parties. Walk away with practical tips for:

• Performance evaluation and risk management strategies to diagnose challenges and minimize disruptions
• Look at your own data and sourcing practices to identify and leverage buying power and take advantage of rebate programs, volume discounts, and other TCO add-ons
• Create supplier development programs and collaborative innovation initiatives, driving mutual growth and success
• Streamline your communication strategies to cut down on extraneous work and minimize misunderstandings
• Elevate your procurement strategies and cultivate robust, enduring supplier relationships that stand the test of time

Reporting ESG metrics is a complex process that involves a whole host of networks and processes from suppliers that can add up to a whole lot of complexity. How can you meet your ESG goals if you are struggling to understand how to identify key performance metrics, select the right benchmarking partners for your organization’s size and supply chain model, and deliver concise reporting to drive continuous improvement? The session will:

• Explore the challenges of ESG tracking and reporting
• Surmount common challenges encountered in selection and measurement
• Empower you to harness the full potential of your data for optimal procurement performance
• Elevate your strategic approach, armed with the tools and understanding to propel your organization towards procurement excellence

Effective change management ensures a smooth transition, minimizing disruptions and allowing employees to adapt gradually. Join us to unravel effective techniques and strategies applicable to your organization with real-world examples and feedback that bring change management to life. From understanding the nuances of implementation challenges to overcoming resistance, we will navigate the path toward fostering a culture of innovation within your organization. Demystify change management and leave armed with the tools and knowledge to catalyze positive transformation within your company! Participants will glean:

• How to find departmental, stakeholder and leadership change agents to champion new initiatives and provide valuable feedback on rollout and reception
• Tactics for turning initial resistance into resilience, encouraging employees to view change as an opportunity for growth rather than a threat
• Checking in with new initiatives to prevent mission drift and keep change aligned to strategic and organizational goals