Conference Day One
Conference Day One
Wednesday 3rd December 2025
7:30 am Registration & Networking
8:30 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
Transforming Roles Across the Supply Chain
8:40 am Panel Discussion: Becoming Better Partners as Manufacturers & Contractors in Direct Sourcing Relationships to Extract Maximum Value & Solve Problems Collaboratively
Synopsis
- Building trust through clear communication of program goals and expectations surrounding risk-sharing
- Creating open forums for honest feedback to identify and address pain points contractors experience with manufacturers, and vice versa, enabling continuous improvement and stronger collaboration
- Facilitating education and support around direct sourcing maturity, helping contracting/manufacturing partners move from initial adoption to optimized partnerships: How does this differ across general and trade contractor?
9:40 am Case Study: Building Strong Relationships With a New Supplier to Secure Long-Term Delivery Certainty
Synopsis
- Setting clear expectations around order volumes, schedules, and mutual performance standards to establishing early trust and alignment
- Engaging in regular communication to maintain commitment and adapt to shifting market conditions with a sense of urgency and value
- Implementing formal onboarding processes and visibility platforms to enhance transparency and ensure both parties remain accountable over time
10:20 am Session details to be revealed
10:50 am Morning Refreshments & Speed Networking
Synopsis
Our famous speed networking is the ideal opportunity to get face-to-face time with many of the brightest minds working in procurement and introduce yourself to the attendees you would like to have more in-depth conversations with. Benchmark against industry leaders and establish meaningful relationships to pursue for the rest of the conference and beyond.
11:40 am Lumatrak Session: Details to be revealed
12:10 pm Leveraging Total Contractor Spend to Negotiate Cost Savings Despite a Decentralized Supply Chain
Synopsis
- Tracking and consolidating data on total procurement spend with individual suppliers across decentralized channels
- Implementing tools and dashboards that create visibility, consistency and accountability in decentralized procurement environments
- Harnessing consolidated spend data in negotiations to demonstrate strategic value and secure improved pricing or service levels
12:40 pm Networking Lunch Break
Optimizing Global Procurement
1:40 pm Embedding Contractual Safeguards With Clients to Reduce Downstream Risk in a Volatile Economic Climate
Synopsis
- Identifying the types of contract clauses that protect your business and sharing sample clause language that strengthens supplier accountability and mitigates risk
- Collaborating with legal teams to accelerate procurement processes without compromising compliance or risk mitigation
- Educating clients on their role in procurement contracts to ensure shared accountability and alignment on risk, performance expectations and delivery responsibilities
2:20 pm Understanding Changing Tariff & Global Dynamics on Suppliers to Find Fair Solutions to Cost Control
Synopsis
- Breaking down the direct and indirect cost impacts in manufacturing to identify where pricing pressure originates
- Demystifying tariff-related line items and exploring how manufacturers are absorbing or mitigating added costs in today’s environment to support contractor clients
- Adapting procurement strategies to better support suppliers under pressure: What can contractors do to help mitigate overall price hikes?
2:40 pm Afternoon Refreshment Break
3:20 pm Anticipating Tariff & Logistics Shocks to Future-Proof Global Procurement Strategies
Synopsis
- Identifying high-risk markets and materials to proactively assess exposure and prioritize mitigation efforts
- Establishing monitoring and intelligence networks to enhance visibility and improve communication across internal teams and suppliers
- Developing robust contingency plans to ensure continuity of supply and reduce operational impact when risk materializes
4:00 pm Controlling Quality in Global Sourcing to Build Trust & Mitigate Risk
Synopsis
- Coordinating cross-functional collaboration between sourcing, legal, and quality teams to navigate contractual complexities and validate supplier reliability
- Defining clear quality standards and auditing protocols for international vs domestic suppliers to ensure material compliance before project use
- Implementing transparent quality control processes, including third-party testing and on-site inspections, to increase confidence and reduce risk across the supply chain