Conference Programme

The world, cities and public authorities are facing major environmental, economic and social challenges that require a substantial transformation across all aspects of society. Procurement has to play a key role in this transformation but its use in driving the transition remains patchy at best. Now more than ever we need step changes to achieve big impact!

Speakers:

• Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon
• Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor of Malmo, Vice-President ICLEI, Chair of the Procura+ Network
• Janez Potocnik - Co-Chair, UNEP International Resource Panel
• Abby Semple, Public Procurement Analysis

Nothing beats the up-close and personal conversation you get in a group of like-minded, procurement-passionate peers. These discussion sessions have been at the heart of our events since the first conference. Market Lounge 1 will have over 25 roundtables (3 x 35 min sessions) discussing how step changes for big impact have been made with strategies, policies, and most important implementing procurement on the ground.

The Market Lounge participants can be found here.

Get actionable insights from procurement leaders and share your knowledge of procurement in key processes, product and service areas.

There has been a high expectation that procurement can be a quick and practical way of tackling many of today’s environmental and societal challenges. This has not happened. Quick wins can be made, the realisation though is that many procurement officers require specific skills, approaches and training to identify more sustainable, circular or innovative products, services, avoid greenwash, or evaluate and compare social claims. While initial training in the main concepts and approaches underlying SPP is important, there is a need for ongoing professional development, upskilling and change management.  In many cases to develop capacity and change the way procurers work in the field of sustainable, circular and innovation procurement has been down to personal motivation. We will hear how leadership, change management, employee engagement, digital technologies and professionalisation play pivotal roles in better procurement outcomes.

Speakers:

• Erika Bozzay, Senior Policy Adviser, Infrastructure and Public Procurement Division, Public Governance Directorate, OECD
• Alexandra Vandevyvere, Circular Flanders

Further speakers to be confirmed.

Fireside chat:

• Fernando Batista, President of the National Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, Portugal
• Sandra Simões, Board Member, National Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, Portugal

Join us for the Procura+ dinner, evening festivities and the Procura+ Awards ceremony celebrating the Sustainable Procurement of the Year, Innovation Procurement of the Year and Procurement Initiative of the Year. During the ceremony Mayor Carlos Moedas and Mayor Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh will introduce and handover the Awards. 

Back by popular demand! This plenary was such a success at the last conference we have been asked to bring it back… confess your procurement mistakes and tell us how you overcame them! Making step changes that lead to a big impact often comes from the ability to learn from failure.

Panel: feedback to roundtable discussions and range of support available to cities

Speakers and panellists:

• Paul Louis Iske, Chief Failures Officer, The Institute for Brilliant Failures
• Stephane Quaki, Head of Department, European Innovation Council
• Emmanuelle Maire, Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Environment, Circular Economy, Sustainable production and Consumption
• Philipp Tepper, Principal Expert, Sustainable and Innovation Procurement, Procura+ Network Manager, ICLEI

Audience feedback and roundtable discussions

Market lounge 2 will have 25 roundtables (3 x 30 min sessions) providing bite sized tips and actionable ways to achieve effective procurement. The roundtables will showcase, provide advice and discuss support available, tools, approaches, research, projects and initiatives to help you achieve step changes for big impact.

The Market Lounge participants can be found here.

A collaborative space to serve as a meeting ground for activities related to sustainable, social, innovation and circular procurement.

Visit the Lisbon Drainage Master Plan, the largest investment ever made by the Lisbon City Council, aimed to protect the city from flooding by closing the water cycle through the distribution of recycled water for irrigation, cleaning streets and other uses. The type of contract used to choose the contractor was design-build, given the special expertise and complexity of the works, underground and tunnels in urban areas, and the cost of which is closely linked to the construction process. Find out more here.