Conference Programme
Day 1 – Wednesday 13 March
08.15
Registration and refreshments
09.00
Session 1: Opening Plenary
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:
- Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor of Malmo, Vice-President ICLEI, Chair of the Procura+ Network
10.30
Refreshments
11.00
Session 2: Plenary / Market Lounge 1 - Procurement step changes in action!
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 discussing how step changes for big impact have been made with strategies, policies, and most important implementing procurement on the ground.
13.00
Lunch
14.00
Session 3: Deep Dive Parallel Sessions
Get actionable insights from procurement leaders and share your knowledge of procurement in key processes, product and service areas.
1. Buy Social - Discovering the enabler for a just transition
Socially Responsible Public Procurement (SRPP) is established and given broad attention to act as enabler for a just transition. Cities and regions, jointly with European Institutions, NGOs, academia and the business sector apply principles of sustainable and fair supply chains, decent working conditions and access for all in tenders across Europe. This session will explore which step changes made this happen and what needs to be done to increase the impact in the near future.
2. Buying Innovation (tbc)
3. Buying Circular (tbc)
4. Buy Better Food (tbc)
5. Buying Better Infrastructure / buildings / energy communities (tbc)
15.30
Refreshments
16.00
Session 4: Plenary "ProcureBetter"
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 behavioural change. 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.
Speakers:
- Erika Bozzay, Senior Policy Adviser, Infrastructure and Public Procurement Division, Public Governance Directorate, OECD
17.30
End of Day 1
18.30
Official Dinner and Procura+ Awards Ceremony
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.
Day 2 – Thursday 14 March
09.00
Session 5: Plenary - Supporting the step change. Learning from heroic failures or There’s no such thing as failure!
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 change that leads 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:
- Paul Louis Iske, Chief Failures Officer, The Institute for Brilliant Failures
- Emmanuelle Maire, Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Environment, Circular Economy, Sustainable production and Consumption
10.30
Refreshments
11.00
Session 6: Market Lounge 2 - Support, tools and approaches for effective procurement
Market lounge 2 will showcase and discuss tools, approaches, research, projects and initiatives to help you achieve step changes for big impact.
12.30
Session 7: Final Plenary - Next steps, big impact
13.15
Official close and lunch
14.30
AGORA and Site Visits
A collaborative space to serve as a meeting ground for activities related to sustainable, social, innovation and circular procurement.
Organisers
