August 21-22, 2025 | Sofitel, Gold Coast
The 14th Annual PASA CPO Exchange.
An invite-only exclusive retreat for CPOs featuring high-level content and networking opportunities with vendors and sponsor partners.
A premier event for procurement leaders.
The CPO Exchange enters its 13th year as a premier event for procurement leaders to gather and engage in a high-level content program spanning two days.
With a relaxing retreat atmosphere, attendees participate in round table discussions on current challenges and collaborate in a dynamic learning environment.
Where
Sofitel, Gold Coast
When
August 21-22, 2025
Programme.
Day 1
9.00am
Introduction and Welcome
Lesley Wardropper, Managing Director, PASA
9.10am
A brief explanation of the event format and culture of the CPO Exchange event, including Chatham House Rules, as a senior level retreat.
An introduction to the “ECT” theme of the event and the potential this brings to procurement work in the short term …
Jonathan Dutton FCIPS, MC and Moderator
9.45am
Trade policy uncertainty has reached unprecedented levels, creating challenges for global supply chains and procurement strategies. This keynote examines the current economic environment across key themes: tariff impacts, supply chain responses, and regional economic divergence. Dr. Nguyen will analyse vulnerabilities across Asia-Pacific markets, from export-exposed economies to Australia-NZ’s more diversified position, before zooming in on the local economic conditions and outlook. Is inflation still a threat? Are interest rates on the way down? What is needed for growth to pick up? And importantly, why scenario-based planning is essential in the current environment.
Includes Q&A
Sunny Nguyen, Head of Australia Economics, Moody’s Analytics
10.30am
Coffee Break and Networking
11.00am
The Economist/SAP Impact Survey is now in its third year and continues to grow with over 2,500 global CPOs responding and data available by region. This year’s 2025 study offer the Top 4 priorities facing procurement leaders into 2026 – with a wealth of data comparing ANZ to APAC and Global procurement trends and priorities.
Gordon Donovan FCIPS MSc, Global Vice President Research, Procurement & External Workforce, SAP
12.00pm
Suntory Oceania has been undergoing significant growth and transformation & is set to become the 4th largest beverage group across ANZ following the transition of their alcohol portfolio from a previous long standing 3rd party manufacturing, sales and distribution agreement.
Procurement have, and will continue to play, a critical role in supporting and enabling this change. But what might be holding procurement functions back from being seen as a critical element underpinning this type of agenda & what can be done about it?
James Houston, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, Suntory Beverage & Food, Oceania
12.45pm
LUNCH break and networking time
1.30pm
- What are the direct and indirect effects of tariffs on our supply lines? And the key messages for buyers from the MOODYS presentation at the outset of the event.
- And the practical implications of the tariff driven trade wars on ANZ supply lines?
- What are the best risk mitigation strategies for Aussie buyers?
CHAIR: Sarah Bryant
Meeting 1
Meeting 2
2.30pm
- The primary priorities? Net Zero mandatory reporting, new MSA steps, Payment Times stepping up? New indigenous measures? DEI?
- Best strategies and the best business cases for action & resource?
- Examples of good practice to share that have delivered impact rather than just policy perhaps? – by topic
CHAIR: Brett Beattie
Meeting 3
Meeting 4
3.30pm
Afternoon Tea
3.45pm
- What is the key to successful procurement transformation?
- How can procurement accelerate this process ? and what are the potential pitfalls of going too fast?
- And what actual business benefits can it offer stakeholders ?
CHAIR : Mike Hill
Meeting 5
Meeting 6
4.45pm
Free time for most
Meeting 7
Meeting 8
5.45pm
Free time for all
7.00pm
Pre-dinner drinks
7.30pm to 10.00pm
The informal CPO Exchange dinner is an opportunity to unwind with your peers and be entertained by our special guest star. Always a relaxed and fun affair, the dinner is the networking highlight of the event and partners are welcome to attend. Dress is QUEENSLAND smartcasual.
Day 2
6.30am to 8.30am
Informal Breakfast available for delegates in hotel dining room
Meeting 9:
8.30am
Includes executive summary of Day One with MC, Jonathan Dutton
Jonathan Dutton FCIPS, MC and Moderator
8.45am
How do you maintain supply chain control in a world with AI-enabled cybercrime?
- How AI is enabling a new frontier of cyber-crime and fraud, including business email compromise (BEC) attacks
- Case studies of how businesses have been defrauded online
- Strategies that different sectors, including the government, banks, and private enterprises, are using to fight back
- The strengths and limitations of various approaches and technologies
- How to maintain supply chain and financial control in an AI world
- What procurement leaders should be asking right now … ?
Jonathon Stead, Partnerships Manager – EFTSURE
9.30am
Coffee refills and hotel check-out due by 10.30am please
10.00am
Procurement has made great inroads in recent times, and still CPO’s say their team should be engaged earlier by stakeholders. They also share that stakeholder perception within their organisation is not truly aligned with the real capability and potential of the team. It doesn’t need to be this way.
Procurement is a corporate service team with a brand. This is a message that broadcasts the true value your team can bring the organisation into the future. If you don’t consciously build this brand, you can be sure your stakeholders will do it for you – and you may not like what they come up with!
Integral to the success of your brand, and the elevation of procurement in your organisation, will be the implementation of consistent and high value Procurement Business Partnering. This way of working will help your team demonstrate deep organisational alignment, provide high value advice as the central authority on procurement and be able to influence commercial decision-making at any level.
This short and practical workshop will unpack the principles required for CPO’s to create the brand of procurement in their organisation AND build consistent and repeatable business partnering that will drive your success.
William Pegg, Managing Director, Synthesis Group
Meetings 10
11.30am
Coffee break
12.00pm
POver 1.5m Australian organisations now have access to PEPPOL e-invoicing in their existing software, yet many are not aware, nor understand how easily existing software can start using eInvoicing and capturing its instant benefits.
The most recent Australian Government Budget included eInvoicing for a further four years, signalling Australia’s intent for eInvoicing adoption across the whole economy to combat email payment scams, better supplier experience, faster payments and easier Payment Times Reporting. Beyond closing the tax gap, many countries are moving to eInvoicing to enhance international trade and fight against international tax fraud. Should procurement leaders be ahead of the curve, and the new government, and understand what it entails and what it potentially delivers in benefits?
Karen Lay-Brew, Strategic Advisor to the ATO on e-Invoicing- part of Australia’s Digital Business Plan
Meeting 11
12.30pm
LUNCH and networking time
Meeting 12
1.00pm
- This Roundtable #4 will feature a short presentation summarising current developments on AI in procurement
- followed by a facilitated discussion to look at the real intelligence around AI in procurement, where we are with the myriad of trials and experiments underway today, and the likely and unlikely outcomes for procurement both now and in future from utilising AI
- and, particularly, Gen AI in procurement roles
Nic Hillier, Principal Director, Procurement advisory, KPMG
Meeting 13
Meeting 14
2.00pm
- What does ‘DMWL’ look like in practice in procurement? What examples of success can we share?
- What core strategies are useful for busy procurement teams?
Eg: Self-serve or guided buying systems, internal consultancy role, using consultants/contractors v staff, utilising aggregators, purchasing cards - What do the compromises look like really, the risks, and the likely costs of less resources?
CHAIR: Charlotte Cottam
Meetings 15
Meetings 16
3.00pm
Event ends and bump-out
3.00pm
Complimentary coach leaves for Coolangatta (OOL) airport for those leaving immediately [30 mins drive] – but the weekend commences for those that are staying on …
Meetings 11
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What people say about our events.
The PASA conference was the best conference I had attended in many years – many practical advice and applications that my team and I can put to use straight away, a great investment of our time.
Procurement Professional
It was great to hear a wide range of presentations from a diverse mix of speakers, especially in person.
Procurement Professional
I very much enjoyed the depth and variety of skills experience of the presenters.
Procurement Professional