November 15-16, 2023 | Online
The 3rd Sustainable Procurement & ESG Today online event.
The impact of sustainability on procurement and the measures taken by the profession to embrace it today.
How sustainability and ESG are positioned in procurement today.
For the third year running, this event will offer pragmatic tips on how to understand sustainable procurement and the supply side environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda.
Reserve your ticket while we finalise the agenda.
Programme.
9.00am
Registration open & networking
9.15am
Conference theme – The Top 9 ESG Priories for Procurement in 2023 and 2024
The Economist magazine in 2022 described the “dizzy array of objectives” under the ESG umbrella just as the C suite have recognised the supply side as an essential place to manage ESG and reputational risk. How can humble procurement managers simultaneously balance the competing needs of demanding stakeholders, obligatory requirements and a widening range of causes through the lens of almost every contract placed?
Jonathan Dutton FCIPS CEO – PASA
9.30am
Many organisations have increasingly realised that the supply side is a good place to manage their ESG demands from.
Yet the sheer breadth and depth of stakeholders’ ESG needs is dazzling – including the mandatory (MSA and Payment Times Reporting), the almost mandatory (Net Zero targets, Indigenous procurement goals) and even the optional (supplier diversity, buy local policies).
Yet, the indirect procurement space especially can provide fertile ground for delivering much improved low-risk outcomes across the ESG spectrum.
Indeed, Anu practices what she preaches when it comes to addressing these needs as part of her leadership across industries, as the PWC CASE STUDIES that serve their own need as a business illustrate.
Anu Srinivasan, Managing Director – Procurement, PWC
10.00am
The PTRA was introduced in January 2021 as part of the federal government’s fiscal response to Covid to oblige the reporting of payment times to small firms (under $10m turnover). But the implementation requirements have proved more difficult than anticipated.
Potential penalties for contravention of the Act are steep – up to 0.6% turnover as fines, $250m for a bank, and ‘named and shamed’ on the federal government website. The government see how important small suppliers are to the economy – do procurement always see that?
Given the far-reaching implications of the Act, evolution in the guidance material was inevitable and during 2022 we witnessed many changes to the Guidance material which has implications on reporting for all organisations. The completion of the 2-year Independent Review is likely to herald the introduction of further changes given its recent criticism of the effectiveness of the Act thus far.
- What lies ahead in 2023 and in 2024 for Payment Times Reporting?
- Key risks and challenges often encountered by large businesses
- Strategies and ideas to help you optimise your future reporting and to comply
The recent NEW ZEALAND Business Practices Act which contains similar PTR provisions
Natalie Brand, Assoc Director – Payment Times Reporting Advosry, KPMG (Melbourne)
10.45am
COFFEE BREAK and ONLINE NETWORKING
11.00am
Most organisations have adopted NET ZERO targets and public commitments for 2050, 2040 or even 2030 or earlier. Suppliers are critical to the success in achieving these aims. Yet many procurement teams are unclear of what to ask for, how to evaluate and, importantly, what to do action to take right now – How to drive decarbonisation across Scope 1, collaborate across Scope 2 emissions and, critically, how to plan now for reductions in Scope 3 emissions – YOUR supply chain. This session will guide you through the basics, the Dos and the DONTs and how to rise to the expectations of so many and what is truly achievable through the supply side.
Tanya Harris, Head of Sustainable & Ethical Procurement & Principal Consultant, EDGE Impact Advisory
12.00pm
As demands upon the supply side grow – including the pressing ESG priorities of modern slavery, Scope 3 emission mapping and security of supply rebalancing, driving visibility UP your supply chain is fast becoming essential work for procurement.
This journey starts with building trust with your direct suppliers and validating their buy-in to your growing list of supply policies. Ensuring this is critical as a first step Building this trust to recruit your supplier to help manages their suppliers, and indeed their suppliers, demands strong SRM work from the outset.
Understand how the trusted Ecovardis ESG ratings offer your top suppliers instant bronze/silver/gold/platinum graded validation of your entire supplier base, against their peers, bringing veracity and credibility to your upstream supply management efforts.
Justin Lo, Senior Account Executive, EcoVardis (Melbourne)
12.30pm
LUNCH and ONLINE networking
1.00pm
With both sustainable and environmental procurement to the fore (driven largely by NET ZERO and recycling drivers) adopting a ‘circular’ approach to sourcing may be the short-cut many organisations need to make a bigger difference faster?
Working out your ‘disposal’ strategy before purchase doesn’t require a crystal ball – sometimes only some reverse-sourcing and a calculator.
This session will cover the basics of circular sourcing through to successful case studies where others have achieved a positive outcome of lower total costs, productive recycling and lower waste.
Brendan O’Keefe is a senior executive advisor & circular sourcing expert for Business Drivers – an international management consultancy founded in 2006.
2.00pm
9.00am
Recap on Day One
9.15am
On 19 November 2021, the NSW Parliament finally voted in favour of long awaited amendments to the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW) which had not yet commenced at that time.
On 1 January 2022, the Modern Slavery Amendment Act 2021 (NSW) came into force and introduced a number of amendments to the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW). This legislation is separate to the commonwealth Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) and impacts the Modern Slavery movement more generally.
This section will explain why there is a NSW Act and a Commonwealth Act and how the two work together. Also, the work of the NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner and how that’s relevant to the interplay between these pieces of legislation and detail the additional requirements of the NSW legislation, and crucially – what it all means for Australian businesses and especially procurement managers doing business with NSW suppliers and within NSW. Finally, how the current legislation is set to be amended before the end of the year.
Luke Geary, MILLS OAKLEY Partner for NFPs, Human Rights & Social Impact
Georgia Davis, Senior Associate for NFPs, Human Rights & Social Impact, MILLS OAKLEY
9.45am
Many organisations have increasingly realised that the supply side is a good place to manage their ESG demands from.
Yet the sheer breadth and depth of stakeholders’ ESG needs is dazzling – including the mandatory (MSA and Payment Times Reporting), the almost mandatory (Net Zero targets, Indigenous procurement goals) and even the optional (supplier diversity, buy local policies).
Yet, the indirect procurement space especially can provide fertile ground for delivering much improved low-risk outcomes across the ESG spectrum.
Indeed, Anu practices what she preaches when it comes to addressing these needs as part of her leadership across industries, as the PWC CASE STUDIES that serve their own need as a business illustrate.
Cain Slater – Chief Operating Officer, The KARI Foundation for indigenous procurement
10.15am
COFFEE BREAK and ONLINE NETWORKING
10.30am
Covid completely changed the category dynamics for many property procurement managers with implications for property strategy, facilities management, waste cycles and local engagement.
Today, ESG is an integral part of your category strategy and, to be honest, a good place to manage your supply side ESG strategy from – locally, given ‘national’ priorities across this category vary so much. So, the Property & FM category is often managed more locally – through local engagement, social licence, health & safety plus PPE protocols, waste management, asset management fundamentals, maintenance programmes, social procurement, noise management and local governance too, often including the NABERS scheme. This session will help you learn more about an integrated ESG approach to the category.
David Burrell, Head of Solutions, The PROMP GROUP
11.00am
Yume is a social enterprise that connects surplus food from leading manufacturers to other businesses that can use it. Through innovative technology, Yume helps everyone from industrial caterers to airport lounges and discount retailers to sustainably procure food with the click of a button. A cost-efficient way to meet sustainable procurement targets, Yume’s users are also helping to put a stop to Australia’s 7.6 million tonne food waste problem by getting surplus food to where it belongs (on someone’s plate!).
Based in Melbourne, Yume started as a social enterprise only in 2016 but has quickly gained a significant group of dedicated participants and partners including Sodexo, Unilever, Kelloggs, Mars Food, General Mills and Veolia.
Your expert presenter – Katy Barfield – Yume Founder & CEO
11.15am
Australia is facing serious gender inequality issues with a stubborn gender pay gap, over-representation of men in leadership positions and women in part-time or low-paid roles, and continued violence against women. Gender inequality in the community, and gender inequality in the workplace are inextricably linked. Understand WHY we should be lifting the standards for gender equality within our supplier base to move the dial for gender equality outcomes and increase the performance and resilience of our supply chains.
Dr Francesca MacLean – Yarra Trams
11.45am
Many large organisations have well thought through and clear policies on diversity nowadays.
But what about our supplier base? What is the business case for supplier diversity? How do you persuade a grumpy CFO to invest, what business benefits can you point to? What impact do your hope to target? And how can you implement a supplier diversity policy safely and in a balanced way?
Get a guided tour to the recent PASA-ARCBLUE White-Paper – which is FREE for those attending the event
Emily Synnott – Assoc Director, Social & Sustainable Procurement, ArcBlue
12.15pm
LUNCH and ONLINE networking
12.45pm
1.45pm
THE GOLDEN SLIDE: A one-page BUSINESS CASE on ESG that explains it all for your CFO
Procurement’s NEXT FRONTIER includes becoming accountable for the ESG agenda on the supply side – whether you like it or not.
The consequences of failure in this arena can be significant. Success is often measured by ‘no mistakes’ but resources are not endless.
Indeed, winning the argument for additional resources is as difficult as ever, regardless of the growing demands of the ESG agenda
How can you optimise your investment in the Procurement governance team? What is the priority? What is truly essential? Where do you start? And how to use THE GOLDEN SLIDE ….
Jonathan Dutton FCIPS, MC
2.00pm
See you in
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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