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Thursday 12th March 2026, Soho Hotel, London

The profession's most innovative leadership summit is back—get ready to scale new heights and face the future of AI and beyond!

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What Attendees Say

We're excited to share some amazing feedback from last year's event that truly captured the energy and impact of the experience. Take a look at what attendees had to say!

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When
Thursday 12 March 2026
Time
9am - 5pm
Where
Soho Hotel, London

The Future Awaits. Are You Ready?

This March, join 100+ of the profession’s leaders to dive into the forces redefining our field — AI, digital transformation, and the strategies needed to lead in a time driven by intelligent automation. This year’s theme, ‘AI: Show Me the Money,’ gets to the heart of what’s next: not just harnessing AI and technology, and what does that mean for value creation, spend control, and smarter decision-making?

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AI: Show Me The Money

AI is the ultimate game-changer, turning data into decisions and insights into action. However, the true power lies not in the technology itself but in how leaders leverage it with vision and purpose. That’s why at Big Ideas Summit London 2026 we’ll dig into the real value behind AI in procurement. Is it worth the investment? How do you build the business case—and secure the funding? We'll explore how procurement teams are actually using AI, what’s working (and what’s not), and whether early adopters are seeing a return.

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What we'll cover

Big Ideas in Focus

At Big Ideas Summit London, we’re discussing the trends, tech, and tactics redefining the future of procurement as we know it.

Building the AI Business Case
AI adoption requires more than enthusiasm — it demands clear justification and executive support. We’ll unpack how procurement leaders can develop a winning business case, secure investment, and align AI’s value to both functional and enterprise-wide goals.
AI in Action: From Pilots to Scale
Where is AI delivering results right now? Hear from leaders and innovators on real-world use cases, lessons learned, and how to scale successful pilots into enterprise-wide solutions that drive measurable performance.
Leadership through Change and Ambiguity
Procurement leaders are navigating volatility like never before. Learn how to inspire confidence, lead through disruption, and balance risk with innovation in an era defined by constant change.
Innovation, Technology, and Collaboration
From ProcureTech ecosystems to start-up style thinking, discover how emerging tools and new ways of working can help procurement cut costs, manage risk, and create competitive advantage.
The ROI of AI in Procurement
Early adopters are seeing returns — but how do you quantify them? We’ll explore the metrics that matter, from cost savings and efficiency to agility, resilience, and strategic insight, helping procurement prove AI’s true value.
Suppliers and the AI Dividend
Procurement isn’t innovating alone — suppliers are investing in AI too. Discover how supplier-driven AI innovation is reshaping collaboration, value-sharing, and negotiation, and what that means for demand management and spend control.
The Future Skills Agenda
From career agility and self-disruption to inclusivity and neurodiversity, we’ll explore the human skills procurement professionals need to succeed — and how to build teams ready for the challenges of tomorrow.

Sponsors

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Welcome to our 2026 Big Ideas Summit speakers

For a decade, Big Ideas Summit has gathered the crème de la crème from Prime Ministers and sporting legends to some of the world's most influential business leaders and top procurement experts.

  • Daniel Hulme

    Daniel Hulme

    Chief AI Officer, WPP

    Daniel Hulme (PhD) is a leading AI expert, entrepreneur, and investor. He serves as Chief AI Officer and Co-founder/CEO of Conscium, the first commercial research organisation studying machine consciousness. With a Master’s and PhD in AI from UCL, he holds several academic roles and is a prominent TEDx speaker who advises companies and governments on AI, ethics, innovation, and purposeful technology.

  • Lucy Harding BIS London 2025

    Lucy Harding

    Global Head, Procurement & Supply Chain Practice, Odgers Berndtson

    Lucy Harding is a Partner and Global Head of the Procurement & Supply Chain Practice at Odgers Berndtson based in London. The Practice operates across all industries in both the public and private sector. Lucy has significant experience operating in the procurement and supply chain search environment following 10 years operating in a leading boutique firm. She has successfully completed appointments at mid to director level across a range of leading global companies in both the UK and internationally.

  • Justin Crump BIS London 2025

    Justin Crump

    CEO, Sibylline Ltd

    Justin founded Sibylline in 2010, based on his experience as head of intelligence at Stirling Assynt and as an embedded Security Intelligence Analyst with UniCredit. Originally a front-office investment banker at JP Morgan Chase, after 9/11 he volunteered for operational service as a tank commander; this included operational deployments in Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Bosnia. From 2004-2007 he was also the Aide-de-Camp to the 6th Duke of Westminster, in his tenure as Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff.

  • John Floyd MA PGCE

    John Floyd MA PGCE

    Executive Head, Bruern Abbey School

    John Floyd MA PGCE is Executive Head of Bruern Abbey School, leading its expansion with a new Senior School in 2022 and its move to co-education in 2026. During his tenure, the school earned multiple accolades, including literacy recognition from ISI (2024), Tatler’s Prep School of the Year, and “Best for SEN” from The Week. John was named Tatler’s “Best Prep Head” in 2023. Formerly Deputy Head and Head of SEND at Westminster Choir School, he began his career with Teach First. Raised across three continents, he studied Geography at Edinburgh and is married with four sons.

  • Tania Seary

    Tania Seary

    Founder, Procurious

    Tania Seary is a leading procurement and supply chain entrepreneur. Throughout her career, she has raised the profile of procurement professionals and connect its leaders on a global scale. She is a regular commentator and host of global webinars and digital events. Tania was also named ‘Influencer of the Year’ and recognised by IBM as a #NewWaytoEngageFuturist.

  • Andrew MacAskill

    Andrew MacAskill

    Chief Commercial Officer, Fraser Dove International

    Andrew has been placing, networking and partnering with the brightest minds in procurement across Australia, Asia and EMEA. Having established himself as a key talent partner and advisor to a number of the leading CPO’s in the region, he is also a specialist in flexible contracting solutions, retaining search and EVP enhancement through social media.

  • Ross Mandiwall

    Ross Mandiwall

    Procurement Director of IT: Finance, HR, Procurement, Supply Chain Solutions & ERP

    Ross is a Senior Procurement Leader with 25+ years of global experience delivering major sourcing outcomes across 60+ countries. Known for building trust-based relationships and managing complex commercial partnerships through transformation and change. Ross works closely with senior leaders across Legal, Compliance, IT, HR, Finance, and Operations, operating at both strategic and tactical levels to mitigate risk, support CXO negotiations, and resolve high-value disputes. With a strong record of driving savings and improving cash flow through data-driven strategies, Ross is also passionate about mentoring and developing high-performing teams grounded in psychological safety, curiosity, and continuous growth.

  • Pascal dArc

    Pascal d'Arc

    Procurement Tech Innovator

    Pascal d’Arc is a seasoned procurement and supply chain technology executive with over 20 years’ experience driving growth, innovation, and customer success across global enterprises and high-growth start-ups. He has held senior leadership roles at JAGGAER, IBM, and SAP, shaping strategy, expanding market presence, and advancing AI and digital solutions in procurement. Pascal has a proven track record of delivering significant revenue growth by defining target markets, setting strategic direction, and enabling teams to execute at scale.

  • Darren Peiris

    Darren Peiris

    VP & Group Head of Recruitment, National Grid

    Darren is the VP & Group Head of Recruitment at National Grid, leading recruitment teams across the US and UK and serving on the People Leadership Team. He is also the co-executive sponsor of the Global Pride ERG. An award-winning HR executive, he was named Highly Commended Recruitment Leader of the Year at the 2024 British Recruitment Awards, with his teams earning 11+ nominations and multiple wins. A judge for the UK Social Mobility Awards, he previously led international talent and capability at Kraft Heinz across 50+ countries, following HR roles at Telstra and Australia Post and an early consulting career at EY. He is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD.

  • Rob Nixon

    Rob Nixon

    Director of Commercial, Commercial Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

    Rob is a versatile procurement leader with international public- and private-sector experience, known for solving complex commercial challenges and building high-performing teams. A multi-award winner, he has led teams to 10+ major procurement awards and held key roles at Bombardier and Serco. In government, he developed the Delivery Model Assessment now in the Sourcing Playbook and contributed to COVID-19 sourcing. He is currently Commercial Director at DSIT, overseeing a multibillion-pound portfolio in advanced technologies.

  • Sam de Frates

    Sam de Frates

    VP, Procurement, Mars Wrigley Europe and Central Eurasia

    Sam de Frates is Vice President of Procurement for Mars Wrigley Europe and Central Eurasia, with nearly 20 years of experience across consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and management consulting. He has led transformation across sourcing, operations, sustainability, and quality functions. Passionate about the future of procurement, Sam champions inclusive leadership and sustainable growth, sponsors Mars UK’s Disability Diversity group, and serves as a Trustee for Dogs for Good.

  • Rob Turner

    Rob Turner

    Director of Procurement & Supply chain, Deliveroo

    Updated bio coming soon.

  • Matt Watkinson

    Matt Watkinson

    Co-author, Mastering Uncertainty

    Matt is an award-winning author, speaker and consultant. As a speaker has addressed industry leaders at every kind of organization imaginable, from Microsoft to the FBI. His third book, co-authored with the maverick investor and entrepreneur Csaba Konkoly - Mastering Uncertainty: How Great Entrepreneurs, Founders and Business Leaders Thrive in an Unpredictable World - was published worldwide in 2023.

  • Graham Copeland

    Graham Copeland

    Senior Director Services, GEP

    Graham is an expert in both buying and selling for large enterprises, with experience as a sales leader, procurement leader, and partner-level consultant. Graham is also a procurement poet and blog writer on the commercial world.

  • Christine Nguo

    Christine Nguo

    Director Consulting, GEP

    Updated bio coming soon.

  • Bob Booth

    Bob Booth

    Founder, AI Ethicals

    Bob Booth helps organisations scale responsibly with AI, ensuring growth, governance and ethics go hand in hand. A former chartered accountant turned technology leader, he spent 25 years at Capgemini, Accenture and IBM launching new businesses, leading major programmes and selling over $500m in projects. As founder of AI Ethicals, he advises boards and scale-ups on responsible AI adoption, go-to-market execution and product growth, bringing board-level rigour and hands-on leadership to complex transformations.

  • Madison Hunt

    Madison Hunt

    Technical Manager, Dole PLC

    Madison is a Technical Manager with extensive experience in the fast-paced fresh produce industry. At Dole PLC, she supports major UK retailers by delivering high technical standards, quality, and compliance while strengthening supplier and retailer relationships. Combining strong technical expertise with commercial awareness, Madison takes a proactive, solutions-focused approach to driving operational excellence, continuous improvement, and ethical, sustainable, and resilient supply chains.

Network with 100+ procurement trailblazers
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Get inspired by 15+ speakers
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Engage in 3+ dynamic panel discussions
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Big Ideas Summit: Agenda

At the London Big Ideas Summit, we’ll dig into the real value behind AI in procurement. Is it worth the investment? How do you build the business case—and secure the funding? We'll explore how procurement teams are actually using AI, what’s working (and what’s not), and whether early adopters are seeing a return. Plus, how are suppliers bringing AI to the table—and what does that mean for value creation, spend control, and smarter decision-making?

9:25 - 9:30

CHAIR’S OPENING REMARKS

Tania Seary
Founder, Procurious
9:30 - 9:50

OPENING KEYNOTE: HOW AI IS CHANGING THE WAY WE WORK, BUY, AND LEAD?

AI isn’t just changing procurement, it’s rewiring how the broader business thinks and acts. From financial services to public infrastructure, it is changing how we plan, produce, and make decisions. This keynote digs into where AI is genuinely creating value for businesses, where humans still outperform, and what it means for procurement leaders.
Daniel Hulme
Chief AI Officer, WPP and CEO, WPP Satalia
9:50 - 10:10

GLOBAL RISK BRIEFING 2026: WHAT THE EMERGING POLYCRISIS MEANS FOR BUSINESS

The polycrisis demonstrates how forces interact and intensify. Tensions over Taiwan and semiconductors, climate pressures, and the spread of AI are converging to test business resilience. Where will the biggest risks and opportunities be in 2026?
Justin Crump
CEO, Sibylline
10:10 - 10:40

LEADING IN THE DARK: HOW CPOs STEER THROUGH CHANGE & BUILD RESILIENCE

Procurement sits at the crossroads of disruption—whether it’s supply shocks, geopolitical risk, labour shortages or the rise of AI. Seasoned CPOs reveal how they balance cost, risk and resilience and how different leadership styles thrive (or falter) in times of uncertainty, when every move counts.
SPEAKER: Partner & Global Head of Practice, Procurement & Supply Chain, Odgers Berndtson
Matt Watkinson, Co-author, Mastering Uncertainty | Robert Nixon, Director of Commercial and Grants, Department of Science, Innovation and Technology
10:40 - 10:50

A ‘BERRY’ INTERESTING STORY

What can a strawberry teach us about procurement? The journey of a single product and what it reveals about the choices we make along the way.
Madison Hunt
Technical Manager, Dole UK
10:50 - 11:20

KEYNOTE: PROCUREMENT & AI –FROM RUSH TO INTENTIONALITY

Graham Copeland
Senior Director Services, GEP
11:20 – 11:40

NETWORKING TEA BREAK

11:50 – 12:20

BUILDING THE BUSINESS CASE FOR AI IN PROCUREMENT

AI is moving fast—but investment still needs board approval. How do you prove value before the savings land? This discussion unpacks how leading CPOs are building credible ROI stories, winning funding, and aligning AI goals with business outcomes. From quick wins to long-term transformation, find out what metrics matter most when you’re asking for money—and what makes finance teams say yes.
Ross Mandiwall
Procurement Director, IT, GSK
12:20 – 12:35

THE £1 MILLION AI PITCH

Three procurement leaders go head-to-head to make their case for where to spend a million on AI. The audience decides who delivers the best return.
Moderator: Elspeth Finch, Founder and CEO, IAND
12:35 – 12:50

PROCUREMENT LEADER INTERVIEW: EMPOWER BOLDNESS

After years leading supply and transformation across global brands, Linda Reddy has learned that bold decisions—not big budgets—drive change. In this one-to-one conversation, she shares how to lead with conviction when plans shift, resources shrink, and the pressure to deliver never lets up, and why courage may now be procurement’s most valuable skill.
Linda Reddy
Global Supply Chain Executive, Nando’s, Supply Chain Executive of the Year
12:50 - 13:00

DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT LINES OF AI

How AI is actually being used, from predictive sourcing to emissions tracking, and what results it’s delivering in real-world projects.
13:05-14:00

NETWORKING LUNCH

14:00 – 14:10

HOW TO BREAK INTO THE BOARDROOM

As supply chains and digital transformation move centre stage, Chief Procurement Officers have never been more board-relevant. Yet breaking into non-executive or advisory roles can feel like a closed shop–you can’t get a board role until you’ve had one. How do you overcome this chicken-and-egg dilemma, position yourself for a portfolio career, and translate procurement leadership into board-level impact?
Andrew MacAskill
Chief Commercial Officer, Fraser Dove International
14:10 – 14:40

PANEL: THE GREAT STAY MEETS GEN Z AND GEN ALPHA: RETHINKING HIRING FOR THE 2030s

Workers are moving less, Gen Z is entering the job market cautiously, and Gen Alpha will step into a decade where demand for talent far exceeds supply. As demographic pressures tighten and the Great Stay reshapes expectations, traditional recruitment playbooks won’t hold. This panel explores what organisations must rethink now to stay competitive in the 2030s — from value propositions to global hiring strategies and the new realities of a shrinking workforce.
MODERATOR: Andrew MacAskill, Chief Commercial Officer, Fraser Dove International
Darren Peiris, VP & Group Head of Recruitment, National Grid
14:40 – 14:50

NEURODIVERSITY: THE EDGE YOU CAN’T AUTOMATE

AI is getting better at copying how most of us think — but not all of us. Neurodiverse minds see patterns, problems, and possibilities that machines can’t mimic. John Floyd, Principal of Bruern Abbey (a school for boys with dyslexia), explores how dyslexia, ADHD, and other forms of difference bring originality, focus, and fresh problem-solving to the workplace — now more than ever
John Floyd
Principal, Bruern Abbey School for Dyslexia
14:50 - 15:20

AFTERNOON NETWORKING BREAK

15:20 - 15:50

PANEL: AI AND THE BOTTOM LINE: GETTING REAL VALUE FROM EVERY DEAL

AI is changing how leading CPOs uncover value: revealing waste, benchmarking supplier performance in real time, and giving procurement teams the data edge to negotiate from strength. But how far can AI really go? This session brings together CPOs from retail and beyond to share what’s working, what’s hype, and how they’re turning algorithms into advantage.
SPEAKER: Christine Nguo, Director Consulting, GEP
15:50 - 16:05

SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT

Sam de Frates
VP, Procurement, Mars Wrigley Europe and Central Eurasia
16:05 - 16:40

PANEL: HOW ARE SUPPLIERS BRINGING AI TO THE TABLE?

The AI dividend really starts to compound when suppliers use it too. Across sectors, they’re adopting AI to forecast demand, manage emissions data, and automate service delivery and pricing. The shift is already changing how contracts are run, how margins are shared, and how procurement teams measure value. This discussion explores what’s happening now in supplier-led innovation, the risks of losing control over data and spend, and how CPOs can turn AI adoption in their supply base into a real advantage.
SPEAKER: Bob Booth, Founder, AI Ethicals
Rob Turner, Director of Procurement & Supply chain, Deliveroo
16:40 - 17:10

PANEL: WHEN DATA BECOMES A SUPPLY CHAIN: THE NEXT BIG BOTTLENECK

AI’s hunger for data is creating a new kind of supply-chain crunch. From sourcing materials to managing energy use and vendor risk, CPOs are now being pulled into decisions once left to IT. This session explores how procurement can shape smarter, greener, and more resilient data-center strategies, and why ignoring data capacity could become procurement’s next blind spot.
17:10 - 17:30

KEYNOTE

17:30

CLOSING REMARKS

Tania Seary
Founder, Procurious
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Seize The Future

As we look ahead, the future of procurement is brimming with possibilities, and the Big Ideas Summit is your gateway to navigating this exciting landscape. This is your opportunity to connect with industry trailblazers, gain actionable insights, and discover innovative strategies that will empower you to thrive in an AI-driven world.

Get your ticket today