2025 Agenda

• Strategically integrating ESG procurement practices into a global framework 
• Harmonising procurement strategies for consistent environmental & and social impact  
• Maintaining full compliance with evolving regulatory requirements 
• Driving sustainable, responsible sourcing through a unified approach 

• Interpreting & responding to key developments in Australian and global reporting frameworks  
• Aligning procurement with finance, legal and sustainability teams to ensure consistent ESG data collection and reporting 
• Understanding voluntary vs mandatory reporting and adapting procurement practices to remain compliant  

• How can teams improve their processes to adapt to reporting requirements? 
• What are the key challenges facing procurement teams navigating sustainability reporting and how can they be overcome? 
• What are some key strategies to effectively mitigate reporting risks? 
• How can procurement teams elevate their role in sustainability reporting? 

• Lessons from how BHP conducts ESG assessments to create sustainable procurement
• Verifying supplier claims & credentials through robust sustainability assessments
• Minimising greenwashing risks by building evidence bases

• Identifying intended outcomes, key sustainability metrics and data sources relevant to procurement  
• Developing processes to enable accurate data collection, analysis & reporting 
• Integrating data into procurement decision-making to support compliance, reduce risk & create value 
• Enhancing data quality through technology as well as internal and supplier collaboration  

• Establishing consistent Scope 3 data collection processes  
• Identifying emissions hotspots & priority suppliers for data collection 
• Engaging with suppliers to drive emissions transparency
• Integrating supplier emissions data into ESG reporting and procurement decisions 

• Building climate resilience and risk mapping strategies into procurement plans 
• Embedding health, safety and resilience risk management into policies 
• Developing energy resilience with flexible, diversified and renewable energy sourcing options 

• Defining the circular economy in practical terms 
• Examining challenges for a traditional business to become circular 
• Developing procurement tools to solve those challenges, including product design & supplier partnerships 

• Aligning ESG goals and operational activities to achieve shared outcomes  
• Building effective communication, common language and trust 
• Translating compliance and legislative requirements into procurement and business reality 

• What does effective collaboration between procurement and ESG teams actually look like in practice? 
• Where are the most common disconnects between procurement strategy and ESG goals and how can they be resolved? 
• How can shared KPIs and joint planning processes improve alignment and accountability across departments? 
• What tools, technologies or communication channels best support cross-functional ESG collaboration? 

• What governance practices effectively balance long-term ESG goals with short-term realities? 
• How can ESG be embedded into existing risk management and procurement frameworks? 
• What governance structures help manage emerging ESG risks effectively? 
• How can ESG, procurement, legal and risk teams align on strategy and action? 

• Building the business case for ESG investment through data, risk mitigation, and competitive advantage 
• Developing procurement strategies that deliver cost efficiency and long-term ESG value 
• Prioritising ESG initiatives that create measurable value without undermining budget and performance goals 

This session will demonstrate how procurement teams can move beyond ESG compliance to create value, reduce risk, and build resilient supply chains through sustainability ratings. The talk will include case studies, regional trends, and practical steps for embedding ESG into procurement strategy. 

• Optimising supply chain resources to align operations with sustainability goals  
• Successfully integrating sustainability into core strategy  
• Ensuring all levels of decision making prioritise sustainable growth  

• Engaging stakeholders early and implementing a supplier code of conduct 
• Exploring the use of weighted scoring systems and incorporating ESG questions in RFPs 
• Identifying the most successful format to conduct regular audits and assessments 

• Determining when to apply tactical vs strategic sourcing to support ESG goals 
• Leveraging strategic sourcing to drive long-term sustainability value 
• Recognising the ESG risks of short-term, tactical decisions 
• Embedding ESG considerations into strategic sourcing processes 

• How can procurement teams engage respectfully with Indigenous businesses? 
• What cultural protocols should be understood before supplier engagement? 
• How can procurement support long-term Indigenous economic participation? 
• What legal and ethical frameworks guide Indigenous procurement? 

• How can we effectively assess modern slavery risk across suppliers and categories? 
• What steps work to embed modern slavery clauses and audit rights into contracts? 
• How can supplier prequalification and onboarding processes screen for exploitation risks? 
• What tools and frameworks can help track and manage high-risk suppliers over time? 

Utilising ESG as an explicit element of your procurement and supply chain strategy provides numerous opportunities to gain a competitive advantage while driving positive sustainability outcomes. This full-day masterclass is designed specifically for procurement and sustainability professionals who want to elevate their ESG capabilities and integrate ESG considerations into procurement decision-making. Through a mix of strategic insight and hands-on application, attendees will gain the skills to assess ESG risks and opportunities, build internal alignment, and turn ESG initiatives into real business value. 

Learning Outcomes: 

• Understand the business value of ESG in procurement: Explore the business logic of ESG evaluation and improvement and how to create value through ESG procurement 
• Leverage ESG as a performance driver: Examine the five business value dimensions of ESG’s advantages, along with procurement’s role in this value creation 
• Create a customised ESG evaluation for your organisation: Develop a framework you can apply to procurement practices to score your organisation's ESG profile, plans and improvement initiatives 
• Define ESG criteria for procurement processes: Identify how ESG can be incorporated into your specific procurement and supply chain designs and decisions 
• Plan your ESG development initiative: Develop processes to incorporate and embed ESG into your procurement practices 
• Build your ESG business case and logic: Develop your organisation’s ability to use ESG as a mechanism to advance sustainability and performance through effective ESG oriented procurement 
• Plan your ESG procurement development journey: Create a high-level plan to implement an ESG-inclusive procurement and supply chain management approach 

This masterclass is a valuable investment for procurement professionals looking to lead with purpose and deliver sustainable value through sourcing. With practical tools, frameworks, and real-world examples, you'll walk away ready to build an ESG procurement strategy that drives positive ESG outcomes and business value.