Meet our 2026 Speakers
View the list of industry experts who will be speaking at the ESG Procurement Conference.
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Abbey White
CPB Contractors
Allison Connell
Evolution Mining
Andre Harvey
Seqwater
Andres Naranjo
Arne Geschke
Fair Supply
Arun Sudheendran
McCormick & Company
Catherine Maxwell
Governance Institute of Australia
Chris Newman
Social Procurement Australasia
Coretta Bessi
ACT Government
Dojo Esquivel
Australian Motoring Services
Dr Carly Hollier
HealthShare NSW
Dr James Cockayne
Edward Baral
Woolworths, Westpac & Winc
Elodie Aime
Transgrid
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Emilio Pardo Seoane
Transgrid
Jackie McKeon
Business Renewables Centre Australia
James Logie
Infrastructure NSW
Jeff Nelson
The Treasury NSW
Jessica Vorreiter
NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water
Joseph Degrazia
AMPOL
Jyoti Bhattacharjya
University of Sydney
Lorraine Finlay
Australian Human Rights Commission
Luke Kenny
Local Government Procurement
Margot Brassil
Infrastructure NSW
Martin Loosemore
University of Technology Sydney
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Melissa Unda
Vocus
Michelle Cunningham
The Fair Co.
Miles Lockwood
Intertek Australia
Moana Nottage
Alphinity Investment Management
Samantha Butchart
World Commerce & Contracting
Sharon Morris
World Commerce & Contracting
Shaun Conroy
Governance Institute of Australia
Simon Salman
Anglicare Sydney
Terri-Anne Daniel
Cooee Native Superfoods
Yi Hang Yu
Intertek Australia
Sharon Morris
Group Regional Head, APACWorld Commerce & Contracting
Sharon is a passionate advocate for driving shared values and positive change in the world. She recognises the advancement of the capabilities of our commercial, procurement, contracting, supply chain, and legal professionals as integral to building a better future for people, prosperity, and the planet. As the Group Regional Head of APAC at WorldCC, Sharon spearheads the association's activities throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Her commitment extends to supporting the WorldCC Foundation, where she actively champions sustainable and inclusive contracting practices. With over two decades of executive experience in Australia and internationally, particularly in the non-profit membership space, Sharon has played a pivotal role in advancing global procurement and supply chain expertise, while ensuring diversity and inclusion are top of mind. Whether as the Director of Global Programs at Procurious or as General Manager for the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, Sharon has consistently aimed to elevate the capabilities and profile of the procurement and supply chain profession across the region. Sharon is dedicated to driving positive change in the world—one contract at a time!
Speaking at
08:50
Opening remarks from the Chair
Coretta Bessi
Chair – Government Procurement BoardACT Government
An executive recognised as a leader in designing and executing transformational change and major efficiency programs. They have a proven track record at Chief Operating Officer, Chief Procurement Officer and Board levels across diverse public, private and not-for-profit organisations. Their executive experience spans health, finance, mining, manufacturing, telecommunications and energy industries. They have been accountable for directly leading functional teams responsible for Finance, Legal, Information Technology, Risk & Compliance, Procurement, Property and Transformational Change. They serve as a Non-Executive Director across a range of boards and have held roles as Community Representative, Chair, and Committee Member across Audit, Risk & Investment and People, Culture & Clinical Governance Committees. They have invested in, co-founded and developed a number of start-up enterprises, with a strong interest in applying their experience to “profit for purpose” initiatives. They are passionate about responsible practices that balance social, environmental, governance and economic factors in commercial business, with the aim of delivering sustainable solutions for future generations. Their commercial and transformational achievements are underpinned by a commitment to the highest ethical standards and values, authentic leadership, collaborative teamwork, strong relationships and continuous personal development. A seasoned leader, they have operated through all business cycles—building teams through start-up and rapid growth, developing talent through turnaround to sustainable maturity, and retaining or repurposing critical skills through downturns and closures. Their consistent approach is recognised for balancing individual interests with business requirements, ensuring every team member is treated with respect.
Speaking at
09:00
Using procurement as a strategic lever for resilience, risk & sustainability
Dojo Esquivel
Head of Group Procurement & ESGAustralian Motoring Services
Procurement and Supply Chain leader with extensive executive experience, including development and implementation of company and procurement/supply chain strategies across Australia and New Zealand. Has a global and regional acumen in developing partnership and drive strong collaborative stakeholder relationships internally and externally across APAC, from C-suite leaders to team members and partners. Migrated to Australia 20 years ago after having a fantastic career at APC by Schneider (consumer/industrial electronics) and Transnational Diversified Group (supply chain/logistic conglomerate). Restarted my career in Sydney with global 3PLs (BCR/DB Schenker/Maersk Logistics) and pivoted to the customer side with the industrial/transport/automotive sector, Voith Turbo. I also took the opportunity to retool myself through formal education doing post graduate studies and attaining qualifications from reputable professional bodies like CIPS and ASCI. Currently General Manager - Procurement, Supply Chain & Engineering for Club Assist which is part of the Automotive Motoring Services (operating on behalf the motoring clubs such as NRMA, RACV, RAA,RAC, RACT) the past eleven years. In charge of significant spend across categories (direct, non-direct, services). Spearheading procurement and supply chain initiatives across Club Assist/AMS. Part of the SLT with eight direct reports located nationally. My focus is driving efficiencies and cost savings/avoidance through process improvement and innovation. Possess demonstrated skills in applying TCO and frameworks to achieve optimal outcomes. My expertise in negotiating contracts, integrating system solutions and implementing ESG programs (Route to Zero/Modern Slavery/Government compliance) have been pivotal in attaining over-all business objectives . I have fostered strong partnerships with suppliers in Asia, enhancing our supply chain robustness and resiliency which are critical in the current business landscape. I have also held non-executive directorship positions for a logistics company called LBC Cargo and an IT solutions provider Comfac Technology Options. Supported both companies set-up in Australia and strategised their value proposition to the market and grow their respective businesses to where it is today.
Speaking at
09:30
Panel discussion: How do you make defensible procurement decisions when supplier data will never be complete?
Arne Geschke
Chief Data OfficerFair Supply
Arne is an industrial mathematician and environmental economist with over 15 years’ experience designing large-scale data models to analyse complex global supply chains. As Co-Founder and Chief Data Officer at Fair Supply, he leads the development of AI-powered ESG risk intelligence tools used by corporations, investors and regulators to translate procurement data into actionable insights.
His work focuses on supply chain resilience, ESG risk exposure and due diligence, covering areas such as modern slavery, climate risk and biodiversity impacts. Arne’s approach combines deep academic expertise with real-world application, having contributed to the development of global environmental input-output models and pioneering scalable methods for multi-tier supply chain risk mapping.
Recognised as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher for four consecutive years, he ranks among the top 1% of researchers globally in his field. Arne is passionate about using transparent, data-driven solutions to strengthen ESG accountability and enable more resilient, sustainable supply chains.
Speaking at
09:30
Panel discussion: How do you make defensible procurement decisions when supplier data will never be complete?
Arun Sudheendran
Head of Procurement AUS + APAC Category DirectorMcCormick & Company
Global Procurement Leader with 16 years of experience driving large-scale transformation, systematic innovation, designing value chains and external partner ecosystems across the world’s leading FMCG organizations, including McCormick, Nestlé, Reckitt Benckiser (RB), and Procter & Gamble. My journey has been defined by transforming procurement into a strategic differentiator for the organisations I've served. I specialize in turning procurement into a competitive advantage and strategic differentiator by aligning and structuring procurement strategies to business growth and strategy. Over the past 16 years I've been consistent in building resilient, high-performing global teams managing complex portfolios across Direct and Indirect Categories. Key Milestones: Enterprise Strategy: Designed and executed ‘Hummingbird’ an enterprise wide strategy at McCormick to navigate unprecedented market volatility, delivering $16 Million in value creation. Global Transformation: Led the transformation from decentralized to fully centralized sourcing for $400 million food ingredients portfolio, across 350 manufacturing plants in 75 markets for Nestle. Innovation & Sustainability: Pioneered product innovation platform SPARC (Supplier Partnerships for Accelerating Radical Creativity) at McCormick Australia and first-of-their-kind localization strategies in the Middle East to enhance sustainability and cost-efficiency for Reckitt Benckiser Digital Leadership: Currently co-leading with Global Center of Excellence (CoE) to architect digital procurement frameworks that leverage predictive analytics and AI to enhance global procurement operations. Expert in navigating extreme market volatility, driving systematic innovation, architecting value added partnership ecosystems and leading diverse, global teams across APAC, EMEA, and the Americas. Having lived and led organizations in India, UAE, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia, I bring a deeply nuanced, global cultural perspective to organizational design and cross-functional collaboration. I am passionate about mentoring the next generation of talent and was recognized as an industry "Super Achiever Under 40" by Celerity and received Alumnus Award in recognition for my contributions to Supply Chain from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Mumbai.
Speaking at
10:50
From ‘hummingbird’ to architecting post-volatility value chains: making procurement decisions that hold up
Miles Lockwood
Practice Lead, Sustainability ConsultingIntertek Australia
Speaking at
11:20
From "What?!" to "Aha!": Helping Suppliers Succeed with Climate Data Collection
Yi Hang Yu
Senior Manager - Climate Change & SustainabilityIntertek Australia
Speaking at
11:20
From "What?!" to "Aha!": Helping Suppliers Succeed with Climate Data Collection
Emilio Pardo Seoane
Major Projects Commercial DirectorTransgrid
Key Achievements: JP 2048 PHASE 4A/4B: negotiation and management of the subcontract signed with BAE Systems Australia Defence Pty Ltd (BAE) for the two amphibious Landing Helicopter Docks (LHD) and associated supplies and Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) for the Commonwealth of Australia (CoA). LHD TISSC – Navantia Subcontract: negotiation and management of the subcontract signed with BAE for to support and maintain the existing LHDs. LHD Asset Class Subcontractor Support Contract negotiation of Teaming Agreements with the companies involved in the RFT issued by the CoA for the sustainment of the LHD Assets. Negotiation and management of the subcontract with Naval Ship Management (Australia) Pty Ltd (NSM) for the provision of the services to the CoA. SEA4000—Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Phase 3 Platform System Design Contract: negotiation and management of the Contract signed with the CoA for 3 AWDs. AWD Reform Strategy Shipbuilding Management Services Contract: tender process, negotiation and administration of both the Interim Phase Contract and Shipbuilding Management Services Contract signed with the CoA and ASC AWD Shipbuilder Pty Ltd (ASC), respectively, to improve shipbuilding productivity and ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the AWDs to the CoA. DDG Transition Support Period Services Contract: tender response, negotiation and oversight management of the Platform Systems Designer Subcontract signed with BAE for the of Platform Systems Designer (PSD) services. SEA5000 – Future Frigate: tender process, negotiation and management of the Risk Reduction and Design Studies (RRDS) Contract signed with the CoA, the Participant Services Contract for the Future Frigate Program and the Request for Tender Response. SEA1654 – Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment Ships (AOR): tender process, negotiation and management of the Risk Reduction and Design Studies (RRDS) Contract; as well as the tender preparation, Offer Definition and Improvement Activities (ODIA) process and final negotiation of the Acquisition and Support Contracts signed for the two AOR Ships. Strategic Agreement Principles between Commonwealth of Australia and Navantia Australia Pty Ltd: drafting, negotiation and further development of strategic principles to provide a framework for the commitment and relationship between the Commonwealth of Australia and Navantia Australia. Standing Offer for Designer Services: preparation of the tender response, negotiation and management of a Deed of Standing Offer for design and advisory services with the Commonwealth of Australia.
Speaking at
11:40
Case study: Turning Scope 1, 2 and 3 supplier data into procurement action
Elodie Aime
Sustainable Procurement LeadTransgrid
Elodie Aime is a Procurement Manager, Social Legacy at Transgrid, focusing on how procurement and supplier engagement can support meaningful Net Zero outcomes. Her work centres on driving emissions reduction in the supply chain, from tender to delivery. With a strong procurement background across varied sectors and formal qualifications in sustainability, Elodie brings a practical perspective shaped by working directly with projects and suppliers.
Speaking at
11:40
Case study: Turning Scope 1, 2 and 3 supplier data into procurement action
Andres Naranjo
Director of ProcurementAndres is a procurement leader passionate about delivering value for money through transformational procurement, collaborative stakeholder engagement, sustainable innovation and structured negotiations. With over 20 years of experience, he has led and supported large-scale transformations across portfolios of up to $1 billion, spanning Technology/IT, CapEx, MRO and both direct and indirect procurement categories.
He has worked with stakeholders ranging from operational roles to C-suite executives across Financial Services, Consulting, Oil & Gas, Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, consistently driving strong commercial outcomes. His approach focuses on exceeding savings targets while building trust and delivering value aligned to business priorities.
Andres has played a key role in digital eProcurement transformations, operating model redesign and advancing category management practices, helping organisations reimagine the role of procurement. An MCIPS professional, he is an active contributor to the profession through lecturing at the University of Technology Sydney and supporting the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Australasia community.
He has been nominated for the World Procurement Awards 2022 and was runner-up for the CIPS Australasia Young Procurement Professional of the Year Award 2013, reflecting his strong performance and collaborative approach.
Speaking at
12:20
Bring your tender: a live ESG procurement problem-solving clinic
Chris Newman
DirectorSocial Procurement Australasia
An experienced business, procurement, and sustainability professional, passionate about delivering social, local economic and environmental impact. Following 20 years in local and state government, I started ArcBlue in 2013 alongside Co-Managing Director Dan Fielding, developing the business into a thriving company of over 100 consultants, trainers and analysts with offices across Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific. We developed a highly successful company with an outstanding culture and a commitment to delivering positive outcomes for ArcBlue’s clients, partners, and the broader community. Together, we led the sale of ArcBlue to global management consulting leaders Bain and Company, successfully completing the sales process in June 2025. MBA and recently GAICD qualified, I am now exploring further Board opportunities, and consulting, training and mentoring across a range of business, government and not-for-profits organisations, including social enterprises and Aboriginal-owned Businesses. This work is being combined with a commitment to philanthropy, principally working in Indigenous communities through the Peter Newman Foundation, and advocacy and thought leadership through my role as Co-founder and Director at Social Procurement Australasia.
Speaking at
12:20
Bring your tender: a live ESG procurement problem-solving clinic
09:40
Panel discussion: How can we realistically remove procurement barriers for Indigenous businesses?
12:00
Panel discussion: Can procurement policy actually change outcomes on the ground — or does it stop at good intentions?
Edward Baral
Former procurement leader across leading organisationsWoolworths, Westpac & Winc
With over 25 years of experience in both Procurement and Marketing, Edward has led cross functional teams at Woolworths, Westpac, Staples (now Winc) Fairfax (now Nine) and Telstra. Edward believes that Procurement has a responsibility to deliver better outcomes for the wider community as well as for business and actively seeks opportunities to address both motivations for example, securing future “over the counter banking services” in a rapidly digitising world whilst at Westpac and transitioning Staples Copy Paper to Carbon Neutral.
Speaking at
13:50
You never want a serious crisis to go to waste
Samantha Butchart
Director, Commercial Practice APACWorld Commerce & Contracting
Samantha Butchart is Director, Commercial Practice, APAC at World Commerce & Contracting (WorldCC), where she champions procurement as a force for responsible, sustainable commercial outcomes across the region. With over 20 years' experience across government, defence, and financial services in Australia and South Africa, she has held roles at the Future Fund Management Agency, PwC Australia, Beyond Bank, ACT Government, Airservices Australia, and FNB South Africa. At Beyond Bank, she embedded Modern Slavery compliance into procurement policy and supported the organisation's first Modern Slavery Statement and B Corp re-accreditation. Samantha is a passionate advocate for building ethical, high-performing commercial teams that deliver value beyond the balance sheet.
Speaking at
14:20
Using collaborative contracting to allocate risk and deliver ESG outcomes
Andre Harvey
Chief Procurement OfficerSeqwater
André Harvey is a procurement and commercial executive with over 20 years of leadership experience delivering transformation across regulated industries in Australia and Asia. As a Chief Procurement Officer, he has led large scale programs and managed multi billion dollar commercial portfolios across utilities, energy, mining, government and financial services, consistently delivering measurable commercial and compliance outcomes. Trusted by Boards and Executive teams, André specialises in designing commercial models and regulatory frameworks that de risk major programs and streamline capital investment. His approach combines strategic discipline with practical execution, uplifting organisational capability while balancing commercial imperatives with compliance requirements in complex, high stakes environments.
Speaking at
15:20
From compliance to impact: leveraging technology to rewire procurement as an ESG engine
Jyoti Bhattacharjya
LecturerUniversity of Sydney
My industry projects primarily focus on AI-enabled predictive analytics and generative AI applications in the context of supply chain management. For further information about our AI-related research and executive education programs, please reach out to me at jyotirmoyee.bhattacharjya@sydney.edu.au
Speaking at
15:50
Panel discussion: Where is AI actually delivering value in procurement today, and where is it just noise?
Simon Salman
Procurement Business PartnerAnglicare Sydney
Speaking at
15:50
Panel discussion: Where is AI actually delivering value in procurement today, and where is it just noise?
Allison Connell
Category SpecialistEvolution Mining
Speaking at
15:50
Panel discussion: Where is AI actually delivering value in procurement today, and where is it just noise?
Shaun Conroy
National Risk and Technology Committee & Queensland State Council MemberGovernance Institute of Australia
Shaun Conroy FAICD FGIA CA is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, where he contributes to national initiatives on governance, risk and ESG through roles on the National Sustainability Committee and the National Risk and Technology Committee. He is also a Queensland State Council member, supporting contemporary governance practice across the state.
An experienced Chair and nonexecutive director, Shaun has held board roles across financial services, education, health, recycling, and environmental services. A Chartered Accountant and twentyfour-year Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, he brings deep practical experience in linking governance, strategy and performance to emerging risks, sustainability and reporting expectations.
Speaking at
08:50
Opening remarks from the Chair
Lorraine Finlay
Human Rights CommissionerAustralian Human Rights Commission
Lorraine Finlay commenced her term as Human Rights Commissioner on 22 November 2021.
Prior to joining the Commission Lorraine has worked as a lawyer and academic specialising in human rights and public law. Her most recent roles have been as the Senior Human Trafficking Specialist with the Australian Mission to ASEAN, and as a law lecturer at Murdoch University. In her academic role Lorraine has lectured in areas including criminal law, constitutional law and international human rights, and has been recognised with a number of national and university awards for her teaching and research. Before moving to academia, Lorraine worked as a State Prosecutor with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) and at the High Court of Australia, initially as a Legal Research Officer and later as a Judges’ Associate. Lorraine holds a PhD in Law from the University of Queensland, and a dual Masters in Law from New York University (majoring in Justice and Human Rights) and the National University of Singapore (majoring in International and Comparative Law), where she studied as a Singapura Scholar.
Lorraine has also been actively involved in a variety of community organisations. Most recently this has included being a member of the Executive Committee of the National Council of Women (WA) (2011-2019) and a Board Member of the Ishar
Multicultural Women’s Health Service (2013-2018). Lorraine has previously been awarded the Centenary Medal and WA Law Society Youth Community Service Award for her volunteer work.
Lorraine currently lives in Canberra with her husband and two young children.
Speaking at
09:00
Modern slavery: what “reasonable steps” look like under scrutiny
Dr James Cockayne
NSW Anti-slavery CommissionerDr James Cockayne is the first NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner. In this role he works independently to strengthen the state’s efforts to combat modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking. He has a focus on empowering survivors and strengthening government procurement and frontline response. James previously spent two decades overseas promoting human rights and responsible business practices – from counter-terrorism work in Africa and the Middle East, to advising United Nations leaders in New York, Geneva and Tokyo.
Speaking at
09:00
Modern slavery: what “reasonable steps” look like under scrutiny
Jeff Nelson
Associate Director PolicyThe Treasury NSW
Jeff Nelson is an Associate Director, Policy at NSW Treasury and a proactive, values-led public sector leader with a lifelong passion for Aboriginal policymaking and improving outcomes for communities across New South Wales. He has held senior roles spanning policy, community programs, justice, and procurement, including as a Procurement Manager and Aboriginal Policy and Program Manager at Transport for NSW.
Jeff’s work has delivered practical policy and procurement reforms that support more equitable and sustainable economic participation, including the Aboriginal Procurement Policy Review (2023), development of the draft Future Ready APP, audits of Aboriginal participation contract clauses, and the design and delivery of NSW Government Pipeline of Works ‘Gather and Grow’ events. He has also helped develop Aboriginal participation and social procurement toolkits, created reporting portals to strengthen accountability, and served as a member of the NSW Government Modern Slavery Working Group (2017–2021). Jeff is completing a Masters of Indigenous Business Leadership with Monash University.
Areas of expertise
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ESG and social value through government procurement (Aboriginal participation, supplier accountability)
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Policy review and development; legislative and governance reform
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Consultation, stakeholder engagement, and partnership-building
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Program and project delivery; reporting frameworks and assurance
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Modern slavery risk and response (government working group experience)
Speaking at
09:40
Panel discussion: How can we realistically remove procurement barriers for Indigenous businesses?
Joseph Degrazia
Head of Contracts & ProcurementAMPOL
Joseph is a senior procurement executive and accomplished people leader, currently leading a Contracts & Procurement team of 30 across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. He drives productivity, supplier relationship management excellence and value creation beyond sourcing within complex, large-scale supply chains. With over 20 years of experience across procurement and supply chain, complemented by roles in logistics and global procurement in Japan, Joseph brings deep cross-industry expertise spanning Energy, Property, FMCG and Automotive. He has built multiple greenfield procurement functions, operated within mature global models and led the transformation of traditional sourcing teams into strategic, value-driven business partners. Joseph has managed over $1.5 billion in annual spend across categories including CAPEX, IT, Marketing, Direct Goods, Logistics and Facilities. Currently, he is leading procurement transformation at Ampol, embedding commercial discipline, supplier innovation and enterprise-wide value creation.
Speaking at
09:40
Panel discussion: How can we realistically remove procurement barriers for Indigenous businesses?
11:00
Climate disruption and supply continuity: what procurement needs to protect first
Terri-Anne Daniel
Chief Executive Officer & Founding DirectorCooee Native Superfoods
Cooee Group was founded by Terri-Ann (Tezzi) Daniel, a proud Wiradjuri woman raised on Country and inspired by generations of strong Wiradjuri women. Her work is deeply grounded in Indigenous culture, inclusiveness and community connection. Drawing on her lifelong passion for food and native Australian ingredients, Tezzi created Cooee Cookies as a celebration of culture, diversity and ethical food innovation. The business showcases Indigenous ingredients while also responding to evolving social and consumer needs around sustainability, accessibility and inclusion. At ESG Procurement 2026, Tezzi brings a unique perspective on Indigenous business leadership, supplier diversity and creating social value through procurement. Her experience highlights how organisations can engage more meaningfully with First Nations businesses while supporting innovation, ethical sourcing and long-term community impact.
Speaking at
09:40
Panel discussion: How can we realistically remove procurement barriers for Indigenous businesses?
Luke Kenny
Chief Executive OfficerLocal Government Procurement
Luke is the CEO of Local Government Procurement. He is responsible for over $1.1b in annual spend under contract. He oversees a procurement training organisation and a Procurement Consulting practice.
Luke has been with Local Government Procurement for 10 years, held a variety of Board positions, and has spent the last 25 years in senior executive roles across public and private sectors.
Luke has an MBA, a Communications Degree, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, is a certified Executive Coach, and currently completing a post graduate law degree.
Speaking at
11:30
Using procurement to deliver community value
Martin Loosemore
Distinguished ProfessorUniversity of Technology Sydney
Martin Loosemore is a Distinguished Professor of Construction Management in the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). He holds honorary positions as an Honorary Professor at The University of Cape Town, South Africa, and as a Visiting Professor at the University of Loughborough, UK. Additionally, he is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building. Recognised internationally as one of the world's top-cited scientists in the Mendeley database and the world's most highly cited researcher in construction social procurement, Martin is a prolific writer of books and internationally-refereed articles in highly cited journals and leading international conferences. His extensive publications cover areas such as productivity improvement, innovation, construction industry reform, entrepreneurship, social value, social enterprise, social procurement, corporate social responsibility, human resource management, equity, and diversity.
Martin contributes regularly to leading media outlets, including ABC News, The Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Conversation, The Fifth Estate, Pro Bono Australia, and The Mandarin. Over the past decade, Martin has been awarded 10 prestigious Australian Research Council (ARC) grants and has successfully managed more than $12 million in competitive research projects. His research has led to senior advisory roles in private, government, and civil society organizations, including:
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The Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry (2003)
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The Senate Inquiry into Building and Construction Industry (Transition to Fair Work) Bill (2009)
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The Federal Built Environment Industry Innovation Council (2011-2014)
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Productivity Commission Inquiry into Infrastructure (2014)
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Infrastructure NSW Gateway Reviewer Panel (ongoing)
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NSW Office of the Building Commissioner’s ‘Construct NSW’ Working Group (ongoing)
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Transparency International
Martin has held senior advisory roles in numerous leading companies and on internationally significant construction and infrastructure projects such as the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games facilities, Three Gorges Dam, and Al Raha Beach project in Abu Dhabi. His research and industry work have received numerous international awards and have been widely commercialised through several spin-out enterprises and joint ventures. Martin is also the co-founder of a successful social enterprise that specialises in securing meaningful jobs and training in the construction industry for people facing disadvantage. In 2025, Martin was awarded the UTS Medal for Research Impact in recognition of the significant positive social impact his work has had in the community.
Speaking at
12:00
Panel discussion: Can procurement policy actually change outcomes on the ground — or does it stop at good intentions?
Abbey White
Director of Community, Sustainability and Social ImpactCPB Contractors
With more than 14 years’ experience championing diversity, inclusion and social value, Abbey is passionate about driving meaningful cultural change and believes that infrastructure can make a genuine difference in a communities’ social fabric through the execution of innovative, industry-leading initiatives that are aligned to government policy. A collaborative and transparent leader, her work across major infrastructure projects in Victoria and South Australia has seen her create a more inclusive and equitable environment for her teams and colleagues while achieving the highest standard of outcomes in relation to workforce development, community engagement, social and Indigenous engagement as well as employment programs for disadvantaged job seekers.
In her current role at CPB Contractors, Abbey is focused on harnessing the construction industry’s potential to champion better environmental practices and sustainability initiatives while genuinely bettering the lives of those who work in the sector and those who are impacted by it.
Speaking at
12:00
Panel discussion: Can procurement policy actually change outcomes on the ground — or does it stop at good intentions?
Melissa Unda
Head of Sustainable ProcurementVocus
Speaking at
12:00
Panel discussion: Can procurement policy actually change outcomes on the ground — or does it stop at good intentions?
Catherine Maxwell
General ManagerGovernance Institute of Australia
Catherine joined Governance Institute in August 2017 and is responsible for policy, advocacy and media. She has a strong background in governance and policy gained at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, the ASX Corporate Governance Council, ASX, the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Financial Services Council.
Catherine has a BA(Hons)/LLB from the University of Sydney. She qualified as a solicitor and has worked in a variety of legal roles in Australia and Hong Kong. She completed the Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance in 2008.
Speaking at
13:50
Market reality check: what's changing and what it means for ESG procurement
Moana Nottage
Senior Responsible Investment AnalystAlphinity Investment Management
Moana is a Senior Responsible Investment Analyst at Alphinity Investment Management who contributes to the integration of environmental, social and governance risks into the investment process. She conducts research and data analysis to monitor ongoing ESG risks, controversies, emerging topics and supports Alphinity’s stewardship activities in the areas of company engagement, collaborative engagement, thematic research and proxy voting.
Moana also has an active role in supporting the universe construction for Alphinity’s two sustainable strategies and completes company and thematic analysis which assists the Sustainable Compliance Committee in their decisions. She leads the annual data assurance process for both sustainable strategies.
Moana joined Alphinity in 2020 and has a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Commerce degrees from the University of Sydney, with majors in Biology, Environmental Studies and Finance.
Speaking at
13:50
Market reality check: what's changing and what it means for ESG procurement
Michelle Cunningham
Chief Executive OfficerThe Fair Co.
Future-focused CEO, COO and Director known for successfully leading organisations through change and transformation, driving contemporary strategy, improving organisational performance, building high-performing engaged teams, and elevating the customer and employee experience across commercial enterprise (Global FMCG), SME's, complex for-purpose (NFP), and public sector (Health & Regulatory) organisations. MBA qualified, I’ve built my career across a wide range of industries and professional disciplines, holding both permanent and interim executive leadership roles in regional and metropolitan areas. This broad-based experience enables me to bring a different perspective to complex challenges, combining commercial acumen, operational expertise, and strategic problem-solving skills with an adaptive, people-focused leadership approach. An AICD Company Directors graduate, I have had the privilege to serve on and provide trusted advice to Boards and Committees, serving in the roles of Director, Company Secretary, Trustee, and Registrar. With internationally recognised Change Management certification, I drive a forward-thinking culture, with proven results delivering significant change and business transformation to achieve financial sustainability, improve operational performance, facilitate growth, enhance reputation and build trust, lift governance and compliance standards, create social value, and embrace innovation.
Speaking at
14:20
Social value at scale: leveraging the renewable energy transition as Australia’s biggest social licence opportunity
James Logie
DirectorInfrastructure NSW
James is a Director of Strategy, Planning & Innovation at Infrastructure NSW, with experience in a range of roles focused on decarbonisation strategy, policy, and implementation in infrastructure. He leads the implementation program for the NSW Government Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery Policy, which embeds carbon considerations into infrastructure decision-making and delivers a consistent approach to measuring carbon across different asset types. He is also currently leading an update to this policy and accompanying NSW Embodied Carbon Measurement for Infrastructure guidance to better consider whole life carbon emissions. His prior roles have been in consulting, most recently at WSP where he embedded decarbonisation a range of building and infrastructure projects.
Speaking at
14:40
The price of decarbonisation: what works, what doesn’t & what to assess
Jackie McKeon
Program DirectorBusiness Renewables Centre Australia
Jackie is committed to accelerating industry decarbonisation, empowering organisations to innovate energy and carbon initiatives for a sustainable future. Her experience spans program management, governance, engagement, consultancy and policy, all towards promoting Australia’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
Jackie is an experienced leader in initiatives and major projects that inspire collaboration across industry, researchers and corporations. In 2018, Jackie and her team launched the Business Renewables Centre (BRC-A) supported by funding from ARENA, Victorian, NSW and Qld Governments, which has helped Australian industry to deliver 11.2 GW renewable energy projects.
Jackie has 20 years’ experience in corporate sustainability, renewable energy procurement, decarbonisation strategy, strategic planning, industry engagement and training, and project development management. Jackie’s career experience spans energy, infrastructure, property, finance and government sectors. Prior to joining ISF, Jackie held leadership positions at Climate-KIC, CORE Markets, WWF, UrbanGrowth (NSW Gov), Stockland, NSW Department of Planning & Environment, and Manidis Roberts (RPS).
Speaking at
15:30
Delivering the renewable energy transition: PPAs, long-term value and what procurement needs to know
Margot Brassil
Executive DirectorInfrastructure NSW
Experienced strategic leader and relationship manager for government and Fortune 100 companies, delivering transformational sector change initiatives. Currently leading collaboration on construction industry and infrastructure policy issues across NSW Government. Program Lead for the NSW Government Women in Construction Program.
Speaking at
16:00
Using procurement to turn workforce participation targets into real outcomes
Jessica Vorreiter
Senior Project OfficerNSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water
Jessica is a Senior Project Officer in the Choose Circular team at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW DCCEEW).
Jessica is a passionate and outcomes-driven Environmental Engineer with more than 9 years’ experience in designing and implementing sustainability programs in both the public and private sector.
She is an expert in sustainable procurement and change management, with her current focus on improving sustainable procurement practices and circularity across NSW Government agencies and infrastructure projects.
Speaking at
16:30
Case study: Environmentally sustainable procurement in practice – lessons from NSW Government
Dr Carly Hollier
Sustainability LeadHealthShare NSW
Dr Carly Hollier is a clinician and sustainability leader with over 20 years experience working in NSW Health. A physiotherapist by background, Carly completed a PhD in Sleep and Respiratory Medicine in 20214 and worked as a clinician, educator and researcher in acute and chronic care for many years. Combining this experience with her interest in sustainability, Carly became a sustainability practitioner and leader at HealthShare NSW. She works with stakeholders across NSW Health and government to deliver system-focused sustainability programs and initiatives in areas such as climate risk, decarbonisation, circular economy and sustainable procurement. Carly is due to complete a Masters of Sustainability at the University of Sydney in June 2026.
Speaking at
16:30
Case study: Environmentally sustainable procurement in practice – lessons from NSW Government
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