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
Andre Harvey
Seqwater
Andres Naranjo
Zip Co
Arne Geschke
Fair Supply
Arun Sudheendran
McCormick & Company
Cara Wood
Indigenous Energy Australia
Carly Hollier
NSW HealthShare
Chris Hodgson
Propello Procurement
Chris Newman
Social Procurement Australasia
Coretta Bessi
ACT Government
Dojo Esquivel
Australian Motoring Services
Dr James Cockayne
NSW Anti-slavery Commission
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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Mat Langley
Metcash
Co-chair
The Sustainable Procurement Pledge
Moana Nottage
Alphinity Investment Management
Rosalinda Bustemante
Dyno Nobel
Sam Alderston Johnson
Impact Policy
Sharon Morris
World Commerce & Contracting
Shaun Conroy
Governance Institute of Australia
Tamara Sling-Ronen
Lion Co
Thomas Astrum
Ferrero
Alan Dayeh
ERM
Chris Hodgson
Director AdvisoryPropello Procurement
Chris Hodgson is a seasoned procurement strategist with 30 years of proven experience in driving cost optimisation and transforming procurement performance across diverse industries. Throughout his career, Chris has helped organisations unlock millions in savings while building resilient, high-performing procurement functions that deliver sustainable competitive advantage.
With deep expertise spanning strategic sourcing, category management and procurement transformation, Chris brings a pragmatic, results-oriented approach to every engagement. His track record includes implementing cost reduction programs that consistently deliver 10x ROI.
Beyond his consulting work, Chris is a passionate educator and mentor who has trained hundreds of procurement professionals. His training style combines real-world case studies with practical frameworks, equipping teams with the skills and confidence to drive immediate impact. Known for making complex procurement concepts accessible and actionable, Chris has delivered workshops ranging from fundamental sourcing techniques to advanced negotiation strategies.
Chris’ collaborative insight-driven approach has earned the trust of C-suite executives and procurement teams alike. Whether optimising spend categories, building procurement capabilities from the ground up or navigating complex supplier negotiations, Chris delivers practical solutions that create lasting value.
Speaking at
09:00
Masterclass A: Building your ESG procurement playbook
Alan Dayeh
Partner, Sustainability Strategy & Financial ServicesERM
Speaking at
09:00
Masterclass B: Negotiating ESG expectations without losing commercial ground
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
09:30
Panel discussion: What supplier ESG data is usable, what’s missing, and what to trust
14:20
Using collaborative contracting to allocate risk and deliver ESG outcomes
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
Rosalinda Bustemante
Global Sustainability Reporting ManagerDyno Nobel
Rosalinda is a purpose-driven sustainability professional with over eight years of experience spanning ESG strategy, climate risk assessment, sustainability reporting and corporate law. She has led major sustainability initiatives across the manufacturing, energy, water and mining sectors, integrating global frameworks such as TCFD, GRI, SASB, IFRS, SBTi and the GHG Protocol into corporate strategy and reporting.
As a former lawyer in Peru, Rosalinda has advised high-impact industries on regulatory compliance, due diligence for major M&A transactions and stakeholder engagement. Her multidisciplinary background enables her to bridge legal, commercial and sustainability priorities.
Rosalinda is passionate about advancing climate resilience and embedding sustainable business practices at scale, supporting organisations to navigate complexity while delivering measurable ESG outcomes.
Speaking at
09:30
Panel discussion: What supplier ESG data is usable, what’s missing, and what to trust
Dojo Esquivel
General Manager Supply ChainAustralian 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: What supplier ESG data is usable, what’s missing, and what to trust
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: What supplier ESG data is usable, what’s missing, and what to trust
Mat Langley
Head of ProcurementMetcash
Co-chair
The Sustainable Procurement Pledge
Mat Langley is Executive Director of Green Wave Advisory, Head of Procurement Partnering at Metcash, Strategic Advisor to Green Project Technology, Co-Chair of Sustainable Procurement Pledge Emerging Tech and former Global Procurement Head of Sustainability at CBRE. A 2024 CIPS Sustainable Procurement Champion with more than 25 years of global experience, he helps organisations turn ESG and Scope 3 ambition into practical procurement action—embedding supplier engagement, carbon data, circularity and AI-enabled decision-making into sourcing and category strategies that deliver measurable business value.
Speaking at
09:30
Panel discussion: What supplier ESG data is usable, what’s missing, and what to trust
10:50
We’ve measured the risk and emissions… now what?
16:10
Panel discussion: Where is AI actually delivering value in procurement today?
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 ProcurementZip Co
Andres 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?
12:10
Panel discussion: How can procurement policy & industry practice drive economic and environmental outcomes?
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
13:50
From ‘hummingbird’ to architecting post-volatility value chains: making procurement decisions that hold up
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
15:40
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
16:10
Panel discussion: Where is AI actually delivering value in procurement today?
Thomas Astrum
Head of LogisticsFerrero
Thomas is a senior supply chain and logistics leader with over 15 years’ experience driving operational excellence, large-scale transformation and sustainable supply chain outcomes across FMCG, manufacturing and industrial sectors.
In his current role as Head of Logistics within a global FMCG organisation, Thomas leads complex supply chain operations and transformation initiatives focused on resilience, efficiency, sustainability and long-term capability. His experience spans the intersection of logistics, procurement, technology and commercial operations, with a strong track record in translating strategy into execution and delivering measurable business value.
Alongside his industry career, Thomas is a Guest Lecturer and Casual Academic at the University of Sydney, where he contributes to postgraduate education and applied research in sustainable procurement, responsible sourcing, modern slavery risks and supply chain systems.
Thomas brings a unique combination of operational leadership, transformation expertise and academic insight, with a practical perspective on where AI and digital initiatives create real value in supply chain operations.
Speaking at
16:10
Panel discussion: Where is AI actually delivering value in procurement today?
Shaun Conroy
National Sustainability CommitteeGovernance Institute of Australia
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 CommissionerNSW Anti-slavery Commission
Dr 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?
11:10
Climate disruption and supply continuity: what procurement needs to protect first
Sam Alderston Johnson
Founder CEOImpact Policy
Sam Alderton is a social impact leader with a background in social sciences and teaching, complemented by advanced studies in Indigenous business and research. His career has been dedicated to addressing equity gaps across public policy and community-focused initiatives, with experience spanning roles as a senior advisor, strategist, program coordinator and lecturer.
His work has built deep expertise in diversity, inclusion, Aboriginal Affairs and cross-agency collaboration on high-profile projects. He is the founder and leader of Impact Policy AU, a 100% Aboriginal-owned business specialising in social policy strategy, engagement and communication through a critical First Nations lens.
Guided by principles of access, equity, inclusion and justice, Sam partners with organisations across sectors including healthcare, out-of-home care and youth justice—supporting co-design approaches to complex challenges while centring cultural perspectives at every stage.
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
11:40
Using procurement to deliver community value
Cara Wood
ConsultantIndigenous Energy Australia
Speaking at
12:10
Panel discussion: How can procurement policy & industry practice drive economic and environmental outcomes?
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
12:10
Panel discussion: How can procurement policy & industry practice drive economic and environmental outcomes?
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
12:10
Panel discussion: How can procurement policy & industry practice drive economic and environmental outcomes?
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
James Logie
Executive 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
Tamara Sling-Ronen
Environment DirectorLion Co
Speaking at
15:30
Delivering the renewable energy transition: PPAs, long-term value and what procurement needs to know
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
Carly Hollier
Sustainability LeadNSW HealthShare
Speaking at
16:30
Case study: Environmentally sustainable procurement in practice – lessons from NSW Government
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