BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Breakout 1:
Global Outlook: Procurement Landscape in US, UK, Europe and Beyond
Building on the main-stage session covering recent US regulatory developments, this breakout will focus on how evolving policy and regulatory environments are translating into real-world procurement practices across corporations.
Speakers will share practical perspectives on how organizations can adapt their procurement strategies in response to changing expectations in the US. The discussion will also expand beyond the US to cover the UK and European landscape, where social value procurement is increasingly shaping how companies engage suppliers.
Attendees will gain insight into what these shifts mean for both corporate teams and suppliers, and how organizations can navigate evolving frameworks while continuing to build strong, competitive, and innovative supply chains.
Moderator:
- Cindy Towers
Cindy Towers
Speakers:
- Reshma Sheikh
- Paulina Rabell
- Brittany Gonzalez
Reshma Sheikh
Paulina Rabell
Brittany Gonzalez
Breakout 2:
Sustainability as a License to Operate: What Corporations Expect and What Suppliers Need
Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have” – it is increasingly a baseline expectation and a license to operate in corporate supply chains. This breakout will explore how sustainability requirements are evolving and how expectations are flowing from global priorities and government frameworks into corporate standards, supplier evaluations, and procurement decisions.
A key focus of the session will be the growing role of sustainability ratings and assessments, with EcoVadis sharing insights into its widely used assessment methodology, the topics and criteria it covers, and what strong sustainability performance looks like across pharma and other industries. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how companies are using these assessments to evaluate suppliers, identify gaps, and drive more transparent and scalable sustainability progress.
The discussion will also be enriched by perspectives from the DA4S AstraZeneca Small Business Sustainability Accelerator participants, bringing real-world examples of how suppliers are strengthening their sustainability capabilities, advancing their programs, and increasing their competitiveness.
Whether attendees are advanced in their sustainability efforts or just getting started, this session will provide practical insight into what buyers expect and how suppliers can build credible, scalable sustainability progress.
Moderator:
- Chrissa Pagitsas
Chrissa Pagitsas
Speakers:
- Isabella Sulpizio
- Kanika Kaura
- Susan Miller
- Priya Lalitha Chandrashekhar
- Taylor Tedesco
Isabella Sulpizio
Kanika Kaura
Susan Miller
Priya Lalitha Chandrashekhar
Taylor Tedesco
Breakout 3:
AI and Digital in Practice: From Concepts to Execution
This breakout shifts from big-picture transformation to practical, hands-on application. We’ll start with a short overview of the key AI and digital concepts shaping today’s capabilities, then quickly move into practitioner-led examples of how these tools are being applied in real business settings.
Expect a focus on execution – including how AI is being used in digital marketing, customer engagement, analytics, and workflow automation – and what this means for corporate teams and supplier partners working to deliver measurable outcomes. Attendees will leave with practical ideas they can take back to their organizations and apply in partnership-focused ways.
Speakers:
- Rohit Mahajan
- William Tucker
Rohit Mahajan
William Tucker
