•    Exploring how companies can incorporate environmental criteria in supplier selection, reducing carbon footprint and promoting renewable resources throughout the supply chain.
•    Looking at challenges in scope 3 emissions and how to overcome them.
•    Emphasizing the importance of ethical labor practices and fair trade in procurement to foster responsible sourcing.
•    Evaluating the financial impact of sustainable procurement initiatives, balancing upfront costs with long-term benefits and potential regulatory incentives.
 

•    Implementing optimization practices that reduce waste, minimize energy consumption, and improve overall efficiency within the supply chain to lower environmental impact.
•    Enhancing supplier collaboration to establish shared sustainability goals, promote transparency, and encourage adherence to eco-friendly practices and ethical standards.
•    Integrating green technology, renewable energy sources, innovation, digital tracking, and emissions monitoring technologies to promote sustainability and resilience across the supply chain.
 

•    Emphasizing gender diversity within procurement and supply chain roles, and discussing initiatives to attract and retain female talent. 
•    Developing digital and data analytics skills needed in today’s data-driven supply chain.
•    Discussing immediate steps organizations can take to close the skills gap, such as partnerships with educational institutions, mentorship programs, and internal upskilling initiatives.
•    Highlighting the growing importance of sustainability in procurement.
•    Building strategic and negotiation capabilities
•    Enhancing risk management and crisis response skills

The lightning rounds will showcase case studies from speakers who each have 15 minutes to present their update on the Problem, challenge + solution.
•    Procurement & Sourcing Platforms
•    Emerging Supply Chain Technology
•    Supply Chain Visibility and Tracking 
•    Inventory & Demands Forecasting 
 

•    Debating AI’s role in fortifying supply chains to increase resilience, adapt to disruptions, and improve real-time decision making  
•    Discussing how GenAI can optimize procurement processes and how it can be successfully implemented to achieve results.
•    Enhancing supplier relationship management through predictive analytics.
•    Leveraging AI to monitor compliance, track sustainability metrics, and boost ethical sourcing. 
 

Each round table is given a different topic, and attendees select the round table they want to participate in. Round table leaders spend the first 15 minutes meeting the delegates and providing a case study/lessons learned log/industry update. This is followed by a 30-minute discussion moderated by the roundtable leader with the group, during which they can give feedback and ask questions. The final 10 –15 minutes are dedicated to agreeing on 3 -5 industry recommendations. These recommendations will be made available to attendees in the post-event report.  

•    Change management and talent development 
•    Scope 3 Emissions - Discussing best practices 
•    Cybersecurity to ensure supply chain resilience 
•    Mitigating supply chain risk – Lessons Learned 
•    Harnessing the power of GenAI across supply chain operations 
•    Predictive analytics in procurement to predict risk
•    Best Practices for building a robust crisis plan
 

•    Harnessing real-time data from assets and processes to improve decision-making and predict procurement needs.
•    Utilizing digital twins to optimize the supply chain, simulate and analyze supply chain dynamics, enhancing forecasting and risk management.
•    Streamlining procurement cycles to reduce costs and increase overall efficiency.
•    Fostering better communication and transparency between procurement teams and suppliers, with shared insights and visibility into performance.

•    Looking at upskilling talent for the digital supply chain.
•    Balancing human insight with automation.
•    Building resilience through collaboration.

•    Creating, sorting, and using meaningful data
•    Using digital tools to track and optimize supply chain operations in real-time.
•    Leveraging IoT and AI to predict equipment failures and proactively address issues, reducing downtime and improving supply chain reliability.
•    Implementing blockchain and cloud-based platforms to enhance data sharing, visibility, and traceability across the energy supply chain.
•    Employing machine learning for increased operational efficiency. 
 

•    Discussing the evolving regulatory landscape in the region and how it impacts energy procurement and supply chain in the region 
•    Considering the impacts of regulatory changes on both regional and international companies operating in the region
•    Impacts of regulation on supply chain operations 
•    Discussing future trends in regional energy regulation
 

•    Tracking real-time regulatory and geopolitical changes to quickly identify potential risks to the supply chain.
•    Modeling various disruption scenarios to understand potential impacts and develop proactive response strategies.
•    Leveraging AI and analytics to assess risk exposure and guide informed data decision-making to minimize disruptions.
•    Enhance supply chain transparency by mapping dependencies and fostering better collaboration across suppliers and stakeholders.
 

•    Energy Efficiency Programs: Implementing initiatives to reduce energy consumption, aligning with the UAE's net-zero goals.
•    Leveraging technology to optimize energy distribution and consumption, improving demand-side management and stability.
•    Encouraging the energy sector to invest in solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
•    Promoting energy-saving habits through education, incentives, and policies to drive long-term reductions in energy demand.
 

•    Debating the unique challenges of nationalization policies and localization initiatives.
•    Discussing the preference for domestic suppliers.
•    Bridging skill and capability gaps in the local workforce – Best practices.
•    Overcoming import restrictions and tariffs challenges and increasing cost efficiency.
•    Bringing under control volatility to prevent supply chain disruptions. 

•    Building a flexible supplier base to reduce dependency on single sources and mitigate risks from market uncertainties.
•    Utilizing predictive analytics to foresee disruptions and improve decision-making in energy supply chain planning.
•    Integrating digital tools like AI, IoT, and blockchain to enhance visibility and improve supply chain responsiveness.
•    Discussing the importance of strategic partnerships to mitigate unexpected challenges.

The lightning rounds will showcase case studies from speakers who each have 15 minutes to present their update on the Problem, challenge + solution

•    Blockchain for Supply Chain Transparency 
•    Spend Analytics and Cost Management 
•    Supplier Relationship Management 
•    Cybersecurity to Increase Resilience 
 

•    Discussing the importance of transparency in procurement to ensure clear tracking of decisions, fostering trust, and reducing the risk of fraud or corruption.
•    Improving supplier communication to improve collaboration, encourage fairness, and strengthen long-term partnerships.
•    Highlighting the importance of access to transparent data to improve procurement efficiency and outcomes.
•    Assesing how transparency helps ensure adherence to regulatory standards, minimizing legal risks and promoting ethical sourcing practices.
 

•    Optimizing inventory management to maintain optimal stock levels while reducing holding costs.
•    Leveraging technology such as IoT for real-time tracking and visibility.
•    Discovering sustainable warehousing and transportation practices.

•    Leveraging smart sourcing, strategic supplier relationships, and digital procurement tools to secure competitive pricing and reduce overall spend.
•    Optimizing logistics, transport routes, warehousing, and inventory levels to cut logistics costs and enhance supply chain efficiency.
•    Utilizing data analytics and AI to forecast demand, control costs, and minimize waste across the energy supply chain.