BACKGROUND

For those in the corporate world 2020 has whipped up the perfect storm. Not only is most of the globe in the grips of recession, but the pandemic that led us here has generated some formidable challenges. Set against a backdrop of growing economic, social and environmental instability, the art of doing business has rarely felt more fragile.

Once upon a time a consumer’s shopping habits were defined by price point and convenience. But appetites have changed. Today there is a strong demand for ethically and sustainably sourced products. With consumers much more informed than before – and ethical consumerism is booming. From Fairtrade food products to cruelty-free make-up, sustainable fashion and eco-friendly travel companies, sustainability sells. In particular, the food and beverage sector has faced increasing pressure from consumers to provide transparency on the sources and operations related to their products.

Governments are also paying attention. In 2018, Australia’s Modern Slavery Act was passed by both houses of parliament and similarly, governments globally have either passed similar legislation to drive supply chain transparency and business accountability or are soon to do so. From January2021, the new SME Payment Times legislation comes into effect and businesses who fail to comply may be subject to significant financial penalties.

With COVID-19 squeezing already tight budgets it might feel like an inopportune time to refocus corporate efforts and redirect spend. But with the spotlight on responsible sourcing by both government and consumers, businesses have little choice but to start exploring their own ethical procurement strategy.

This webinar will:

• Examine the various risks and potential penalties business face if they don’t achieve complete transparency across their supply chains
• Analyse the significant and positive impact big businesses can have by shifting a small portion of their spend to sustainable and ethical suppliers
• Offer guidance on how to get the transparency you need in your supply chain and what to consider when shifting from an operational activity to a procurement strategy

SPEAKER

Tony Sharpe, Chief Revenue Officer, Robobai

Tony Sharpe is the Chief Revenue Officer of Robobai, a global leader in procurement and supply chain transformation, committed to helping large multi-national enterprise organisations make great purchasing decisions. He has over 25 years of procurement and supply chain expertise at Chief Procurement Office level across UK, US and ANZ within industries such as: Food & Beverage, FMCG, Manufacturing, Distribution, Oil & Gas and Health.  Tony has been a Strategic Adviser for almost 2 years and holds a qualified Member Chartered Institute Purchasing & Supply (MCIPS) for over 20 years through Nottingham University.

Participants will be provided Zoom meeting details on completion of registration.

This webinar is open to AFGC Full Members only.