Andrea is a Commercial Leader with 25+ years of experience of delivering strategic and operational performance improvements within a commercial and procurement capacity in both public and private sector. Andrea has worked within the NHS in South Yorkshire since 2014 and prior to that was in Leicester. Her role now covers Sheffield Teaching and Children’s Hospital and procurement leadership across South Yorkshire ICS. Andrea sits on various regional and national procurement groups and is a CIPS Fellow. As a HCSA national council member Andrea is passionate about supporting the next generation of Procurement Leaders to progress and become our Healthcare leaders of the future.

Keith Rowley has been Managing Director of NHS North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (NOE CPC) NOE CPC, a wholly owned part of Leeds and York Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) since 2012. Through NOE CPC Keith is responsible for a range of services including the Collaborative Procurement Hub, the Hotel Services Category Tower and the shared Procurement and Logistics services delivered to LYPFT and Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust (LCH). Prior to joining NOE CPC, Keith worked in the IT Services Sector for 14 years, where he covered a wide spectrum of roles including procurement, sales, marketing, and operations. Most recently Keith has been appointed Chief Officer of Health Care Supply Association (HCSA). Keith is particularly interested in ensuring the role of Procurement is valued and developed to ensure it continues to underpin the success of the NHS.

Sharon started her career in manufacturing – too many years ago to mention! In 2009 she decided she wanted to “make a difference” and joined the public sector in Local Government so that she could use her drive, enthusiasm and commitment to deliver excellent results for service users and the tax payer. She is passionate about working in public sector procurement and having successfully led the establishment of a shared procurement service in Local Government, moved into the NHS in 2016. She has led on the creation of the Lancashire Procurement Cluster (LPC) which is now a successful shared procurement and logistics service in Lancashire and is acting ICS Procurement Lead for Lancashire and South Cumbria. Sharon is also Chair of the North West Procurement Skills Development Steering Group, represents the North West region at the National Central Commercial Function Programme Board and represents Hospital Trusts at the National Commercial Talent Board. She is committed to creating procurement and logistics teams who deliver excellent services where all staff feel valued, and that their contribution is recognised and appreciated. She has recently been nominated in the East Lancashire Hospitals Trust STAR Awards for the Inclusion category, as a result of her work to improve diversity and inclusion within the LPC and the wider supply chain.

Michelle McCann oversees the strategic direction for Sustainability and Social Value at NHS LPP. She is responsible for leading the approach across NHS member trusts and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in London to enable them to support sustainability initiatives that will positively contribute to the delivery of NHS Net Zero target by 2040, and embed, track and measure social value in procurement activity to maximise the impact achieved for local communities. Michelle is dedicated to educating and inspiring all to live greener. She specialises in engagement with stakeholders and customers by taking a collaborative approach - with appropriate consultation blended with defining practical needs. Working closely with London ICBs, anchor institutions, NHS London, the London Estates Delivery Board and others, in early 2022, she helped deliver a pan-London Social Value Tool for ICBs which will track and report on the Social Value commitments made by suppliers through the procurement process against the Social Value priorities for the region. Prior to this, in addition to her role as Category Director for NHS LPP’s Estates, Facilities and Professional Services category, Michelle embedded a keen and growing interest in Sustainability and Social Value amongst staff, through the ‘Greener LPP’ initiative, which features regular campaigns and challenges to keep the topics at front of mind for staff. Michelle has over 20 years’ experience working within public sector Estates teams. Before joining NHS LPP, she was Head of Procurement, Estates Contracts and Finance at Goldsmiths, University of London and prior to that worked as the Strategic Planning Manager in the Estates team at the Medical Research Council’s Head office.

Alison started her Procurement career as a graduate with BAE systems working on complex and collaborative international joint ventures. This was a fascinating intro to the world of strategic supplier relationships and organisational partnering to achieve great success – both collaboration and excellence have continued to be at the heart of Alison’s values. As a working mum she sought out an equally challenging role, minus the international travel, in NHS procurement with the North West Collaborative Procurement Hub, later acquired by NHS SBS in 2011. She now has over 20 years experience in the complete procurement lifecycle, specialising in collaborative procurement and commissioning. Alison has always been immensely passionate and proud to be a leader in developing her approach to effectively procuring healthcare services. This led her to create NHS SBS’s Healthcare Improvement Solutions service designed to enable collaboration whilst navigating procurement law, which she believes is fundamental to transformation for ICSs.  In 2019 as a strategic partner to Greater Manchester, she led the procurement support for NHS SBS to create the Nightingale hospital, building on years of service and partnership to this vast and complex ICS. With years of experience working with commissioners and providers nationally, across the whole patient pathway, Alison continues to support NHS systems in navigating procurement legislation and policy to achieve effective integration. In her role as ICS Solutions lead for NHS SBS, she is now also responsible for advising ICS finance and procurement leaders to design and create single integrated procurement functions to maximise the use of technology and data to unlock strategic procurement value. Outside of work, Alison is a major advocate for holistic wellbeing for everybody around her. She is an active yogi, student of nutrition and metabolic health and often seen chasing sunsets, breathing in the forest or braving a cold-water dip!

David Williams joined NHS England in March 2020 as Director of Procurement in NHS England’s Commercial Directorate. David led the NHS system-wide delivery of the Procurement Target Operating Model programme (PTOM) to help drive greater collaboration across NHS procurement. In July 2022 David led its evolution into the Central Commercial Function (CCF), NHS England’s new commercial service offer to help maximise value for money for patients and taxpayers. The CCF is already driving increased visibility and business intelligence through better data and technology to unlock significant benefits and savings and helping trusts and ICBs to leverage NHS buying power across different categories of spend.

Neil Hind has worked across various private and public sector organisations advising and delivering on various procurement, programme and sustainability programmes. He is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply and holds an MBA from the University of Liverpool. He has previously held the roles of the Head of Procurement for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, was Head of Procurement at NHS England whilst implementing a new Commercial and Procurement team, and was the GM NHS Procurement Programme Director, setting up one of the first ICS procurement teams within the NHS. More recently he has been supporting Net Zero for Carbon & Social Value Projects for NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care and is now their Anchors Programme Lead looking at system approach in embedding the Anchor principals that includes social value.

Alexandra is Head of Sustainable Procurement and Supply Chain at NHS England, where she leads the team responsible for delivering a net zero Carbon Footprint Plus for the NHS. In 2020, the NHS became the world’s first national health system to commit to become ‘carbon net zero’. Carbon Footprint Plus includes the NHS’ wider supply chain, aiming for an 80% reduction in emissions by 2036-2039 and Net Zero by 2045. Following the release of the ‘Delivering a Net Zero Report’, Alexandra has led the development and implementation of the NHS’ world-leading programme. She was instrumental in the publication of the Net Zero Supplier Roadmap for the NHS and works across the diverse and complex NHS supply chain to deliver net zero carbon, drive social value and eradicate modern slavery across the supply chain. Before joining NHSE, Alexandra led on the strategic and operational implementation of green plans for NHS organisations across the country, as well as some of the largest decarbonising infrastructure projects in the health sector, enabled by procurement frameworks. Alexandra holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy from Edinburgh University, she graduated with honours from Boston College in the USA, and has previously led the award-winning sustainability programme at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Andrew Daly is Head of Procurement within Hempsons’ specialist procurement law team, with over 20 years’ experience of working with the NHS and specialising in procurement law, acting both for contracting authorities and bidders.

Prior to joining the NHS in 2003, Janet spent fifteen years managing United Nations funded health and other development projects in both urban and rural communities in the Philippines. Her expertise in community and sustainable development led to consultancies with international organisations including the World Bank’s Economic Development Institute and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Throughout the twelve years with the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, she worked closely with clinicians, service users, a variety of other health professionals and external advisors in successfully implementing a range of Trust-wide schemes including capital schemes, Sustainable Travel Initiatives; furniture reuse and recycling scheme; and was one of the key persons who implemented the 2010 Carbon Management Plan (CMP) which resulted in the Trust achieving 14% reduction in its carbon footprint by April 2015. Janet wrote the Trust Green and Climate Change Impact Adaptation Plan and is responsible for managing and facilitating its implementation. Under her leadership, the Trust has realised a 9% reduction of its carbon footprint from 2020‐21 baseline.

The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) is the Trade Association for the safety industry and acts as a leading voice for the sector. Set up in 1994 the Federation has some 400 members representing the complete supply chain including manufacturers, importers and distributors of personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety products, through to test houses, certification bodies and specialist safety service providers. BSIF work closely with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Trading Standards with whom we have a Primary Authority partnership. BSIF are the UK’s leading association for the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation 2016/425 and provide guidance for PPE compliance. Our close relationship and influence with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) continues to develop our access to the appropriate agencies which allows us to be at the forefront on legislation and policy in the post-Brexit era.

Andy Bleaden works for ECHAlliance as the Communities Director where he has developed and built a large network of over 75+ Global Digital Health Ecosystems, 13 thematic innovation ecosystems and grown a Membership Community of over 1000 Health organisations. He has had a long career in both health and social care in the UK as well as funding going back over 30 years starting in the mental health field working with mentally disordered offenders, homeless young people, regeneration and economic development and then later in the field of social care, dementia and robotics. Alongside this Andy has been an External Expert for the European Commission since 2013 assessing proposals and reviewing projects. He has worked for the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) on both Health and Manufacturing programmes. He has assessed proposals and reviewed projects for other funds such as Urban Innovation Actions, Urbact, COST actions, European Urban Initiatives and Innovative Medicines Initiative He brings a wealth of experience and skills in securing and managing strategic external funding, procurement, innovation funding and forming and developing large and complex partnerships across Europe.

David enjoys helping clients navigate business and organisational complexity to achieve their goals. He has worked with many diverse organisations (from Start-up to USMC and British Armed Forces) helping them align their operating model, roles, governance and organisation structure, with their desired strategy and driving results. Proven at the strategic level and as a futurist and innovator, David is also comfortable at the operational level and getting the job done. He is a firm believer that strong leadership, passion and focus can overcome culture and organisation inhibitors – even in the most difficult of circumstances.

Ruth joined the North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (NOE CPC) in June 2022, she has spent the last 30 years working in the pharmaceutical, medical device industry ranging from global organisations to SME’s and early start ups in the UK and North America holding a wide variety of roles from clinical to sales and marketing and general management. Before joining she worked in stakeholder relations and communications for a mid-sized pharmaceutical company. NOE CPC is a member of NHS Procurement in Partnership (NHS PiP) which is the collaboration between four NHS procurement hubs including NHS Commercial Solutions, East of England NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub and NHS London Procurement Partnership (NHS LPP).

Matt has worked at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STH) for 15 years, working his way up from logistics supervisor to his current role, building an impressive portfolio of project delivery along the way. Previously he spent 10 years in wholesale retail, after going straight into full time employment after leaving school. He is currently the Head of Inventory Management at STH and is responsible for implementing the trust wide inventory management solution alongside an active role on the Trust’s Scan4Safety board. Matt has a deep passion for the NHS and sees the promotion and adoption of inventory management and GS1 principles as key opportunities to the NHS.

Sean McNabb is currently a Director in the Cartels team at the CMA. His background is as a fraud investigator and he has been involved in cartel enforcement for over 20 years, having previously worked at the Office of Fair Trading. He has worked on a number of successful criminal and civil cartel investigations involving a diverse range of industries ranging from airlines, estate agents, furniture products and various sectors of the construction industry, including leading the largest ever cartel investigation in the UK which resulted in fines totalling £63.6million being issued to 103 construction firms found to have engaged in bid rigging with competitors on building contracts, including many for the public sector. He was also Project Director for the CMA’s investigation into bid-rigging in the demolition industry which resulted in fines of £60million.

Sharon Lokko is the Supplier Relationship Manager for NHS London Procurement Partnership (NHS LPP) a partner of NHS Procurement in Partnership (NHS PiP), the four NHS procurement hub collaboration that serves nationally and delivers locally. At NHS LPP, Sharon leads on the approach to supplier relationship management and the development of strategies to enable best value for customers and to establish sustainable supplier contacts. She has over 10 years’ experience in managing procurement and suppliers. Prior to joining NHS LPP in August 2022, she worked as a commercial contract manager for the City of London Corporation, delivering strategic procurement projects and collaborating with key suppliers to deliver commercial value for the organisation. Her interests and areas of speciality are supplier development and building collaborative relationships with suppliers and negotiating better value contracts.

Guy Battle is passionate about the contribution that business can make to improve our society. This has been one of the driving motivations behind Social Value Portal, which he set up in 2015 to provide an online solution for measuring, procuring, and managing social value. Guy is also the creator of the National Social Value Measurement Framework (The National TOMs) that have become the most widely used methodology for measuring and reporting social value in the public sector. Outside of his work with SVP, Guy chairs the ESG committee for the British Council for Offices, focusing on environmental sustainability within office developments, and also chairs Riversimple, a zero-emissions mobility solution that builds and operates a growing fleet of hydrogen-electric vehicles.

The Rt Hon. Sir Gavin Williamson CBE is the Conservative MP for South Staffordshire and has been an MP continuously since 6 May 2010. He was Chief Whip (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) from 14 July 2016 to 2 November 2017 and was then appointed as Secretary of State for Defence from 2 November 2017 to 1 May 2019 and became Secretary of State for Education from July 2019 to September 2021. Sir Gavin was appointed Minister of State (Minister without Portfolio) at the Cabinet Office in 2022 and held the post until 8 November the same year.