ROUND UP

OPENING ADDRESS FROM THE GSA

Kerry Hallard, CEO at the GSA

Strategic sourcing is turning on a pin, for buyers and service providers alike. Everyone needs to adapt and change, FAST, or be left behind. This year's Festival aimed to set out what everyone needs to be focusing on if they are to be the winners in this new AI-fronted race It is about being accountable for business growth and reputation, investing in people and skills to thrive alongside AI, and embedding sustainability and ESG into every sourcing decision. As organisations move faster and expect more from their partners, the agenda explored how responsibility and innovation must go hand in hand to shape a more resilient, ethical, and future-ready sourcing ecosystem.

THE RISE OF THE AUTONOMOUS ENTERPRISE

Rakesh Parameshwara B, Director, ISG – Information Services Group

This opening keynote set the scene by exploring the rise of the Autonomous Enterprise and how AI, agents, automation, and connected enterprise data are reshaping the future of work and operating models. It covered the shift from isolated AI use cases to end-to-end autonomous value streams, the evolving balance between human and machine decision-making, and the governance required to scale AI effectively. Using real-world examples and maturity models, the session highlighted how organisations can move from experimentation to enterprise-wide transformation while unlocking productivity, operational efficiency, and new business value through autonomous systems and AI-enabled operations

View Rakesh's slides here.

AI AND AGILE SOURCING – REINVENTING THE MODEL WITH ACCOUNTABILITY

Hemant Puthli, Chair, GSA Agile Sourcing Working Group and Co-founder, Aokah

A practical look at how organisations are embedding AI into sourcing today, streamlining processes, accelerating RFPs, and ensuring adoption enhances both performance and accountability.

View Hemant's slides here.

FROM GOOD TO EXCELLENT - PROCUREMENT JOURNEY
Harinder Bansal, Head of Procurement and Third Party Risk, Motability

Harinder told the transformation story so far of the UK's largest BCorp

Motability has achieved great but has set its sight on excellence. Charting Motability's procurement transformation, the lessons learned and the milestones ahead, this keynote explores why procurement teams need to broaden their horizons, evolve fixed mindsets, and bring sustainability and sourcing together as equal priorities

View Harinder's slides here.

CONTRACTS SIGNED TELL THE TRUE STORY

Imran Syed, Partner, DLA Piper

Imran shared his perspectives through the legal lens: what's being negotiated in, what's being negotiated out and will AI really kill off the legal profession

View Imran's Slides here.

AI-TO-AI CONTRACTING – WHY STANDARD TERMS ARE THE SAFE PATH FORWARD     

David Jones, Founder, Clausify and Chair, GSA Contracting Working Group

As organisations begin using AI to draft contracts and negotiate terms, the risk of complexity, inconsistency, and unintended outcomes increases. This session explored why industry-standard contracts provide a more reliable, transparent foundation in an AI-driven negotiation environment, and how they help safeguard trust, compliance, and long-term value.

View David's slides here.

THE FUTURE OF CX

Moderated by David Rickard, Managing Director, Advisory Services, The Knowledge Group
John Callachan, Director, Go-Fusion
Luc Cavelier, Head of Business Development EMEA, Bright Pattern

When we think about the future of CX a lot of people jump straight to AI, but there is much, much more than that. Watch the discussion below.

IF AI WRITES CODE, WHY DO WE STILL NEED DEVELOPERS?

Pavlo Yalovol, Vice President, Intetics

Exploring the evolving role of software development companies and the responsibility to balance automation with human expertise, creativity, and accountability.

View the Pavlo's slides here