With just over 60 days to go, the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Southern Africa, part of the world’s leading professional body and globally recognised gold standard for procurement and supply chain management, representing more than 200,000 professionals across 180 countries, has confirmed that its flagship Connect & Engage Conference and Awards 2026 will bring together senior procurement, supply chain, business and public sector leaders from across Africa to tackle the strategic issues reshaping the profession and the continent’s economic future.
Taking place on 4–5 August 2026 at the Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff in Johannesburg, the conference is expected to attract more than 300 procurement and supply chain professionals, executives, policymakers and industry specialists from across Southern Africa and beyond.
Held under the theme “Connect, Engage, Through Excellence”, this year’s conference will focus on how procurement and supply chain management are increasingly becoming strategic enablers of economic growth, resilience, governance, sustainability and competitiveness across Africa.
The event comes at a time when organisations across both the public and private sectors are facing growing pressure to navigate geopolitical instability, supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures, climate risks, governance scrutiny and rapid technological change.
According to the conference agenda, discussions will cover procurement and supply chains as economic enablers; digital transformation and AI; public procurement reform; ethics and compliance; ESG and climate resilience; supplier development; localisation; Pan-African integration; and the future talent and leadership needs of the profession.
The conference will feature senior international and regional CIPS leaders, including Paul Vos, Ben Farrell, Sam Achampong and Maxfield Weiss.
Farrell, who became Global CEO of CIPS in October 2024 following a distinguished military and corporate leadership career, has become a prominent voice globally on the evolving role of procurement in an increasingly disrupted and uncertain world. As part of his keynote delivery at this year’s conference and awards, Farrell will unpack The Great Conversation: exploring the ideas, challenges and opportunities shaping the future of procurement, and the critical role the profession must play in helping organisations navigate an increasingly complex global environment.
Paul Vos, Regional Managing Director of CIPS Southern Africa, says the 2026 conference agenda has been designed to address the realities organisations are facing across the continent.
“Procurement and supply chains are no longer operational support functions sitting in the background. They have become central to economic resilience, governance, competitiveness and long-term sustainability,” says Vos.
“This year’s conference is focused on bringing together leaders from across industries and sectors to engage honestly and strategically around the risks, opportunities and structural challenges shaping procurement and supply chains in Africa.”
Tickets for the conference are currently available through the official conference microsite, with CIPS member tickets priced at R8,695 and non-member tickets at R10,434. Corporate group bookings and international delegate enquiries can also be made directly through CIPS Southern Africa.
Alongside the conference, entries are also open for the CIPS Excellence in Procurement & Supply Awards 2026, which recognise outstanding achievements, innovation and leadership across the procurement and supply chain profession.
Organisations and professionals can enter a range of team and individual award categories, including Best Procurement Transformation Programme, Best Sustainability Project, Best Use of Digital Technology, Leader of the Year, Young Talent and the SheInspires Award, which recognises women driving change across the profession.
Previous winners have included organisations and leaders such as Safaricom Plc, Shell Downstream South Africa, First National Bank, Rand Water, FSD Africa, Rohloff Group & Joburg Market, KFC Africa @ Yum! Brands, as well as individual leaders, including Lesego Sineke, Joseph Njeri and Abosede Olabimtan.
The broader conference ecosystem is expected to include attendees from major corporates, public entities, regulators, development institutions and multinational organisations operating across sectors such as logistics, mining, financial services, telecommunications, manufacturing, energy, retail and public infrastructure.
More information, ticket purchases, award entries and the full conference agenda can be viewed via the official conference microsite.
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