Procurement Wales Conference
The Procurement Wales Conference, supported by the Welsh Government, will bring together leading experts from across Wales’ procurement community to explore the evolving landscape of public sector procurement.
Discussions will focus on key themes such as social value, sustainability, innovation, and supplier diversity, alongside strategies to enhance efficiency, transparency, and resilience in supply chains. The conference will also address current marketplace challenges and objectives, providing valuable insights into how procurement can drive economic growth and support Welsh communities.
Procurement Wales Conference Speakers
Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language

Mark became the Assembly Member for Cardiff West in May 2011. He was Chair of the Assembly’s Health and Social Care Committee from July 2011 - March 2013 and of the All-Wales Programme Monitoring Committee for European funds from July 2011 – March 2013. He was appointed Minister for Health and Social Services in March 2013. He was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government in May 2016. Mark was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Finance on 3 November 2017. On 12 December 2018 Mark was appointed First Minister of Wales and became a member of the Privy Council on 13 February 2019. Mark was appointed First Minister on 13 May 2021.
Simon Brindle
Director of Commercial and Procurement

Simon is Director of Commercial and Procurement for the Welsh Government. He has held various senior roles in the Welsh Government, including Continuous Improvement, Covid Recovery and Restart and Brexit Strategy. Simon has a wealth of experience in commercial strategy and policy development across social policy, tax and strategic investment, an extensive track record in programme and policy design and coordination, and practical knowledge of large-scale service delivery, corporate governance and leadership. He was formerly Director of Y Lab, a public services innovation laboratory for Wales, and was Corporate Director for Wellbeing in Bridgend County Borough Council on secondment.
Prior to joining the Welsh Government, Simon was a Management Consultant undertaking government strategy consulting for Accenture. In his early career he worked as a Statistical Analyst for the Office for National Statistics before joining the civil service fast stream and working in various roles across nine years in HM Treasury.
Dot Davies
Presenter and Broadcaster

Dot has worked for many years for BBC Wales, ITV Wales, S4C, BT Sport, Radio 5 Live and Radio 4, and now presents the BBC Radio Wales Breakfast Show. She has hosted the Rugby World Cup for ITV and six nations for the BBC.
A fluent Welsh speaker, Dot’s broadcasting career very much began in the world of sport, however her network profile was elevated with her presence at Wimbledon for the BBC for many years. Her annual catch ups presenting alongside John McEnroe on ‘6love6’ a particular highlight!
She has since ventured into the world of current affairs, presenting for Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and Radio 4, along with S4C’s flagship ‘Y Byd ar Bedwar’ and ITV’s Wales This Week.
Her versatility further demonstrated by presenting the National Eisteddfod for S4C in 2022 from her home county of Ceredigion, and she has many more exciting projects to be revealed over the coming months.
Dot Davies recently confessed her growing interest in online casinos, sharing how this form of entertainment has become a personal favorite pastime. According to Dot, the various gambling games offered by online casinos, which you can find more about here: https://800gambling.org, provide not only excitement but also a way to unwind after a busy day. She explained that, for her, engaging in these games allows her to relax and disconnect from daily stress.
One of the reasons why online casinos have gained popularity, including with Dot, is the convenience they offer. Unlike traditional casinos, which require traveling and sticking to a schedule, online casinos are available 24/7 and can be accessed from the comfort of home. Dot highlighted how this flexibility fits seamlessly into her lifestyle, enabling her to enjoy her favorite casino games whenever she has free time, whether that’s late at night or during a quick break.
Dot was brought up on a farm in west Wales, and her love of the outdoors continues as she brings up her 3 children.
Carl Thomas
Implementation & Governance Lead

Carl has a wealth of public procurement experience, having previously led the award-winning procurement team at one of Wales’ largest housing associations.
Before joining Welsh Government, Carl worked for the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), where he taught procurement and contract management best practice to public and private sector organisations across the globe. Carl also played an important role in CIPS’ work post-Grenfell, and supported the work of Working Group 11 to agree specific procurement competence levels for people involved in the construction of new higher risk residential buildings.
In his current role, Carl is responsible for developing Welsh Government’s wider Procurement Reform engagement activity, working closely with stakeholders across the Welsh public sector to ensure that they are ready to maximise the opportunities arising from procurement reform.
Sue Hurrell
Head of Fair Work Procurement

Sue has worked in procurement policy, in Welsh Government and in Whitehall, for most of her career. She has worked on projects to improve competition for public contracts, and opportunities for SMEs and consortia bids.
Procurex Wales Conference Agenda
Agendas are subject to change

Presenter and Broadcaster
Welcome Address - 10.00 -10.05

Presenter and Broadcaster

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Welsh Government
Ministerial Address - 10.05 - 10.15

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language
Welsh Government

Director of Commercial and Procurement
Welsh Government
Keynote Address - 10.15 - 10.45

Director of Commercial and Procurement
Welsh Government

Director of Commercial and Procurement
Welsh Government

Centre of Public Value Procurement
Cardiff University

Head of Commercial Services
Swansea Council

Director of Procurement, Supply Chain, Logistics & Transport
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP)
A Changing Global Political Landscape: What Does it Mean for Procurement Strategy? - 10.45 - 11.30
Global politics are shifting rapidly, influencing supply chains, trade routes, and market access. This session explores how procurement teams can navigate the uncertainties created by geopolitical tensions, shifting alliances, and evolving trade agreements, with practical strategies for building resilience and adaptability into procurement planning.
Speakers
Director of Commercial and Procurement
Welsh Government

Centre of Public Value Procurement
Cardiff University

Head of Commercial Services
Swansea Council

Director of Procurement, Supply Chain, Logistics & Transport
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP)

Head of Fair Work Procurement
Welsh Government
Socially Responsible Public Procurement – It’s law, so what does this mean for you? - 11:30- 12:00
The socially responsible procurement duties are wholly focused on embedding the Well-being of Future Generations Act (WFGA) into procurement activities. This session will explain what the legislation requires, how it applies in day-to-day procurement, and how buyers and suppliers can ensure contracts actively contribute to Wales’ long-term social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being.
Speakers
Head of Fair Work Procurement
Welsh Government

Implementation & Governance Lead
Welsh Government
Procurement Act 2023: Where Are We Now—and What’s Next? - 12:35 - 13:05
Join a panel of experts as they unpack the Procurement Act 2023, examining its impact to date and the next steps for implementation. Featuring an interactive “Ask Me Anything” segment, delegates will have the chance to put their real-world questions to the experts and gain clarity on how the Act works in practice.
Speakers
Implementation & Governance Lead
Welsh Government
Artificial Intelligence and its impact on Public Sector Procurement - 13:05 - 13:35
AI is transforming the way procurement is planned, executed, and monitored — from predictive analytics to automated evaluation. This session will explore the opportunities, risks, and practical implications of AI adoption in public sector procurement, helping buyers and suppliers understand how to harness emerging technologies to improve efficiency, decision-making, and value for money.


