People, Purpose & Planet Zone
The People, Purpose & Planet Zone at Procurex England 2026 brings together the ideas and initiatives redefining responsible public procurement.
Focusing on social value, sustainability, net-zero and community impact, this zone will feature expert-led sessions and practical discussions designed to help procurement professionals deliver positive, measurable outcomes for people and the planet.
Delegates will discover innovative strategies for embedding environmental and social responsibility within every stage of the procurement process – from policy to delivery – while learning how to align purchasing decisions with wider government and organisational goals.
Join the conversation, share best practice, and help shape a greener, fairer future for public services through the People, Purpose & Planet Zone.
Confirmed Speakers
Alison Houston
Head of Government - UK
Alison has a long background in corporate finance, policy and partnerships in Central Government and is currently Head of UK Government at Amazon Business. She is working with Central and Local Government organisations to support their purchasing strategies and is developing and deploying technology to deliver wider organisational goals through socially responsible purchasing.
DI Dan Gianassi
Head of Cyber & Innovation
Dan Giannasi is a Detective Inspector seconded to the NWCRC, with 18 years of experience specialising in digital and cyber crime with Greater Manchester Police and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU). Dan leads the North West Cyber Resilience Centre in its mission to build resilience in small and medium sized organisations across the North West and make it one of the safest places to do business.
The North West Cyber Resilience Centre is a police-led organisation, providing affordable, professional cyber security services to small businesses.
The NWCRC works with the business community to raise awareness, and offer free and paid memberships options to businesses. Members gain access to a range of cyber security guidance and resources online, alongside regular updates of emerging threats.
Francesca Bowers
Senior Client Lead
Fran is a seasoned public sector specialist and Senior Client Lead with extensive experience supporting local authorities in delivering high-impact, recipient-focused solutions. Known for her collaborative approach and deep understanding of the operational pressures facing councils, Fran partners closely with clients to drive innovation, efficiency, and service excellence. At this event, Fran will share strategic insights on breaking down barriers to digital adoption and unlocking smarter ways to meet tightening budget targets.
James Thirkill
Director of Business Development
NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) was created in 2004 by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to deliver corporate services to the NHS. A unique joint venture with Sopra Steria, a European leader in digital services and software development, we make life easier for NHS employees, patients and suppliers, and deliver value for money to the taxpayer.
Proud members of the NHS family, we provide finance & accounting, procurement and workforce services to more than half the NHS in England. Co-created with and for those who use them, our shared solutions are informed by big data and powered by cutting-edge technologies, delivering efficiency, effectiveness and resilience at levels unachievable for organisations working alone.
Our partnership approach to every project is underpinned by our teams’ expertise, in-depth understanding of the NHS, and commitment to service excellence. We share common values and unity of purpose with the rest of the NHS family, and our employees are empowered to question, test, and solve the challenges the NHS faces as it transforms to meet the needs of the 21st century.
Kevin Lewis
Senior Business Development Manager
Delta eSourcing is an end-to-end, EU compliant, full eSourcing web-based service which allows buying organisations to manage tenders, suppliers and contracts in a single solution.
Our eTendering portal is at the forefront of eProcurement technology for the public sector, and offers all users outstanding customer support and guidance.
Delta allows public sector buyers a chance to build communities, enjoy benefits of collaboration and transparency as well as meeting with an ever changing legislative landscape. Intelligent forms allow users to comply with legislation and at the same time allows our customers the ability to outperform their market.
Mana Sadeghipour
Working Group Secretary
Mana is a public policy professional with over 9 years of experience supporting organisations in navigating complex challenges, with experience in establishing regulatory frameworks for new industries, advocating for policy and regulatory reform, and delivering meaningful results in corporate social responsibility.
Since September 2023, Mana has been Working Group Secretary at the IEEE Standards Association, contributing to the development of the P3119 Standard that establishes a uniform set of definitions and a process model for the procurement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automated Decision Systems (ADS) through which government entities can address socio-technical and responsible innovation considerations to serve the public interest.
Mark Bufton
Senior Business Development Manager
Mark is a recognised expert in public sector digital transformation, known for guiding local authorities through complex challenges with practical, tech-driven solutions. With deep expertise in cost-efficiency, fund disbursement, and sustainable digital solutions, Mark plays a pivotal role in shaping strategies that deliver measurable impact across government services. At this event, he brings practical insights and real-world examples to show how councils can meet the government’s 2% savings target—without compromising on service delivery or social value.
Mia Furci
Business Development Manager
Tracker is a powerful and unique business intelligence solution helping you find, bid for and win public and private sector business using market intelligence to support your business growth objectives.
As the market leader, Tracker provides access to Europe's largest database of contract and award notices so you don't miss out on great tender opportunities, meaning you can engage earlier with buyers, be more competitive, and sell more effectively.
Our range of packages are designed to support businesses looking to grow their share of the public and private sector market through; Powerful market intelligence, bid advisory, pipeline visibility and the latest tender alerts.
Michelle Walker
Head of Procurement Services
Established in 1974 to aggregate the procurement spend of their owning local authorities, YPO continue to help drive efficiency savings through bulk buying power for product supplies and centralised contract services.
Today YPO offer an extensive range of thousands of products and public sector frameworks, covering everything from office supplies and furniture to energy and HR solutions, helping customers save time and money, delivering even better value.
YPO are 100% publicly owned and all profits are returned to their public sector customers.
Oliver Kent
Head of Customer Success
Oliver Kent is the Head of Customer Success at MHR, leading a team dedicated to delivering exceptional service and value. With over 18 years of experience in HR, Finance, and Customer Success across public and private sectors, Oliver is CIPD qualified and an expert in HR transformation, systems implementation, and change management.
Passionate about helping clients achieve strategic goals, Oliver has successfully led large-scale HR transformation projects for high-profile organisations, including DCMS and Serco. Known for strong leadership, conflict resolution, and mentoring, Oliver is committed to driving efficiency, quality, and innovation in HR processes.