SCM Leaders Connect | 5th Annual Edition

Now in its 5th year, SCM Leaders Connect brings together senior leaders in supply chain, operations and technology for a day dedicated to tackling the most pressing challenges and opportunities across the end-to-end supply chain.

Taking place at Colworth Science Park, home to global names including Unilever, The Magnum Ice Cream Company, Pepsi-Lipton and dsm-firmenich, this year's Forum will bring together 100 industry leaders for a full day of keynotes, panel discussions, roundtables and networking.

Whether you're navigating supply chain resilience, driving digital transformation, embedding sustainability, or building the next generation of supply chain talent, the Forum offers a rare opportunity to learn from peers, exchange ideas candidly, and build lasting connections with the people shaping the future of the industry.

Join us on 25th November for a day built for leaders, by leaders.

  • Peer-to-peer insight, not sales pitches. Hear directly from fellow supply chain, operations and technology leaders tackling the same challenges you are.

  • Focused on what's actually keeping leaders up at night. From resilience and risk to digital transformation and sustainability, the agenda is shaped around real, pressing issues.

  • Five years of trusted convening. Now in its 5th year, the Forum has built a reputation as a place where senior leaders can speak candidly and think strategically, away from the day-to-day.

  • A setting that reflects the industry itself. Hosted at Colworth Science Park, home to Unilever, PepsiCo, dsm-firmenich and others.

  • Built for connection, not just content. The Forum is designed to help you leave with actionable insights and a stronger network.

Why This Forum Matters

  • Building resilient, future-fit supply chains. Strategies for navigating geopolitical disruption, supply volatility and an increasingly complex risk landscape.

  • Digital transformation and AI in action. How leading organisations are applying automation, data and AI to drive efficiency and decision-making across the supply chain.

  • Sustainability and decarbonisation at scale. Practical approaches to embedding sustainability across sourcing, manufacturing and logistics without compromising performance.

  • Developing the next generation of supply chain talent. Attracting, retaining and upskilling teams for a function that looks very different to five years ago.

  • Collaboration across the end-to-end value chain . Strengthening supplier and customer partnerships to unlock efficiency, innovation and shared value.

Topics & Discussions

Expert Speakers & Panelists

(More to be announced)

In Keynotes, interactive Panel Debates and Group Discussions, our expert speakers will share their knowledge, experience and insights.

Developing Agenda Overview

A compact day of strategic insight, peer exchange, and practical discussion on the future of supply chain leadership and transformation across industry.

  • Speaker: Zbigniew (Zibi) Lewicki, Chief RD&I Officer at The Magnum Ice Cream Company

    In an increasingly complex and unpredictable world, supply chain resilience can no longer be built around reacting to disruption. It must be designed into the way organisations think, plan and operate.

    Drawing on the unique challenges of the food industry, this keynote will explore how data, AI and intelligence, systems thinking and science can work together to build smarter, more adaptive and resilient supply chains.

    From understanding interconnected risks to improving decision-making and anticipating change, the session will offer a fresh perspective on how organisations can move beyond managing disruption towards designing resilience into their operations.

  • Speaker: Patrick Merlat, CPG, Retail & Home & Lifestyle Industry - Senior Director at Dassault Systèmes

    In a world of ever changes, the successful leaders are the ones that will figure out a glide path of growth in a world of never-ending difficulties. Most leaders are now considering the time to concentrate on challenges is not enough and taking opportunities has to become the master of business drive. Operations could be the bottleneck of such strategy if they don’t transform.

    This presentation will explore several transformational use cases about Supply Chain, Industrial Operations and Sustainability targeted to a durable growth in a world of constrained investment: more from less.

    We will evaluate Technology options of how to support those transformations in order to make them Business-centric and Evolutive in a journey strategy.

    Finally, we will explore together what is the evolving position of People and People in Organizations in such transformation where their roles have to be transformed at the age of AI and autonomous operations.

  • Panelists’s from Cummins, ITW, Molnlycke Healthcare & Anglia Ruskin University.

    Moderator: Joann Robertson, Head of Supply Chain Transformation at Babcock International

    The skills that define great supply chain leadership are shifting fast, from data fluency and digital literacy to a new kind of commercial and strategic thinking.

    This panel brings together senior leaders to discuss how they're building the next generation of supply chain talent, what capabilities matter most today, and how organisations can attract and retain leaders equipped for a function that looks very different than it did five years ago.

  • Speakers: Ashely Naughton, Partner - Manufacturing Performance Improvement at PA Consulting & Daniel Lumpi, Senior Director Manufacturing Excellence at dsm-firmenich

    How People, Digital and AI Are Transforming 100 Manufacturing Plants into a Connected, High-Performance Network.

    Full details coming soon.

  • Speaker: Joann Robertson, Head of Supply Chain Transformation, Babcock International Group

    Supply chain transformation is often framed around platforms, AI and new technology, but the foundations that determine success are much less glamorous.

    Drawing on experience from complex, multi-organisation transformation, this session explores the governance, data, processes, people and supplier relationships that need to be in place before technology can deliver its promised value.

  • Speaker: James Mackay, Global Technical Services Director at Pepsi Lipton

    As the no 1 Global Ice Tea business, Pepsi Lipton have been pioneers in the Ready To Drink Tea business for more than 30 years,  drawing on the heritage of the Lipton Ceylon Tea brand and its 100+  year association with the Sri Lankan tea industry.   

    This presentation gives an introduction to Pepsi Lipton's pioneering work supporting the Sustainability efforts of the Sri Lankan Tea business.   

Wednesday November 25th, 2026

The Venue

Colworth Science Park, Bedford, UK

Situated in the centre of the Oxford-Cambridge arc, Colworth Science Park is the place where food, health, nutrition and well-being converge.

The open innovation and collaboration that takes place on site is underpinned by our strong campus culture. Home to Unilever’s global R&D centre, Colworth Science Park is the top location for new and growing food and agri-tech businesses, who will benefit from being in the same community as one of the largest consumer brands in the world.

With close links to Cranfield University and the University of Northampton, plus access to the Midlands Food Alliance, the lab space to rent here is ideal for businesses looking to grow, test new food items, and develop local supply chains.

Register Here

Attendance is complimentary for qualifying industry practitioners. If your organisation provides solutions, technology or professional services to this audience, a member of the Industry Connect team will contact you to discuss the participation and partnership options available.

Please register your details below. Once registered, a member of our team will reach out on email.

If you have any questions prior to registering, please email martin@industryconnectgroup.com

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