Article: From back office to the boardroom – A decade of Women in Procurement

Celebrating a Decade of Progress: Women in Procurement & Supply Chain

As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the upcoming Women in Procurement & Supply Chain conference, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, what lies ahead, and the challenges still to be overcome.

Back in 2015, you could count the number of female Chief Procurement Officers in blue-ribbon Australian companies on one hand. This core group of trailblazers had risen to the top in a male-dominated profession, where typical procurement roundtables were 90% male. Fast-forward to our 2025 conference, and we see women holding senior positions across all levels of their organisations—a testament to the progress we've made together.

Evolving Priorities

While cost control and risk mitigation are unlikely to ever leave the top rungs of the ladder of procurement priorities, we've witnessed a significant shift over the past decade. Sustainability and social procurement are firmly back on the agenda after taking a back seat during the COVID crisis and subsequent inflationary pressure. The increasing complexity of the regulatory environment, along with the need to rethink supply chains amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, has also shaped our focus. But the undeniable priority for procurement and supply teams across both the public and private sectors lies in harnessing the incredible potential of AI and generative AI.

Some things haven’t changed since our first conference back in 2015. Back then, our attendees aspired to build influence and gain a seat at the decision-making table, capitalising on the profession’s comparatively recent emergence from the back office. Today, the rapid development of technology driven by AI has shifted the focus. Procurement professionals are increasingly automating tactical tasks and processes, enabling them to concentrate on the strategic picture and human factors like relationship building both outside and within the organisation.

Digital transformation in procurement was already well underway in 2015, with companies racing to the Cloud and grappling with the potential of Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT) in supply chain. Fast forward ten years and digital transformation is now firmly centred on AI, automation, and advanced analytics. However, one thing remains unchanged: data continues to play a keystone role in both procurement and supply chains. 

Automation is influencing the ideal skill-set, too. Procurement professionals today are focusing on honing their human skills—such as emotional intelligence, collaboration, and resilience—to future-proof their careers.

AI is not the only trend shaping the future of the profession. With geopolitical tensions showing no signs of abating in the Trump era and the regional economy still on shaky ground, procurement professionals will need to adapt. The looming deadline for net-zero emissions by 2050 presents tough targets in terms of sustainability but an exciting opportunity for procurement to innovate. Every procurement and supply professional now needs to have some level of expertise in sustainability, rather than delegating this role to a single officer or team.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the significant progress made over the past decade, several challenges still need to be addressed to ensure women continue to advance in procurement and supply chain. One major issue is the lack of comprehensive data on the percentage of women in these roles.

A Procurious study found an alarming 74% of women in procurement have encountered some form of gender-based adversity in the workplace. This includes being assigned menial tasks that don’t reflect their expertise and dealing with persistent pay disparities. The gender pay gap remains a pressing concern, with women often earning significantly less than their male counterparts for similar positions. Additionally, only about 27% of women reported having access to leadership training opportunities, which are essential for their professional development and career progression.

According to global research from Oliver Wyman, over half (60%) of CPOs have reported an increase in women on their teams over the three years to 2024. More than three-quarters of executives noted enhanced creativity and innovation due to the presence of women. However, despite these advances, gender parity remains elusive, with women holding only 25% of procurement management committee positions and fewer than one in three buyers being women. While Europe shows better representation, particularly in comparison to Asia, where only 17% of companies have over 40% female representation, different industries exhibit varying levels of gender representation. The reality is that we are less likely to find women in the procurement and supply teams of STEM-related industries like manufacturing and mining; an issue that can be traced back to educational outcomes. Interestingly, women in smaller companies are more likely to occupy positions of power than those in larger organisations.

These challenges underscore the need for ongoing initiatives that promote gender equity in the procurement field. Creating supportive environments that empower women to pursue leadership roles is crucial for breaking down the barriers that have historically hindered their advancement.

A Legacy of Women in Leadership

Women continue to shape and influence the procurement and supply professions, bringing diverse perspectives to the table. While some commentators argue that the notion of male versus female strengths is inherently flawed, others encourage women to lean into their perceived strengths—relationship-building, empathetic leadership, and collaboration.

We’re excited to celebrate how the annual Women in Procurement & Supply Chain conference has helped advance women in the profession through networking, career development, and inclusivity. While we take pride in the milestones we've achieved over the past decade, we know there are still challenges to tackle. Together, we can keep working towards a more equitable and innovative procurement landscape, where every voice is heard and every leader has the chance to succeed.

View the agenda or the full speaker lineup.