Why People Matter most in unpredictable times:
From COVID, wars to AI
Porto, 21 May 2026
Why should you attend this event?
The biggest success factor for any business is always People. Policies, politics, and IT tools matter — but only people can make real change.
Maryna Trepova, CEO of IPSM, will share stories of procurement and supply chain professionals who took responsibility when everything was disrupted, destroyed, or unpredictable. From manual deliveries to maintaining supply lines, these stories highlight the human factor in resilience.
Luis Vasconcelos and Ricardo Souto will explore why human responsibility is the ultimate success factor in business, and why companies must develop their procurement and supply chain teams in the era of AI and instability — not eliminate them.
Filipe Barros, the Executive Manager of SCM Supply Chain Magazine, will moderate the panel discussion.
Place and time:
Date: 21 May
Time: 18:30 – 21:30 CEST
Location: Oca Flores Hotel Boutique, Porto
Speakers
Media and communications professional with over 30 years of industry experience, currently serving as Executive Manager at Supply Chain Magazine, a leading editorial project in the fields of Supply Chain, Logistics, and Procurement.
Core Mission: To lead an incredible team dedicated to enriching the sector through our magazine, newsletters, online news, and conferences—delivering relevant content and high-value information to the professional community.
Throughout his career, he has been deeply involved in developing communication projects within the Supply Chain world. Passionate about "making things happen," he believes in the power of information and knowledge sharing to drive both people and organizations forward.
Co-founder and Executive Director of IPSM Procurement & Supply Chain Professional, Academic Director of the CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply Chain) programme in Ukraine.
A professional procurement specialist with over 19 years’ experience.
She has implemented category management and delivered training for companies including DTEK, Zhytomyr Butter Plant (TM “Rud”), Softserve, Ciklum, Ukroboronprom, Interpipe, Metinvest Digital, UMG Industrial and Investment Holding, Kredobank, Ukrnafta, Ukrgazvydobuvannya, Ukrspyrt, Bel Shostka, Nova Poshta, Adbakers, Agricultural Company “Veres”, and an Industrial Mining Company (Kazakhstan).
She has managed transformation projects in marketing procurement, business tourism, manufacturing sectors, the food industry and IT.
Luis Vasconcelos is a Mechanical Engineer (MSc, FEUP) with executive education in General Management from Católica Porto Business School and leadership training from Nova School of Business & Economics. He currently serves as Purchasing Director at Comp-RAR (RAR Group), a centralized procurement organization, where he leads volume aggregation strategies and works across multiple business sectors including agriculture, industry, and services (such as banking and retail) and as Vice-President for APCADEC, the Portuguese Purchasing and Procurement Association.
He has over 10 years of experience in strategic sourcing and supply chain management across the industrial manufacturing and wine sectors, leading initiatives in cost optimization, supplier development, procurement quality, and cross-functional efficiency projects aligned with lean management principles.
He has over 10 years of experience in strategic sourcing and supply chain management across the industrial manufacturing and wine sectors, leading initiatives in cost optimization, supplier development, procurement quality, and cross-functional efficiency projects aligned with lean management principles.
Ricardo Souto is a Purchasing Director in the construction sector, with over 20 years of experience in procurement, operations, and supply chain management. He has led teams and complex procurement activities in demanding and fast-paced environments, where execution, reliability, and decision-making under pressure are critical.
Throughout his career, Ricardo has been responsible for ensuring continuity of supply, managing supplier relationships, and maintaining operational stability in contexts marked by volatility, price fluctuations, and increasing market uncertainty. His work has consistently focused on balancing efficiency, risk management, and long-term value creation.
With a strong belief that processes and systems are only as effective as the people behind them, he brings a pragmatic perspective on the human factor in procurement — highlighting the importance of accountability, adaptability, and leadership in achieving results, particularly in unpredictable and high-pressure environments.
Who Should Join?
Procurement professionals
- Procurement and Purchasing managers
- Category managers
- Procurement and Purchasing specialists
Supply chain professionals
- Supply chain managers
- Logistics managers
- Planning specialists
Registration
If you have trouble filling in the form, write to request@ip-sm.com
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Why Attend?
Gain practical insights
hear real stories of resilience and responsibility from professionals who kept supply lines moving in unpredictable times
Prepare for the future
explore how to balance AI and technology with the irreplaceable human factor in business success
Network with peers
connect with procurement and supply chain leaders facing similar challenges and opportunities
Our partner
Organiser: IPSM.
Illustrations: AI; photos of speakers: property of the speakers.
