Ben Farrell, CIPS CEO visits members across the Asia Pacific region and shares his insights
11 March 2025
Ben Farrell, CIPS CEO recently returned from a trip across the CIPS Australia, New Zealand and Asia regions, meeting many people in the procurement community and taking time to listen to some of the unique challenges. He met with some inspiring members and volunteers, attended branch events and hosted numerous roundtable discussions.
"It’s fantastic to see CIPS new CEO prioritising engagement with different markets so soon after their appointment. Understanding the global landscape, along with the unique nuances and priorities of each country, is crucial. I truly appreciate the time Ben and the CIPS team spent sharing their vision and engaging in open, constructive dialogue on how CIPS, as our professional body, can elevate our profession across the world."
Jane O’Toole FCIPS Christchurch, New Zealand
CIPS Foundation funding to empower sustainable solutions
The first year of the project has already made significant strides to addressing structural issues within supply chains, says ActionAid.
So far, the charity has provided training for 330 women farmers to boost farm production; produced over 300,000 sustainable tree and fruit tree seedlings distributed to 2,200 people; and linked 3,300 farmers with financial institutions to improve access to finance.
“In the first year of the project, we achieved significant milestones, all of which have proven beneficial to us. We are committed to sustaining these achievements because they are invaluable to our farming communities,” explains one of the women farmers who have been involved in the project.
“As we move forward, we are optimistic about continued progress and development. We understand where we started and the impact we have achieved so far. In the coming years, we are determined to make full use of the resources and knowledge provided to us, ensuring that these benefits are not taken for granted.”
The CIPS Foundation funding towards year two of the project will help support 110 women farmers’ cooperatives through training in sustainable skills and technologies.
This funding will contribute towards year two activities such as:
- Providing training on the use of human-powered irrigation pumps and establishing five demonstration plots
- Facilitating improved supply chain management, especially activities to improve post-harvest management, such as storage, packaging and market management
- Supporting the marketing efforts of the cooperatives by negotiating contract farming agreements with 55 schools under the National School Feeding Program
- Promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture and encouraging balanced dietary practices among 3,330 women small-scale farmers
- Training for women farmers in a variety of areas, such as agroecology, how to use agri-inputs, business management, negotiation and advocacy.
