CIPS Appoints Chief Futurist to Help Shape the Future of Global Procurement
CIPS has appointed Dr Graham Norris as Chief Futurist, a newly created role designed to bring strategic foresight, thought leadership and future-focused capability to the heart of the Institute's work on behalf of the global procurement and supply profession.
CIPS — the world's largest professional body for procurement and supply chain management, with over 70,000 members across 150 countries — has engaged Dr Norris on a retained basis as it enters a pivotal period of ambition and growth. His appointment comes at a moment of heightened global focus on supply chains, as geopolitical instability, technological disruption and shifting trade patterns place procurement professionals at the centre of strategic decision-making across organisations, economies and societies.
Dr Norris takes on the role as CIPS launches The Great Conversation — a landmark global initiative that invites procurement and supply chain professionals from around the world into a shared dialogue to define the future of the profession.
As Chief Futurist, he will play a key role in shaping and amplifying that conversation, helping members, organisations and policymakers anticipate what lies ahead and build the capabilities needed to thrive in an increasingly volatile world.
"This is a time of real ambition for CIPS. Our mission has always been to serve our members and to elevate the standing of the procurement and supply chain profession globally. Bringing Graham on board reflects our commitment to ensuring that CIPS doesn't just respond to change — we help define it. Graham's expertise in foresight and organisational psychology will be invaluable as we enter this next chapter, and I know he will bring enormous energy and insight to everything we do." - Ben Farrell MBE, Chief Executive Officer, CIPS
Dr Graham Norris is an internationally recognised futurist, organisational psychologist and speaker with extensive experience advising global organisations on future trends, leadership, culture and transformation. His work focuses on helping individuals and organisations anticipate change, adapt their operating models, and build the capabilities needed for long-term success. He holds an MBA and a doctorate from Edinburgh Business School, with his doctoral research focusing on change and adaptability in multinational corporations.
Prior to his appointment at CIPS, Dr Norris has held senior roles across commercial, consultancy and non-profit organisations spanning Asia, Europe and beyond — including positions in Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and mainland China, where he advised global brands including adidas, Intel, Microsoft, Lenovo, Volkswagen and Novartis. He served as Chief Operating Officer of Supertrends Institute, a foresight-driven technology start-up, and has extensive experience as a speaker, facilitator and strategic adviser. He is a member of the Association of Professional Futurists and the Association for Business Psychology, and a former financial journalist with Dow Jones Newswires. His TEDx talk, Be More Futurist, has inspired over 50,000 viewers worldwide.
"Procurement has never been more important. The decisions that procurement professionals make every day ripple through supply chains, organisations and communities in ways that are increasingly visible to the world. This is a remarkable moment of opportunity — for the profession and for CIPS. I am delighted to be working alongside Ben and the whole CIPS team to help members build the strategic foresight they need to lead with confidence, and to help position CIPS as the global authority on the future of procurement and supply." - Dr Graham Norris, Chief Futurist, CIPS