Meet our volunteers
Discover the advantages and the reasons our volunteers choose to volunteer with CIPS.
Celebrating our long serving volunteers
Through their dedication and passion, our volunteers help CIPS deliver its purpose and inspire others towards a respected and celebrated profession worldwide.We appreciate what they do and the impact they have!
- Celebrating 20 years
Lila Clarke, FCIPS
Northern Ireland branch - Celebrating 20 years
Russ Armitage, FCIPS
Fellows Committee
- Celebrating 15 years
Sarah Jones, MCIPS
Gloucester Branch - Celebrating 15 years
Nicole Everett, MCIPS
Switzerland Branch - Celebrating 15 years
Jonathan Cheung, FCIPS
Pan ASEAN Branch
Lila Clarke FCIPS
Northern Ireland Branch
“I’ve been volunteering for CIPS since 2000 when I graduated with my Professional qualifications (a year after the majority of my class). I wanted to give back to the profession and be part of shaping local memberships so I volunteered with my local CIPS Branch Committee and began helping organise events and connecting with others. I then was offered an opportunity to teach CIPS qualifications and have been doing that for 20 years. This has again been extremely rewarding watching students achieve their qualification and graduating. I also became a Fellow a number of years back and I’ve continued with the local Committee and have been the Education Liaison Officer on the branch for some considerable time. This role enables me to further promote the profession and assist with routes to entry especially for younger people in post primary education.”
Take a look at all our long service volunteers:
Anita Gibbs MCIPS
Volunteer for the CIPS Manchester branch
I have been volunteering for at least 10 years. I think I commenced in 2013. I felt that it would assist with my continuous professional development and I also wanted to imrpove my networking skills.
I get a lot of personal satisfaction from organising events and enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds, many of whom are working in dfiverse areas of business, both in the private and the public sector.
Diamond Fianka FCIPS
Education Officer, South Yorkshire Branch Committee
I decided to volunteer for CIPS because I know what it feels like to feel stuck and not receive the guidance or support you need; something I personally experienced while growing up. That journey shaped my passion for helping others.
Having overcome academic struggles myself, I am committed to supporting young professionals and students who may be facing similar challenges. I want to be the kind of encouragement and resource I once needed.
Gus de Silva FCIPS
Head of Strategic Procurement, Buckinghamshire Council
I've done two years of the mentoring circle and helped the education voluntary group. Outside that I have spoken to primary and secondary schools about the profession and inputted on the online forums for this platform.
Part of that drive comes from the fortunate circumstances of my occupation that allows me time to make such commitments when I can. The other part is because I recognise that procurement is becoming more critical for organisations now than it was 10 years ago and despite this, it still remains invisible and unheard of to children when it comes to careers. So promoting the profession is another motive.
Christoph Maier MCIPS
Branch chair, CIPS Germany branch
I have been volunteering for a few months. Our mission is to revamp the CIPS brand and activities in and out of Germany.
Forming part of a wider procurement society, aspiring for global impact, makes me volunteer with pride. Volunteering for CIPS means I have access to a fantastic network of people, learning opportunities, cultures, and fun engagements!
Daniel Bassey MCIPS Chartered
Volunteer for Nigeria Branch
I volunteer because I desire to give back to the Institute that has greatly impacted my life and my future, either directly or indirectly. I desire to make a difference and encourage others to never throw in the towel, despite the challenges they may be facing.
CIPS has a way of supporting everyone to achieve beyond desired results. I volunteer in order to be a voice to many who desire to be heard but lack the voice
Jafles Pacheco FCIPS Chartered
Volunteer for Germany Branch, Europe
Giving back to the profession and contributing to its development were my main drivers to enroll as a volunteer.
The networking and learning opportunities while volunteering are priceless in my view.
What is your biggest achievement whilst volunteering for CIPS?
Annie Exildah Kazembe MCIPS Chartered
Malawi Branch, Africa
My biggest achievement was participating in career talks encouraging the young aspirants to pursue the program. It has also enabled me to develop in my career in that I have been teaching procurement and supply subjects in a number of colleges and university.
I have a lot of passion for being a volunteer...being a volunteer has made me a committed person to the profession.
Anish Kumar MCIPS
Volunteer for Northern Emirates Branch, UAE.
Utilizing the power of CIPS network of global professionals, the MCIPS credential is like a global passport for procurement professionals and through volunteering with the Branch I have had the chance to meet and learn from several senior procurement leaders.
It has also given me a chance to share knowledge and best practices with my peers across the globe.
Branch Chair
East Midlands Branch
“As a branch volunteer and chair for several years I’ve enjoyed working with CIPS and supporting members in our area, be it with advice on study routes, local employers and vacancies, or best practice in their day jobs. The events bring us all together, and we need more of that post-pandemic. I’m glad to be attending CIPS Futures because a lot of events these days are skewed towards sponsor or exhibitor content, but this event goes to the heart of procurement and aims to provide future insight across many areas, including careers. I’ll be networking with other procurement leaders and taking the learnings back to the branch and my colleagues at Procure4.”