The Chicago Supplier Management Summit returns in 2026, bringing together procurement and supplier management leaders from across North America to explore the latest thinking in Supplier Relationship Management.

Now in its 18th year, the latest SRM research focuses on the exclusive theme: Making SRM Stick. It examines how organisations embed supplier relationship management into operating models, governance, culture, and behaviours so it becomes a consistent business capability rather than an initiative driven by individual champions. The research highlights how leading organisations sustain supplier management over time and continue to realise value from strategic supplier relationships.

Join industry peers for keynote presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions exploring the findings from the 2026 SRM Research. Hear practical experiences from organisations managing complex supplier ecosystems and discover approaches that can be applied within your own organisation.

Every delegate receives a complimentary hard copy of the 2026 SRM Research Report.

Attendance is free for invited guests, with places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The Chicago SRM Summit has reached full capacity for the past three years, so we recommend registering early to secure your place.

The agenda and speakers will be announced soon.

Looking for another location? View all 2026 Summits.

Agenda for the 2026 SRM Summit in Chicago

09:00am - Registration & Breakfast

09:30am - Welcome and Introduction

09:40am - The 2026 Global SRM Research Findings: "Making SRM Stick"
Speaker: Alan Day, Chairman & Founder, State of Flux

10:20am - How to embed change in your organisation

Speaker: Cristhian Velasquez, Global Procurement Director at Pepsico

10:40am - Lessons learnt from embedding SRM in HP, DXC and the Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Speaker: Bill Myers, Principal Program Manager, Strategic Supplier Engagement - PG&E

11:00am - Morning Break

11:30am - Aon

Speaker: Lauren Field, Director of Valuations - Aon

11:45am - The state of AI in spend: Builders, bystanders, and the widening divide
Speaker: Nick Heinzmann - Zip HQ

12:00pm - Panel Discussion

12:30pm - Audience Q&A

12:50pm - Closing Remarks

1:00pm - Networking Lunch

Three facilitated workshop sessions

1:45pm - AI in SRM

2:30pm - Refreshment Break

2:45pm - Building organizational capability in SRM

3:30pm - Refreshment Break

3:45pm - Optimizing Your Business Case

4:30pm - Key Takeaways & Closing Discussion

5:00pm - Event Close

Informal networking drinks may follow at a nearby venue.

Speakers at the Chicago Summit

As Head of Research, Nick works with customers and industry influencers to power Zip’s thought leadership, product and competitive strategies. His research interests include user experience in enterprise software, especially for procurement. Prior to his role at Zip, Nick served as VP of Research at Spend Matters, where he ran new research initiatives and built the firm’s analyst training program.

Nick Heinzmann | Head of Research at Zip

Lauren Field is Director of Aon’s Business Interruption Valuation forensic accounting practice within Commercial Risk Solutions. With more than 20 years’ experience in business interruption, property claims and valuation, she helps organisations understand and quantify the financial impact of disruption across their operations, suppliers and customers. Lauren is also a core member of Aon’s Supply Chain Tailored Value Proposition team, bringing specialist expertise in supply chain exposure and risk transfer.

Lauren Field | Director of Valuations at Aon

Aleck Matambo | Global Procurement & AI Transformation Executive

Aleck Matambo combines senior procurement leadership experience with hands-on AI implementation expertise. Having held leadership roles at Google, McKinsey & Company, Dell and Mercedes-Benz, he has helped organisations transform procurement functions and introduce AI at scale to improve efficiency, decision-making and business performance.

Drawing on real-world experience rather than theory alone, Aleck shares practical lessons, proven approaches and common pitfalls to help participants identify where AI can create value and how to implement it successfully within their own organisations.

Cristhian Velasquez | Global Supplier Partnerships Director at PepsiCo

Cristhian Velasquez is Global Supplier Partnerships Director at PepsiCo, with nearly 20 years’ experience leading supplier and category strategies across global and regional organisations. In his current role, he helps shape strategic supplier engagement and supports the organisational change needed to embed and scale Supplier Relationship Management. His work focuses on building stronger supplier partnerships that deliver sustainable, long-term value.

Alan Day is Chairman and Founder of State of Flux, which he established in 2004. He has more than two decades of experience in procurement, supply chain and supplier relationship management, working with major organisations around the world.

Before founding State of Flux, Alan ran Fisher & Paykel’s global supply chain, led Accenture’s European Supply Chain Centre of Excellence, and was Director of Procurement and Supply Chain at Cable & Wireless. He remains closely involved with State of Flux’s global clients and its annual Global SRM Research, sharing the findings and practical lessons with procurement leaders worldwide.

Alan Day | Founder and Chairman of State of Flux