Participants from the United States, Scotland, and Canada share approaches to attracting talent, supporting career growth, and preparing future leaders.

LEXINGTON, KY. — The National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), in collaboration with the Scottish Government and the Canadian
Public Procurement Council (CPPC), hosted “Procurement People of Today and Tomorrow,” a virtual international talent symposium, in September 2026, to address shared workforce challenges and explore ways to attract, develop, and retain public procurement professionals.

The symposium brought together procurement leaders, students, educators, and professionals from the United States, Scotland, and Canada. This event is part of an ongoing collaboration between NASPO and the Scottish Government, with additional events planned to continue the discussion on talent development and succession planning.

“The bright, new talent we have been bringing in through our Scottish Procurement People of Tomorrow Program for over a decade has continued to inspire us. So, we were delighted to collaborate with NASPO and the CPPC on our first international talent symposium with students, young professionals, and seasoned practitioners from across Scotland, the U.S.A., and Canada,” said Nikki Archer, FCIPS, Head of Profession, Scottish Government.

Archer stated, “The event generated loads of exciting ideas for us to take forward through our ongoing international collaboration. And the latest cohort of young professionals contributing during the event tells me that the future of Public Procurement is in safe hands —so inspirational!”

New professionals helped shape the discussion, sharing what drew them to procurement, how they entered the field, and what employers can do to support their growth. Participants with various backgrounds shared the range of experiences and transferable skills people can bring to procurement teams.

“The people entering public procurement have valuable ideas about how we can strengthen our teams and serve our communities,” said Daniel May, Deputy Chief Strategy Officer for NASPO. “This symposium gave them a chance to speak directly with participants about what helped them get started, what keeps them engaged, and where they want their careers to go.”

Discussions explored how academic programs, internships, and apprenticeships prepare people for careers in procurement and how employers can build on that foundation through hands-on work and guidance from experienced colleagues. Participants emphasized that attracting talent is only the first step. Helping employees grow and stay engaged also requires meaningful work, opportunities to build skills, and leaders who encourage them to share ideas that help improve how their teams work.

Highlights and lessons from the symposium are featured in “Procurement People of Today and Tomorrow: Building the Next Generation of Public Procurement Professionals.” Read the full article here.

About NASPO: NASPO® is a true non–profit association dedicated to advancing public procurement through leadership, excellence, and integrity. It is made up of the directors of the central purchasing offices in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of the United States. NASPO is an organization that helps its members achieve success as public procurement leaders through the promotion of best practices, education, professional development, research, and innovative procurement strategies. www.naspo.org

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