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Are Conferences Still
Relevant in the Digital
Age? Yes!
A
s I settle into my new position as president
and CEO of the Supply Chain Management
Association, I’m pleased to have this regular col-
umn to link with SCMA members and the wider supply chain
community. I look forward to using this space to commu-
nicate about SCMA, our work and your crucial role in this
partnership.
I am particularly looking forward to the 2017 national
conference in Winnipeg as an opportunity to meet with
many of you in person, to build relationships with you,
understand your successes and challenges, and discov-
er how we can grow the association and the profession
together.
This leads me to reflect on events and conferences, and their
relevance in today’s world. All the evidence you need that
face-to-face meetings like the SCMA national conference
are still required in the digital age is found in the contin-
ued practice of our world and business leaders meeting in
person. Events such as the World Economic Forum annual
meeting in Davos-Klosters, the Bilderberg meetings, G8 sum-
mits, and other international gatherings are held at great
expense and extreme risk to their high-profile attendees.
However, these factors do not deter the world’s most influ-
ential leaders from attending these face-to-face meetings
with their peers because they understand how fundamen-
tally important they are to building lasting relationships and
overcoming the mutual challenges they face.
Seeking out opportunities to make connections is a task
that is admittedly of greater urgency earlier in your career.
As you gain more experience in the field, contacts will
begin to find you. However, it is important to maximize
those opportunities during your early to mid-career years
to build enough professional capital for others to begin to
seek you out. Senior professionals also need to be mindful
to remain active and engaged, such as by attending major
industry events, to be sure that they are apprised of cur-
rent trends and intelligence, guiding their strategy and
business.
This year’s conference has something for professionals
at every stage in their careers. Attendees will notice that
in addition to the valuable education sessions covering
Christian Buhagiar,
President & CEO
SCMA
THIS LEADS ME TO
REFLECT ON EVENTS
AND CONFERENCES,
AND THEIR RELEVANCE
IN TODAY’S WORLD.
best practices, case studies and topical issues in sup-
ply chain management, we have also added new sessions
with a C-Suite perspective. Tales from the Table is a new
series of presentations with innovative supply chain ex-
ecutives that will provide a unique glimpse into the
minds of those who shape the strategic landscape of sup-
ply chain in Canada. Supply chain leaders such as Geoff
Frodsham, CEO, Princess Auto; Diane Gray, president and
CEO, CentrePort Canada Inc.; Mike Ludwick, CAO, Bison
Transport Inc.; Brett Marchand, vice-president, logistics
and distribution, the North West Company; and David
White, executive vice-president, supply management, New
Flyer Industries,will be among those featured in our new
series of C-Suite presentations.
Strategic supply chain management is a critical driver of
business and organizational success, as well as innovation
and technological change, and supply chain managers are
at the forefront of that drive. Furthermore, in today’s in-
terconnected business world, supply chain management
is at the forefront of global policy debates. Don’t miss your
chance to be a part of Canada’s supply chain leadership.
Come to the 2017 SCMA national conference not only to
build your professional network, but to be inspired to lead
your organization to new levels of success. Reserve your
spot today at: scma.com/nationalconference. I am excit-
ed to meet you!
SUPPLY CHAIN CANADA • QUARTER 1 2017 • 5