AGM & Meet the committee

The Thames Valley CIPS branch is delighted to host "Meet the Committee," an engaging event designed to connect procurement professionals and students with their local Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) team. This is an opportunity to learn more about the branch's initiatives, network with fellow professionals and gain insights into the latest trends and developments in the procurement field. Whether you are new to CIPS or a long-standing member, this informal gathering promises to foster connections and provide valuable resources to support your professional journey.

At the beginning of the meeting, our Chairman will hold our AGM prior to the “Meet the Committee” (being a series of 20 minute speaker sessions) on topics including Public Sector, Defence and CIPS Education, in the Thames Valley region.

If you have any queries please contact branchevents@cips.org

EVENT VENUE:

Holiday Inn, Reading - South, Basingstoke Road, Reading, Berkshire RG2 0SL

Parking available at the hotel and the location is less than a 5-minute drive from M4 J11 near to Reading Stadium

EVENT SPEAKER

Chris Ward

Deputy Commercial Head, 

MOD, Defence Infrastructure Organisation

Chris Ward leads the commercial and contract management of two alliances delivering a £5.1 billion infrastructure programme to support the UK Armed Forces. Chris also serves as Chair of the Thames Valley Branch of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).

With extensive experience providing strategic commercial advice for major infrastructure projects across the public, utility and private sectors, Chris specialises in collaborative procurement. He is currently responsible for overseeing the largest alliance of its kind, investing over £5 billion in the military estate. Over his career, Chris has managed procurement for a wide range of requirements, from office supplies and IT equipment to flood defences and Critical National Infrastructure. He is also passionate about mentoring and developing procurement and commercial professionals.

Chris has a strong interest in designing contract and incentivisation models that prioritise social value, while advancing and growing the procurement profession.

Outside of work, Chris is an accomplished baseball coach. He coaches in the Great Britain National Baseball Programme, is the Head Coach at Guildford Baseball Club, and serves as a coach for the  British Women's Baseball Champions, Belles Baseball.

Kavita Cooper

Managing Director 

NOVO-K

Kavita Cooper is a seasoned procurement expert and entrepreneur, best known as the founder and Managing Director of Novo-K Limited, a Managed Procurement Services provider established in 2015. Novo-K aims to redefine procurement by assisting businesses in achieving their strategic objectives through best practices, focusing on cost savings, supply chain resilience and sustainability commitments.

With over 14 years of corporate experience across various commercial and technical disciplines, Kavita holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Computer Science and has studied Sustainable Supply Chain at the University of Cambridge's Institute for Sustainability Leadership. As an entrepreneur, Kavita is an Alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10k Small businesses and a EY Winning Women in 2024. Kavita is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) and serves as Vice Chair of the CIPS Thames Valley branch.