IAOP - OWS26 | Meet the Speakers

OWS26 | Meet the Speakers

OWS26 SPEAKERS

Kevin Parikh
Chairman & CEO, Avasant

Kevin is the CEO and Chairman of Avasant – a leading global management consulting firm which negotiates over $28 billion annually in technology deals, representing buyers. He is a visionary leader, and his commitment to shaping the future is demonstrated through:

1. His involvement with the University of Southern California where he sits on the Board of Councilors for the Center of Political Future;

2. He is the Chairman of the CEO board of advisors for Innovate@UCLA, the University of California, Los Angeles;

3. And he is also a best-selling author of Digital Singularity - A Case for Humanity – where he applies unique insights to the technologies that are creating new business and social imperatives.

Kevin sits on the Board of Trustees for TiE, a global nonprofit organization devoted to fostering entrepreneurship, and is the Chairman of the Avasant Foundation, where he is dedicated to initiatives that support disadvantaged youth and women empowerment.

He was also a U.S. Presidential Appointee to former President Bill Clinton

Recently, Kevin was inducted into IAOP's esteemed Leadership Hall of Fame for his contributions to both business and society through collaborative business relationships over a period of years.

June Dozier
Director of Technology Sourcing, Meta

June leads strategic sourcing initiatives across key technology areas, including Software, Hardware, & Tech Services, with a focus on using automation and AI to accelerate decision-making, improve supplier selection, and strengthen resilience.

Michelle Needles

Executive Vice President, Global Head of Enterprise Solutions, Savills and 2025 Inductee into IAOP's Leadersip Hall of Fame

Michelle Needles is the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Enterprise Solutions for Savills Global Occupier Services, where she leverages over 25 years of industry experience to drive strategic portfolio optimization and enhance real estate performance for global clients. Known for her bold, collaborative approach, Michelle has held leadership roles at both Savills and Colliers International, developing and transitioning large-scale occupier service solutions across diverse sectors such as healthcare, finance, technology, and manufacturing.

A sought-after speaker at major industry events, she has earned multiple awards including GlobeSt.’s Women of Influence and HCL’s Red Ladder Unstoppable Women Award. Michelle is also a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, demonstrated through her founding role in the Colliers Women’s Networking Program and contributions to the Corporate Real Estate Journal.

Daniel Schuffert

Divisional Vice President Strategic Sourcing, HCSC

Dan is responsible for building and leading a Strategic Sourcing Organization. This includes teams that focus on Vendor Supplier Risk Governance, Hardware & Software Sourcing and Procurement, Professional Services Sourcing and Procurement.

He is also a member of the Gartner Research Board, and sits on IAOP's Strategic Advisory Board.

Skanda Janakiram
Partner, PwC Strategy&

Anupam Govil
Managing Partner, Avasant

With over 25 years of dynamic experience in digital transformation and ICT sector development, Anupam Govil is a seasoned advisor to enterprises, governments, and public sector agencies across emerging regions, particularly in the Americas. Anupam’s expertise encompasses a wide range of areas, from the program management of digital transformation initiatives to providing strategic insights on the impact of ICT investments and broadband policies on economic growth and global development. Anupam has overseen consultancy projects for public enterprises and financial organizations, advising on Digital Transformation, Sector Development, and Investment Promotion Strategies to drive regional economic growth. He has also provided guidance to leading IT services and financial institutions on ISO and CMM Certification, digital management, and governance.

Actively engaged in the venture capital and entrepreneurial ecosystem through his role at TiE Global, Anupam has demonstrated his strategic acumen by designing roadmaps for the implementation of Centers of Excellence and modernization strategies for key organizations such as Equifax and the Central Bank of the Bahamas. His expertise extends to advising investment promotion agencies and development agencies, contributing as a key speaker at notable events organized by NOA, World Bank, UNCTAD, IAOP, and Commonwealth. Recognized as one of the Top 30 Industry Executives for ICT by Nearshore Americas for 2010 and 2011, Anupam’s contributions to digital transformation and sector development are truly commendable and impactful.

James Donovan
CEO, ADEC Innovations, and Chairman, Global CEO Alliance

James is an entrepreneur focused on impact investing that generates measurable social and environmental impact alongside financial return. With over 25 years of investment banking and entrepreneurial expertise, James has invested in the areas of sustainability, healthcare, education, technology and data management. James redefines and delivers innovative Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) solutions to fortune 1000 corporations. Integrating Big Data expertise into ESG solutions, his companies have developed some of the most advanced applications that promote ethical and sustainable practices in the corporate world.

Michael Nacarato, COP
Head of Third Party Risk Management,Transamerica

Over the last 25 years Michael has held executive leadership roles designing, developing, and implementing outsourcing, offshoring and third party risk management programs for some of the top US and multi-national financial services companies. In his various roles he has established multiple offshore captive and vendor operations in India, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and the Philippines. Michael is IAOP COP certified and currently sits on the IAOP’s Strategic Advisory Board. He is a past IAOP Member of the year, Deputy Global Ambassador, and Buy Side Ambassador. Michael is committed to maintaining high industry standards and has supporting multiple resources obtaining their IAOP COP certifications. And most recently he participated as a judge for the 2023 IAOP Global Top 100 Awards.

James Lee
Principal & Global Supplier Governance Practice Lead, Avasant

Jim Lee is a solutions-oriented leader and accomplished problem-solver specializing in supplier governance and risk, service integration and management, digital transformation, and business and technology architecture. An experienced IT executive and former CIO, he possesses a diverse background of management consulting and hands-on IT architecture, management, applications, and service delivery experience with Fortune 100 US and global clients. Jim has led large sourcing transition programs, vendor governance engagements, and org transformations to enable clients to achieve their business & technology transformation goals. He is a graduate of the University of Phoenix and member of the IAOP Collaborative Supplier Governance CoE.

Max Harris
Partner, Technology & IP Transactions, Kirkland & Ellis

Max Harris is a partner in the London office of Kirkland’s Technology & IP Transactions Practice Group. Max supports clients on the IP, technology and data elements of corporate transactions, and regularly counsels on legal risks and considerations in the development and use of AI systems.

Emma Flett

Partner, Technology & IP Transactions, Kirkland & Ellis

Emma Flett is a partner in Kirkland’s Technology & IP Transactions Practice Group and heads the London team. Emma's practice is focused on complex IP and technology-related transactions, carve-outs and business separations and EU data protection. Emma regularly counsels clients on the emerging legal risks surrounding the use of AI.

Peter George
Partner, Baker McKenzie

Peter George practices international commercial law and regularly advises clients, both on the buyer and provider side, on domestic and multi-jurisdictional sourcing transactions, complex business process transactions involving human resources, finance and accounting and other web enabled services. Peter is a recognized leader in the areas of electronic contracting, social media, contracting for cloud services, robotic process automation, Internet of Things and other disruptive technologies. He regularly advises clients on the issues these technologies raise, both domestically and from a global perspective. Peter also helps clients manage the complex technology and data rights issues that these technologies raise.

Peter advises clients in the areas of cross-border and domestic sourcing transactions, data and technology transfers and licensing transactions. He also assists clients with the general management of their intellectual property assets.

Audrey Cushing, COP
Chief of Staff, Vee HealthTek

Audrey Cushing is the Chief of Staff at Vee Healthtek, where she plays a critical role in supporting the CEO and the executive leadership team. She has a strong track record of leading cross-functional teams and successfully managing complex projects for Fortune 500 companies. Audrey is highly skilled at bridging organizational strategies with operational execution to drive results.

A recognized transformation leader, Audrey serves on the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals’ (IAOP) Supplier Governance and Healthcare Centers of Excellence (COE) leadership teams. In 2022, she was named IAOP's Member of the Year. She holds master’s degrees in organizational psychology and counseling from the University of Hartford, Connecticut, and is a Board-Certified Executive Coach.

With extensive experience in healthcare administration, Audrey has led interdisciplinary teams focused on quality improvement initiatives, significantly enhancing patient outcomes and satisfaction. She has also held senior leadership roles at global health services companies, including Cigna, where she spearheaded the development and alignment of transformational procurement and sourcing strategies. Since joining Vee Healthtek in 1999, Audrey has continued to bring her passion for healthcare and operational excellence to drive impactful initiatives across the organization.

Wiktor Doktor
President/CEO, Pro Progressio

Wiktor is a BPO/GBS expert with over 30 yrs of experience. Since 2012 he has run Pro Progressio - a consulting organization which supports in know-how sharing and market analysis the BPO and GBS industry. He is also the owner and editor of focusonbusiness.eu web platform. For several years he has run the podcast "Good Morning BSS World", in which together with guests from all around the World we discuss BPO and GBS news, trends and challenges. Before starting Pro Progressio he built and ran CX and BPO teams in Poland for such organizations like SouthWestern BPO(Capita), Energis(T-Mobile), Formus Telecommunication, Lafarge and Onet.

Marcin Grzegory
Deputy Director, Invest in Pomerania

Umapathy Viswanathan
Head of Vendor Management - Strategy and Transformation Team, Walgreens Global