OWS26 Program Unveiled: Outsourcing Leaders Shape Tomorrow Amid AI and Geopolitical Change

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, resilience becomes non-negotiable, and geopolitical shifts accelerate, IAOP’s flagship event, OWS26, returns to Chicago this April 28-30. This year’s summit is designed to equip outsourcing and business services leaders with the actionable strategies, frameworks, and connections they need to thrive amid rapid transformation and uncertainty.

Visionary keynote speakers, including Kevin Parikh, COP, Chairman and CEO of Avasant; June Dozier, Director of Technology Sourcing at Meta; and Michelle Needles, COP, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Enterprise Solutions at Savills, will share real-world lessons, bold frameworks, and future-focused perspectives.

Registration for OWS26 is now open, and space is limited.

“OWS26 is purpose-built for outsourcing and business services executives seeking not just insight, but clarity and practical application in a world of relentless change,” said IAOP CEO Debi Hamill. “Attendees will leave empowered with proven tools for harnessing AI-enabled delivery, mastering governance complexity, and steering through geopolitical headwinds. They’ll gain first-hand perspectives on evolving sourcing and operating models and participate in unfiltered conversations with peers who are shaping the future, all in an environment dedicated to real learning.”

The three-day agenda features high-impact keynotes, interactive sessions, immersive workshops, and candid deep-dives, plus exclusive award presentations, curated networking, and social experiences, all set in Chicago’s iconic BCBS Tower, 300 East Randolph.

Timely sessions will cover the latest on AI and cybersecurity regulation, the reinvention of IT delivery and governance, innovative approaches to managing geopolitical risk, and strategies for building resilient outsourcing partnerships in an ever-shifting global landscape.

A highlight of OWS26 will be the induction of Jon Browning, CEO of Global Mentorship Initiative, and Mauricio Odovaine, Head of Strategic Sourcing at Meta, into the IAOP Leadership Hall of Fame.

The event will also honor James Donovan, CEO and Co-founder of ADEC Innovations, as the recipient of the Dan Lang Award for Purpose-Driven Leadership; spotlight top providers and advisors on the IAOP Global 100; and celebrate the Member of the Year.

Keynote Highlights

• Futureproofed: Building Resilience in Uncertainty – Parikh will outline how organizations can move beyond cost efficiency to build dynamic resilience by rethinking sourcing, global delivery, AI adoption, and governance, positioning disruption as a strategic advantage rather than a threat.
• The Agentic Sourcing Revolution: From AI Pilots to Autonomous and Assisted Sourcing – Dozier will examine how AI is transforming sourcing from pilot programs to autonomous and assisted models, reshaping the end-to-end lifecycle while balancing automation with human judgment and strong governance.
• The New Geography of Workforce: What Sourcing Leaders Need to Know About Location and Talent – Needles will explore how location strategy is shifting from cost-driven decisions to talent-led models, highlighting how workforce mobility, culture, and broader human-experience factors are redefining global sourcing hubs.
• Procurement AI: From Fundamentals to Future Trends – Dan Schuffert, COP, Divisional Vice President, Strategic Sourcing, HCSC, and Skanda Janakiram, partner of PwC Strategy&, will discuss how AI is reshaping procurement operations today and what lies ahead, from improved visibility and efficiency to predictive, prescriptive, and increasingly autonomous capabilities.

Additional OWS Program Sessions

• From Brussels to Chicago: Navigating the New AI and Cyber Digital Rulebook: Max Harris, Partner, Technology and IP Transactions, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and Emma Flett, Technology and IP Transactions, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
• AI-Driven Transformation of IT Delivery and Governance in Global Capability Centers:  Uma Viswanathan - Head of Vendor Management - Strategy and Transformation Team, Walgreens Global
• Global Business Services: Managing Geo-Political Uncertainty: Peter George, Partner Baker McKenzie
• Outsourcing in a Multipolar World: Adapting BPO and GBS for the New Global Reality:  Donovan of ADEC Innovations
• Breaking Bad (Contracts): What Kills Outsourcing Relationships and How to Stop the Bleeding:  Michael Nacarato, COP-GOV, Senior Director, TransAmerica, and Audrey Cushing, COP-GOV, Chief of Staff, Vee Healthtek
• The Reinvention of GCCs: From Cost Play to Innovation Powerhouse: Anupam Govil, Partner, Avasant

Interactive Workshop

Collaborative Supplier Governance in Practice: From Risk Control to Enterprise Value, launching on April 30, kicks off IAOP’s series at OWS26 with a focused, practical look at how supplier governance must evolve in a digital, AI-enabled, and geopolitically complex environment.

Designed for sourcing, outsourcing, legal, risk, and business leaders, the workshop moves beyond compliance-driven models to show how collaborative governance can drive measurable enterprise value.

Led by Jim Lee, Principal, Global Lead - Governance, Risk & Compliance Practice, Avasant, Nacarato, and George, the session provides applied frameworks and tools to design risk-based governance models, address AI and automation in supplier ecosystems, and shift from periodic oversight to continuous monitoring. Participants will leave with practical strategies to strengthen accountability, resilience, and business impact across their third-party portfolios.

IAOP will continue to announce OWS26 program additions on the event website.