The 66th Annual OPBA Conference was a fantastic gathering of public procurement professionals from across Ontario! Hosted at the Ottawa Marriott, the event brought together attendees to share knowledge, network, and explore the latest trends in public procurement.
Key Highlights from the Conference
This year’s program featured insightful sessions from thought leaders across the sector, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in public procurement. From discussions on enhancing vendor performance to litigating procurement disputes, participants left with practical takeaways to bring back to their organizations.
Our tradeshow gave attendees the opportunity to engage with industry vendors showcasing innovative solutions designed to improve procurement processes. The networking opportunities—from the networking breaks to the evening receptions—provided a great chance to connect, collaborate, and build lasting relationships.
A Special Thank You
Thank you to each sponsor for supporting OPBA members in their pursuit of excellence in education and networking:
- Visionary Partner: Kinetic GPO
- Supporter Partners: Amazon Business, Sovra (formerly Merx), and Trane
- Conference App Sponsor: Gordian
- Media Sponsor: GLHeli (Great Lakes Helicopter Corp.)
- Awards Dinner Mix & Mingle Sponsor: Euna Solutions
- Session Sponsors: bids&tenders, Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Ontario
- Break Partner Sponsors: Cintas Corporation, OECM, The Home Depot Pro
A big thank you also goes out to all our session presenters for their time and dedication in educating us. This year’s OPBA Conference offered 10.25 contact hours (full conference only), an additional 6.0 if you attended a pre-conference session and another 2.0 for the Buyers and People Leaders Meetings. Attendees also enjoyed a minimum of 7.25 networking hours through breaks, meals, receptions, and more.
As a reminder to our Conference attendees, session presentation document will be available on your Event Mobi App for download until October 24, 2024.
Finally, we extend our gratitude to the 2024 OPBA Conference Committee and OPBA staff for their hard work and commitment over the past several months:
- Marie Kavanagh (Chair), Region of York
- Adam Beres, City of Welland
- Adam Walker, City of Ottawa
- Andrea Mindenhall, Retired OPBA member
- Barry Cape, Ottawa Catholic School Board
- Karen Judd, City of Niagara Falls
- Kim Squires, County of Peterborough
- Linda Lee, City of Kawartha Lakes
- Lynn Charyk, Region of York
- Meaghan Vader, Township of East Zorra-Tavistock
- Tracy Blyth, Conference Coordinator
On a final note, we’d also like to express our gratitude to everyone who purchased a charity t-shirt. Together, we raised over $1,600 for The Snowsuit Fund, which provided over 34 children with warm snowsuits for the winter season.
Looking Ahead: Save the Date for 2025!
We’re already looking forward to next year’s conference, which will take place at the Nottawasaga Resort in Alliston from September 17-19, 2025. Mark your calendars and prepare to join us for another year of professional development, learning, networking, and celebrating excellence in public procurement. The tradeshow will be held on September 17-18, with the Caveat Emptor Golf Tournament kicking off the week on September 16!
