KEYNOTES 2025
Author of "Be more Pirate”
Sam Conniff
Uncertainty Expert / Keynote Speaker / Masterclass Facilitator / Author / Pirate
Sam is an expert in uncertainty and dedicated to helping people navigate change and turn fear into opportunity.
In our rapidly changing and uncertain world, Sam uses a unique hybrid of online learning, interactive documentary and psychological intervention to drive curiosity, inspire innovation and build emotional resilience in teams and leaders alike. Sam’s mission is to equip people with the tools needed to not just thrive in an uncertain society, but to drive innovation, seize opportunities and lead others to become Uncertainty Experts themselves.
In 2023, Sam co-create the world’s first Entertainment Based Therapy experience, Uncertainty Experts. Sam is the author of the international best-seller and "modern life-bible" Be More Pirate. He was Co-Founder of Livity, the multi-award-winning social enterprise and youth-led creative Network, Co-founder of Digify Africa, providing transformational digital skills to thousands of young Africans and Co-Founder of Don’t panic, the original activist and Bafta-winning content studio. Sam has won Entrepreneur of the year, Agency of the Year, The Queens Award and many others.
Sam turned down an MBE in 2020 in an open letter to the Queen suggesting an update to the honours system to move it away from it's 'colonial past'.
Executives in Conversation
Maria Pia de Caro
EVP Integrated Operations and S&R at Pernod Ricard
Maria Pia De Caro is a seasoned leader in Integrated Operations and S&R, boasting over 25 years of global experience in Supply Chain and Operations. Throughout her distinguished career, she has spearheaded multifaceted teams focused on engineering, manufacturing, M&A, and supply chain innovation across renowned FMCG enterprises. Maria Pia's journey includes pivotal roles at Procter & Gamble, Mondelez, Unilever, and Nomad Foods in diverse locations such as Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, China, and the UK, before bringing her expertise to Pernod Ricard Group in 2023.
Dr. Arne Flemming
Senior Vice President Corporate Supply Chain Management and Global Service at Robert Bosch GmbH
Transforming Global Supply Chain Operations for Operational Excellence and Cost Efficiency
Arne Flemming, a senior leader in global supply chain management, specializes in driving supply chain optimization, digital transformation, and process improvements across various industries. With extensive experience in logistics, finance, and general management, he focuses on reducing costs while increasing efficiency and transparency in global operations.
Dr. Arne Flemming is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Supply Chain Management and Global Service at Robert Bosch GmbH, where he oversees global logistics services and drives IT and digitization improvements. He has successfully led international projects, including a €1.5 billion net working capital reduction. With previous roles as Vice President of Corporate Controlling and Plant Logistics, Arne excels in integrating finance, operations, and supply chain management, focusing on process improvements and high-performance team leadership.
Robert van der Waal
Vice President Supply Chain at Sandvik
Robert van der Waal graduated in Logistics Engineering from BUAS and started his career at GWK Bank, leading the logistics behind the guilder-to-euro conversion. He then joined DHL, where he held various operational management roles, primarily in the electronics and fashion logistics industries, before managing three international gateways within DHL’s express division.
In 2009, Robert joined Samsung, taking on multiple leadership roles, from Logistics Manager to Vice President EU/CIS, overseeing European logistics. In 2021, he transitioned to Sandvik as Global Vice President Supply Chain within the aftermarket division, where he is responsible for the global spare parts supply chain, managing 50 warehouses and regional logistics teams worldwide.
Beyond his corporate roles, Robert is chairman of the external advisory committee of the Logistics faculty at BUAS and chairman of the board of TKI Dinalog, which promotes innovation in supply chain management. He has completed multiple leadership programs and was a finalist for ‘Logistics Manager of the Year’ (2012) and ‘Logistics Guru of the Year’ (2019). In 2024, he was ranked #12 in the Top 28 Supply Chain Executives Europe.
Moderator Carlos Cordon
IMD Professor of strategy and supply chain
Recordings of previous keynotes
More recordings of previous editions of inNOWvate Supply Chain Event are available on the YouTube channel of Supply Chain Movement: