In collaboration with Business Reporter, we recently hosted an insightful webinar on Building Stronger Supply Chains through Due Diligence and Resilience. Our expert panelists shared their valuable perspectives on risk mitigation, compliance, operational resilience, and best practices for strengthening supply chain management in an era of increasing regulatory scrutiny.
Meet the panel
Our discussion was enriched by the expertise of our distinguished speakers:
- Federico Marquez, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Hire Europe, with 15 years of experience across supply chain functions in consumer goods and automotive industries.
- Nanda Kishore, Vice President of Sourcing at EVOI, with nearly three decades of experience in international supply chain management across engineering, automotive, marine, and renewable energy sectors.
- Ty Francis MBE, Chief Advisory Officer at LRN, a global leader in ethics and compliance, bringing extensive expertise in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) strategies.
Moderated by Anna Maria Velika, Founder and Director of Green Apple's Career, the webinar covered crucial topics such as supply chain due diligence, third-party risk management, crisis response planning, and regulatory compliance.
Key themes and insights
1. The growing importance of supply chain due diligence
One of the critical discussion points was the upcoming EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), which will require companies to proactively address human rights and environmental risks in their supply chains. This aligns with similar regulations like the Norwegian Transparency Act and Germany’s Supply Chain Act.
The panelists emphasized that while compliance will add complexity and cost, it presents an opportunity to build more structured, transparent, and ethical supply chains. Companies must adopt a proactive approach to risk management, conduct regular audits, and foster deeper supplier engagements to comply with these new standards.
2. Mitigating third-party risks: A holistic approach
Ensuring supply chain security requires a shift from a one-time due diligence assessment to ongoing risk management. The panelists shared their experiences in evaluating and monitoring third-party vendors:
- Federico highlighted the importance of risk matrices, supplier audits, and real-time visibility tools to continuously assess risks.
- Nanda stressed that due diligence must be coupled with governance mechanisms to ensure long-term compliance
- Ty emphasized that high-risk suppliers require deeper scrutiny and the use of data analytics and AI for automated risk assessments.
The consensus? Due diligence is not a checkbox exercise but a continuous process that requires technological investment, structured data analysis, and clear governance frameworks.
3. Training and awareness: The key to sustainable compliance
One of the biggest challenges in supply chain compliance is the lack of awareness among internal teams and third parties. Training plays a critical role in ensuring suppliers understand a company’s values, expectations, and ethical standards.
- Ty pointed out that many companies still rely on outdated methods like sending PDFs for suppliers to sign, rather than engaging them through interactive, risk-based training modules.
- Federico shared how his company collaborates with suppliers through joint workshops and digital twin simulations to improve supply chain transparency.
- Nanda recommended integrating compliance training into procurement processes to ensure ethical considerations are evaluated before supplier onboarding.
4. Building operational resilience through stress testing
With supply chain disruptions becoming more frequent, organizations must invest in business continuity plans (BCPs) and crisis response strategies.
- Federico shared how his company uses digital twins and AI-driven simulations to predict potential disruptions and test mitigation strategies.
- Ty referenced recent regulatory changes in the UK and US, which require companies to demonstrate that their third-party risk management plans are robust and effective.
- Nanda emphasized that companies should work closely with their suppliers to develop mutual contingency plans, ensuring a collaborative approach to crisis management.
The key takeaway? Supply chain resilience isn’t just about minimizing risk—it’s a competitive advantage. Companies that prepare for disruptions outperform those that scramble to react.
5. Ethical considerations in supply chain management
The discussion also touched on the ethical responsibilities of businesses, particularly in relation to child labor and working conditions in developing economies. The panelists acknowledged the complexity of addressing child labor issues, particularly in regions where family contributions to household income are culturally ingrained.
- Nanda shared his experience in opening educational programs and social initiatives to support communities while addressing child labor concerns.
- Federico emphasized that supply chain ethics must be integrated into corporate values, and companies should work towards aligning global operations with ethical sourcing standards.
- Ty stressed the importance of partnerships with NGOs and independent third-party auditors to drive meaningful change in supplier practices.
6. Actionable advice for supply chain leaders
The panelists closed the discussion with one key action item for supply chain leaders:
- Nanda: Invest in people. Companies need to ensure their employees are well-trained, engaged, and aligned with corporate values to drive ethical supply chain practices.
- Federico: Stay true to your principles. Make sure that your daily work aligns with your personal and professional values to maintain integrity in supply chain decisions.
- Ty: Leverage data analytics. Companies must embrace technology to monitor supplier compliance, detect risks early, and make data-driven decisions.
Final thoughts
As supply chain regulations tighten and global disruptions continue, companies must take a proactive, data-driven, and ethical approach to supply chain management. Due diligence, third-party risk mitigation, training, and operational resilience are no longer optional—they are business imperatives.
To stay ahead, companies must foster a culture of transparency, leverage advanced technologies, and build strong partnerships with suppliers and stakeholders.
Missed the webinar? Watch the full episode here and gain deeper insights into supply chain resilience strategies from industry leaders.
