From Rolling Stock to Global Impact: Sam Pickford on Procurement’s Reach
Description
In this episode of Powering Procurement, host Sian Lloyd is joined by Sam Pickford, Head of Procurement at British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution. With over 15 years of experience spanning transport, social care, finance, and international investment, Sam brings a rare blend of public sector depth and commercial edge.
From leading a £320 million rolling stock renewal for London Underground to building a procurement function that now supports investments across Africa and Asia, Sam’s career offers powerful lessons on resilience, risk, and purpose-driven procurement.
Together, Sian and Sam explore:
The unique challenges of procurement in emerging markets
Balancing commercial priorities with social and development impact
What Brexit, Covid and global supply shocks have taught us about resilience
How AI and technology are reshaping procurement strategies
Why saying “yes” to opportunities can unlock a truly diverse career
Candid, insightful, and refreshingly pragmatic, this episode shines a light on the evolving role of procurement and why it’s a career path worth celebrating.
United States
