“The past weeks I think, have shown to everyone that IPSERA is not just an annual conference, but it is an association, if not community. Even if we are only online, we still manage to produce the best sessions and create a lot of interaction between all members. As such, I’ve always felt at ease at the conference and other events because of the friends I’ve made. As an association, it is time for me to also give back to the community that I have so greatly benefited from. With your blessing, I look forward to serving on the IPSERA executive committee in any particular fashion that is deemed necessary.”

Robert Suurmond is young researcher in the field of purchasing and supply chain management and innovation. Robert is the father of two young boys and lives and works in Maastricht. He joined IPSERA 2015 in Amsterdam for the first time and has only missed one since.

Robert works as an assistant professor at Maastricht University’s School of Business and Economics, in the department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management. He holds a BSc, MSc, and PhD from RSM Erasmus University with a focus on purchasing and supply chain management. “Research-wise I focus on the intersection between supply chain, sourcing (services), and innovation. I also have a long history of work on systematic reviews and meta-analysis, including published work but also the development of software and trainings.”

His research has been published in leading academic journals, practitioner reports, and other media outlets. He regularly serves as a reviewer of various journals and conferences and is now serving as one of the Guest Editors of the IPSERA 2021 SI for JPSM. Robert teaches in bachelor, master, PhD, and executive education at various institutions. Besides regular research and education tasks, Robert heads the MSc in Supply Chain Management as program leader.

“The past weeks I think, have shown to everyone that IPSERA is not just an annual conference, but it is an association, if not community. Even if we are only online, we still manage to produce the best sessions and create a lot of interaction between all members. As such, I’ve always felt at ease at the conference and other events because of the friends I’ve made. As an association, it is time for me to also give back to the community that I have so greatly benefited from. With your blessing, I look forward to serving on the IPSERA executive committee in any particular fashion that is deemed necessary.

I am very grateful for the nomination and support of the AGM to take up this role and look forward to working with the amazing EC and IPSERA wider community to take IPSERA into the next 30 years.

In particular I want to make sure that we can carry the 30 years of IPSERA’s friendly traditions of comradery and actually constructive feedback on to the next 30 years and ensure that the next generation of diverse IPSERA members and participants also become a part of this."