The Supply Chain Ambassador

In this episode of the Supply Chain Ambassador Podcast, Bruno speaks with Nassima Zobir Bouguerba about procurement, leadership and working through change.
Nassima shares a simple idea: we will not always have all the answers, but we can provide clarity. In procurement, that means helping people understand what needs to happen now, making good decisions, and being willing to adapt as things change.
They also discuss why procurement is about more than rules and contracts. It starts with people, conversations and a clear understanding of what everyone is trying to achieve.
A conversation about keeping procurement clear, practical and human.

Procurement is constantly changing—and no one can know everything. In this conversation, Richard Soulliere shares why procurement professionals need to keep learning, stay curious and draw on the knowledge of their community. Richard discusses his journey into federal procurement, the value of understanding your clients, and why procurement should be seen as a partner rather than a roadblock. He also explains how a simple workplace pain point led him to create Procurement Bliss and co-found an interdepartmental collaboration network now connecting procurement professionals across the Government of Canada. Whether you are new to procurement or an experienced practitioner, this episode offers practical ideas for solving everyday challenges, learning from others and turning small improvements into meaningful change.

After 42 years with National Defence, Richard Quinn is preparing for retirement and reflecting on what he has learned along the way. He discusses the shift from simply following procurement rules to delivering meaningful results, the growing importance of data, artificial intelligence and supply chain resilience, and the skills professionals will need for the future. His final advice is simple: keep learning, ask questions and stay professionally curious.

In this episode of the Supply Chain Ambassador Podcast, I sit down with Martin Chernier, founder of the Procurement Alliance of Canada (PAC) and a well-known voice in the Canadian public procurement community.
Martin shares his unique career journey and the experiences that shaped his philosophy of procurement: stay curious, embrace different perspectives, and never stop learning. From his early days in sales and insurance to staffing, industry advocacy, and procurement education, we explore how seemingly unrelated experiences can come together to create meaningful impact.
Some of the topics we discuss include:
• Why great procurement professionals are translators and communicators. • The importance of understanding the perspectives behind every "hat" in the procurement process. • Building trust through clarity, storytelling, and collaboration. • Lessons learned from the evolving public procurement landscape. • Why it's okay not to know—and why curiosity is one of the profession's greatest strengths.
Whether you're a procurement officer, supplier, project manager, or someone interested in leadership and professional growth, this conversation offers practical insights into creating better outcomes through better communication.
Key takeaway: "It's okay not to know. Stay curious."
To learn more about the Procurement Alliance of Canada, visit: https://procurementalliance.ca
About the Supply Chain Ambassador Podcast
The Supply Chain Ambassador Podcast explores the people, stories, and ideas shaping procurement and supply chain management. Through conversations with practitioners, leaders, and innovators, we aim to make complex topics more accessible and strengthen the connections that move our profession forward.

In this episode, I sit down with Matthew Johnson, Acting Director of Procurement and Contract Management at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Matthew shares his unique journey from construction logistics and criminology into federal procurement leadership, and how people-centered leadership continues to shape his career.