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Hello! I'm Dave Barr, also known as The Real Life Buyer. With over two decades of experience in purchasing, my career journey has been diverse and fulfilling. It all started when I was 16, commuting 20 miles to my technical apprenticeship on a 50cc bike, rain or shine. By 20, I was delving into Quality Engineering for industrial diesel engines, a field I deeply enjoyed. My commitment to quality led me to system and process improvements, and I played a key role in achieving BS5750 accreditation for my company. My passion for windsurfing took me to a seaside role as a Quality Manager, where I also began to dabble in purchasing. This interest blossomed into a career pivot, and I soon found myself as a Purchasing Manager. My dedication and hard work paid off, earning me a role as Commodity Manager, dealing with global manufacturing. A stint in procurement management with a major war gaming manufacturer followed, expanding my horizons in global supply chains and manufacturing. After a fulfilling five years there, I moved to a large business focusing on UK infrastructure, where I delved into a wider range of procurement activities, including facilities management. Family ties and the birth of my son eventually drew me back to the coast, where I rejoined a previous employer, bringing with me a wealth of experience. Ten more years have flown by, and my enthusiasm for procurement and facilities management continues unabated.

Dr. Aurora Dawn Benton is Founder and Chief Change Agent of Astrapto LLC, which exists to advance positive impact in the workplace. Her passion is to make sustainability practical and approachable for people whose main job is not sustainability, but who have a passion or mandate to improve social and environmental performance in their operations and supply chains. Aurora loves helping people realize their potential while discovering a greater purpose for good in business. She has helped over 120 young professionals launch green teams and perform sustainable procurement audits. She has coached numerous professionals on how to research and improve sustainability in their corporate purchasing. Her clients include World Wildlife Fund (Hotel-Kitchen), Sodexo Live (Centerplate), Baltimore Convention Center, Green Seal (hotel eco-certification), the Events Industry Council, and various hotels and restaurant groups. She has been a thought leader and volunteer in hospitality industry organizations, including a task force for Sustainable Events Standards and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Aurora has a Doctorate in Business Administration in Social Impact Management.