ProcureCon 2025

23 - 25 September 2025

Austria Center Vienna

Susan Walsh

Founder & MD The Classification Guru Ltd

Susan Walsh: The Classification Guru

Susan Walsh, also known as The Classification Guru, is a leading expert in data cleaning, classification, and supplier normalisation. As the founder and driving force behind The Classification Guru Ltd, Susan and her team have helped over 100 organisations worldwide clean, classify, and normalise their data, making it more Consistent, Organised, Accurate, and Trustworthy through her proprietary COAT framework.

With more than 13 years of experience in data and a proven track record of delivering business value, Susan is widely recognised for her expertise in spend data classification, supplier normalisation, and taxonomy development. In 2024, she launched Samification, an innovative self-service tool that empowers businesses to take control of their supplier data with ease.

Before making her mark in the data world, Susan built a career in sales and ran her own clothing boutique, experiences that sharpened her entrepreneurial instincts and deepened her understanding of business challenges. These unique insights now fuel her mission to make data relatable, accessible, and just the right amount of sassy.

Susan is the author of Between the Spreadsheets: Classifying and Fixing Dirty Data and the creator of popular online courses available on Pluralsight, O’Reilly, and the Analytics Institute. Her TEDx talk, "Say NO to NO", highlights her personal journey of resilience and determination, showcasing her ability to inspire and lead through challenge. A sought-after speaker and thought leader at global data and procurement events, Susan is a trusted partner in helping organisations unlock the full value of clean, reliable data and achieve long-term data excellence. Her impact on the industry has been recognised through numerous accolades, including a place in the DataIQ100 and several data industry awards.

At the heart of her work is the proprietary COAT methodology (Consistent, Organised, Accurate, Trustworthy), developed to ensure data remains clean and usable. This framework is a cornerstone of The Classification Guru’s approach, enabling organisations to save time and money by maintaining high-quality data standards.

If you’re ready to tackle your dirty data and unlock its full potential, Susan Walsh is your go-to expert!

Day 2 | 24th September 2025

1:25 PM Panel: Prioritise Strategic Investments: How Do You Invest Your Resources When Juggling Conflicting Priorities?

  • How do you know which hat to wear when judging whether to invest in AI, talent, technology, data, sustainability to prioritise value-add for the business?   
  • What role does new technology play in elevating procurement’s seat at the table?  
  • How do talent development initiatives which allow for your team to get promoted impact your seat at the table?  
  • How can procurement contribute to strategic business growth plans? 


Day 3 | 25th September 2025

2:10 PM Keynote Panel Discussion: DE&I As A Value Driver: How Can You Empower Diversity to Unlock Strategic, Creative, and Cultural Value?

  • How is the procurement industry addressing the aspirations of diverse individuals to develop in leadership roles? 
  • How does a diversity focus tie into your wider company strategy? 
  • What cross-cultural differences exist in your organisations and how do you overcome these through programmes to facilitate cross-cultural collaboration & creativity? 
  • How does the change in the American administration's policy towards diversity impact the perceived value of diversity? 

Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Susan.

Download The Latest Agenda