Procurement has moved beyond cost control and compliance. It now stands at the centre of national strategy, shaping how industries grow, adapt, and invest in sustainability. This edition of Future Contracts examines how leadership and innovation are setting new standards for value creation. Gary Mander brings strategic expertise to the National Procurement Awards 2025, we see a renewed emphasis on professional excellence, recognising those advancing accountability and performance across the sector. Irish procurement consultancy Procure.ie appoints Dessie Farrell to Advisory Board illustrates the rising importance of strategic governance in helping businesses optimise procurement within energy, telecoms, and utilities. Meanwhile, DMRC launches procurement for 500 MU renewable energy demonstrates how large-scale initiatives are aligning procurement with environmental goals, supporting the shift to cleaner infrastructure. These developments point to a sector embracing transformation with purpose. Strategic insight, sustainability, and digital capability are now key benchmarks of effective procurement. As new frameworks take shape, the challenge is to sustain this progress, turning policy ambitions into measurable outcomes that strengthen economies and public trust.