On 17 & 18 November, Keith Ellender and Michael Mainelli were working on the future of defence procurement. Thevenue was a conference attended by Robert Key and Robert Walmsley and run by IIR (Mary O’Callaghan’s old firm). Keith was speaking on international marketing issues. Michael was chairing one of the days and looking at the future of defence procurement given the rise of the internet, but taking into account security issues. Both Keith and Michael were impressed at the rapid rate of progress the US DoD has made in going on-line, particularly in contrast to the UK. Michael and Mary have gone on to develop a training conference on e-procurement in general, as well as radical procurement strategies for the next decade.