What a year it's been for our community! As we look back at 2025, we're energized by everything we've accomplished together in advancing commercial and contract management as a strategic, modern discipline. 2025 has been a year of challenge, change and uncertainty. But more importantly, it has been a year of insight - insight that is reshaping how organizations think about value, risk, performance, and relationships.
From ground-breaking research and innovative resources to global gatherings that brought our community together, here are some of the highlights that defined our year.
Our events portfolio is something we take enormous pride in, this year, we delivered over 100 webinars spanning the full spectrum of our profession - from public procurement and AI-driven contract review to negotiation strategies, statements of work, and career development. Each session brought fresh perspectives and practical insights from leaders who are shaping the future of our field.
Founded in January 2025 in a partnership between World Commerce & Contracting (WorldCC) and the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), the Commerce & Contract Management Institute (CCM Institute), seeks to improve the world through higher standards in buying and selling, resulting in better trading outcomes in both the private and public sector. This growth reinforces that research is at the heart of what we do.
Tackling the most pressing challenges in contracting, commercial management, legal, and procurement, we released 14 research reports this year. From the Impact of AI agents on CLM to Adoption, Managing Tariffs and Market Uncertainty to and our flagship 2025 Benchmark Report and it's insights on Public Sector contracting in Australia and New Zealand.
Dive into a year of insights and participate in our current surveys here.
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Developed by the community, for the community
A landmark achievement was the release of The Contract Management Standard™ (CMS™) Fourth Edition, the only globally recognized framework defining the phases, competencies, and tasks essential to effective and standardized contract management through the entire contract life cycle. Developed through a rigorous, consensus-based approach, led by an international panel of professionals from government, industry, and academia, the CMS™ reflects our community's collective commitment to elevating contract management as a modern, strategic function, one that creates value and drives impact across every sector.
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Your trusted learning and professional development partner
Following last year's refresh of our global CCM Practitioner Certification, World Commerce & Contracting has delivered even more value to our CCM program in 2025! This year, we introduced three critical additions to support every stage of your career:
We also expanded our library of practical resources with over 100 actionable tips and checklists, giving you expert-crafted, step-by-step guides you can implement immediately. Our growing TASK toolkit continued to evolve, equipping professionals with the Tools, Analytics, Skills, and Knowledge needed to navigate complexity and stay future-focused.
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Bringing global challenges and opportunities to local communities
Connection remained at our core. We brought our community together through three regional summits and more than 50 in-person and virtual WorldCC Connect meetings worldwide. From deep dives into industry trends and research findings, to relaxed catch ups over coffee, these gatherings fostered the genuine connections and collaborative spirit that make our community thrive. See what meetings and events we have already got planned for next year in our WorldCC Connect Hub.
As we move into 2026, the momentum continues. Join us for two upcoming webinars that will help set the tone for the year ahead. "Re-imagining Contracting and Negotiations: Laying the Foundation for Resilience" reflects on 2025's lessons and explores how operational challenges became opportunities for innovation. Then, "Redefining Commercial and Contracting Beyond Functional Silos" examines how we can break down boundaries and embrace integration to unlock fresh value and sustainable growth.
Together, we're not just adapting to change, we're leading it. Here's to another year of excellence, collaboration, and impact.