Global Trade Live: AI in customs and supply chains

Will Barns-Graham is the executive editor and content lead at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade.

An experienced global trade journalist and event content specialist, he has been the host of the Chartered Institute’s industry-leading Global Trade Live webinar for almost a decade and is the lead editor of its Global Trade Today newsletter. He has also hosted, led agenda design and facilitated panels at various industry events, including the Import Export Show, Multimodal and the International Food and Drink Event.

Will has also been the lead content contributor on several collaborative projects with governments and business organisations in the UK and overseas. This includes the ‘Open to Export International Business Awards’ which resulted in the Chartered Institute being named a Small Business Champion by the World Trade Organization and the International Chamber of Commerce.

He is a NCTJ-qualified journalist, having gained a distinction on the Press Association’s Level 3 Diploma. He has also gained an MA in Social Anthropology from SOAS and a BA in Philosophy and Theology from the University of Oxford.

Ilona is an expert in international trade compliance with over ten years of experience, specialising in global import operations. As the lead for the Imports Advisory Practice, she excels in managing complex import processes, conducting customs and broker invoice audits, and developing policies that streamline cross-border trade while ensuring strict adherence to global regulations. Her expertise spans customs requirements in the MENAT and EMEA regions, where she has successfully mitigated risks and optimised compliance strategies for various organisations. 

Ilona has an in-depth understanding of international customs regulations, staying ahead of legislative changes to proactively address challenges and assess their impact on business operations. Her strong focus on import compliance and her analytical approach to auditing have been pivotal in achieving seamless and compliant import operations across multiple markets. 

Currently, as a senior digital trade and customs specialist, Ilona leads key initiatives around cross-border movements and the UK Border Strategy. She spearheads projects that leverage disruptive technologies to optimise import processes and enhance global trade facilitation. Her expertise aims to ensure that businesses remain competitive and compliant in the rapidly evolving landscape of international trade and drive innovation and efficiency in cross-border operations. 

Dr Awinder Kaur is Head of the Digital Technologies and Machine Intelligence (DTMI) Education Group and Associate Professor in Data Science and AI at WMG, University of Warwick. She leads a cross-disciplinary portfolio spanning Applied Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, eBusiness Management, Games Engineering, Digital Healthcare Transformation, and Degree Apprenticeships.

She works strategically with global industry leaders including Tata AutoComp Systems, Jaguar Land Rover, Bosch, IBM, NVIDIA, and Dell Technologies, embedding AI, advanced computing, and digital transformation capabilities directly into postgraduate, undergraduate, degree apprenticeship and executive education.

Dr Kaur has designed and delivered executive leadership programmes in AI and Digital Transformation, led large-scale industry training initiatives, and delivered international keynote lectures on applied artificial intelligence. Her work focuses on building industry-aligned, future-ready digital capability at scale.

She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and serves as an External Examiner at UK universities.

With over 20 years of experience in the enterprise IT sector, Ronald has been a part of MIC for the past eight years, where he serves as Senior Sales Manager for the EMEA region. He holds a Master's degree in Telecommunications and Media Technology, along with further education in Business Information Systems and Commerce. Operating out of Linz, Austria, Ronald utilizes his comprehensive skill set to enhance sales performance, establish long lasting partnerships with clients, and deliver informed guidance on global trade management and compliance topics. 

A Chartered Management Consultant (ChMC) with over 15 years of experience across global trade, public policy and digital transformation, Jose brings a unique blend of strategic vision and hands-on delivery expertise. He has led complex, high-profile initiatives across Europe and Latin America, building trusted relationships with senior leaders in government and industry.

Before joining Transform, Jose served as Colombia’s Trade Commissioner to the UK, where he led trade negotiations and market access initiatives, helping secure the UK-Colombia post-Brexit Trade Agreement and establish the bilateral Trade Dialogue platform with the UK government.

At Transform, Jose focuses on how digitalisation and design can make global trade smarter, faster and more accessible — from modernising customs and border processes to using AI and data to identify and remove friction across the end-to-end trade journey. He combines a global perspective with a passion for collaboration, innovation and growth.