Global Trade Live: Changing direction? EU plans for trade and customs

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.

Kate is Deputy Head of International Affairs at FSB, the UK's leading membership organisation for SMEs and the self-employed. She works with the UK government, EU institutions and WTO to tackle the barriers to international trade and is a board member of SMEunited, the Europe-wide association for SMEs.

Mr. Gordon Wright has extensive experience in customs law, administration, and logistics. His background includes serving as a senior policy advisor in Africa and the Southeast Asia, where he worked on capacity-building projects in a leadership and advisory capacity on behalf of prominent organizations such as the UK Department for International Development, International Monetary Fund, World Customs Organization, Asian Development Bank, and the European Commission. His role involved providing guidance and expertise in developing policies and strategies to enhance trade facilitation and border security.

Mr. Wright’s impressive career also includes senior positions at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the European Commission, and the International Road Transport Union (IRU), where he served as Head of Customs Security and Transit Matters. He has also worked with the South Africa Revenue Service, the UK Border Force, and HM Revenue and Customs.

In recent years, Mr. Wright has taken on a leadership and advocacy role in EU/US international supply chain security and trade facilitation issues. He has been at the forefront of promoting efficient and secure supply chains between the European Union and the United States, contributing to the development of policies and initiatives that streamline trade processes while ensuring the highest standards of security.

Throughout his career, Mr. Gordon Wright has demonstrated his ability to navigate complex international regulations and procedures, forge effective partnerships between government agencies and private sector stakeholders, and provide strategic guidance on border security and trade facilitation.

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.