Chief Executive, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation

Elspeth joined the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation as Chief Executive in August 2019, following a career in the public sector. Before joining SFF, Elspeth spent four years as deputy Chief Executive at Food Standards Scotland, where she led its work on Scotland’s strategy and policy for food safety and standards, having spent the preceding 14 years in a range of roles with the UK’s Food Standards Agency in Scotland and London. Elspeth is a science graduate of Stirling and Aberdeen universities and started her working life at what is now the Marine Scotland Science laboratory in Aberdeen.

Senior Manager, Financial Services Regulatory Insights

Anirvan is a Senior Manager in PwC’s Financial Services Regulatory Insights team and advises clients on regulatory matters. Anirvan authors PwC’s market facing publications on insurance regulatory developments and how these developments could impact business models, governance arrangements and risk management frameworks of financial services clients.

Before joining PwC, Anirvan worked at the Prudential Regulation Authority for more than 7 years. Anirvan has presented at multiple industry events on the impact of regulatory changes. He is a qualified accountant and holds an MBA from the University of Oxford.

Trade Strategy and Brexit Leader, EY UK

Sally leads the EY Trade Strategy and Brexit team. She is a leading specialist in trade policy from both a global and UK/EU perspective.

She advises organizations across multiple industries including FTSE 100, Fortune 500, privately owned companies and trade associations. She also has frequent contact with the UK Government and the EU Commission.

Sally holds a BSc in Astronomy and Astrophysics from University College London.

Partner and UK Head of Tax Policy, KPMG

Tim Sarson is a partner and UK head of tax policy at KPMG, and EMEA leader for Value Chain Management. He has worked in the field of international tax and trade for 25 years. Tim has a particular focus on geography and location, helping companies and governments adapt to changes in the global landscape of tax, labour, trading flows and geopolitics.

Tim acts as the face of the firm on policy matters in the print and broadcast media, as well as being the primary policy contact for HM Treasury and HMRC. He led the firm’s tax response to the UK exit from the EU, including helping a wide range of businesses prepare for a potential no-deal exit. Tim has responsibility for KPMG UK’s submissions on domestic and multilateral (e.g. OECD) consultations, and sits on the DIT practitioners group consulting on developments in the UK’s international trade relationships.

Head of Trade Policy, British Chambers of Commerce

William has worked for the last 7 years with a range of companies, from global retailers to SMEs to innovative start-ups, advising on EU exit, the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, and the UK’s new trade and investment policies.

Previously, William spent over ten years as an academic lawyer specialising in Constitutional and EU law, and 5 and a half years as an MP (Glasgow North East), including roles as Shadow Ministers for Defra, Transport and Scotland and membership of the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee.

Director of Policy & Public Affairs, Road Haulage Association

Declan Pang is Director of Policy & Public Affairs at the Road Haulage Association – the leading trade association representing road haulage, coach and van operators across the UK who are critical in keeping our supply chains moving.

Managing Director, Winterwood Farms

Stephen is the Managing Director of Winterwood Farms. Stephen started farming in the UK in 1978 on just 1 ha of ground. Today, Stephen and related Group companies farm 17 farms in 4 countries, with blueberries being the primary crop.

Stephen is one of the founder members of the International Blueberry Organisation which represents over 90% of the world’s fresh blueberry growers, and is a current Director, holding the position of Secretary.

Director of EU & International Affairs – Make UK

Fergus McReynolds represents Make UK, the UK manufacturers’ organisation in Brussels, leading engagement and liaising with European and International Stakeholders, including the European institutions on a wide range of European, Trade and International policies. Working through his extensive European and Global network and with the partner organisations, Fergus has represented manufacturers for over 10 years in Europe and internationally.

Fergus has a Masters in Chemistry from the University of Warwick and joined Make UK as a Senior Climate & Environment Policy Adviser. Before joining, he worked in the food industry providing guidance and analysis for dairy companies on environment, sustainability and climate change. Fergus has sat on various government and industry advisory panels in the UK and abroad and spent time on secondment in the UK Government.

Policy Director, Logistics UK

Kate joined Logistics UK as Policy Director in June 2022.

Kate started her career in the civil service, first in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, including a posting to Beijing working on the handover of Hong Kong. She subsequently worked in the Cabinet Office on the Better Regulation agenda, leading the secretariat for a PM-chaired committee which challenged Government to ensure regulation minimised costs on business.

Kate worked in the Department for Transport from 1990 – 2020 leading on EU and international transport policy; airport policy, airspace and passenger rights; and rail strategy including the launch of the Williams Rail Review. Most recently her responsibilities included policy on rail devolution, investment, workforce, and freight in addition to engagement with industry clients including Network Rail and the Rail Delivery Group. From December 2019 to February 2020, Kate worked on the development of transport policy for EU exit. From 2020 – June 2022 Kate was Policy Director at the Railway Industry Association (RIA) – leading on coronavirus response, strategic engagement and diversity including the launch of the RIA Women in Rail Diversity and Inclusion Charter.

UK Politics reporter for Bloomberg News

His brief covers the Treasury, levelling up, business and trade. Joe has reported extensively on the corporate impacts of Brexit and is a regular contributor on BBC News, LBC and Times Radio.

Joe won MHP’s 30 to Watch award for City & Business journalism in 2020. He holds an MA in Journalism & International Development from Sciences Po, Paris and is a former world champion of debating in French.

Chief Global Strategist, Milken Institute

Kevin Klowden is the Chief Global Strategist for the Milken Institute, where he leads the Milken Institute’s global strategy in research expertise, subject matter focus and policy engagement. In this role is focused on issues of regional economic competitiveness, sustainability, technology-based development, and the modernization of trade and supply chains. Klowden holds graduate degrees from the University of Chicago and London School of Economics, where he studied global financial centers and foreign direct investment.

Global Head of Geopolitical Risk, HSBC

Helen previously held a variety of strategic roles with HSBC in Compliance and Risk in Asia and the Middle East. Helen holds a doctorate in international relations from the University of Oxford focussing on Russian foreign policy, and is a published author. Prior to joining HSBC, she spent a number of years working in public safety and security functions within the Government of Canada. Most recently, she was responsible for providing strategic analysis of Russia and Central Asia to the Canadian Prime Minister and the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister at the Privy Council Office of Canada. Helen has also deployed to Afghanistan and has worked for the Canadian Embassy in Moscow.

Chair, International Chamber of Commerce

Paul Drechsler CBE is Former President of Confederation of British Industry. Paul is also Chairman, BusinessLDN (previously London First). He is a Non-Executive Director of Greencore Plc and Schroders & Co. Paul is currently the (Honorary) President of the Society of Chemical Industry, (SCI). He has previously held senior appointments including; Chairman Bibby Line Group, Chairman & Chief Executive of Wates Group, Executive Director of ICI Plc, Non-executive Director of Essentra Plc, Chairman CBI energy Policy Committee.

Prior to joining Wates, Paul spent 24 years with ICI PLC, holding Senior / Board positions and living in the UK, Brazil, the USA and the Netherlands. He was previously Chancellor of Teesside University, a position he held until July 2022, and Chairman Teach First, Chairman of UK Skills Funding Agency Advisory Board, Director of Business in the Community, The Princes Trust (Construction Council), and TCD Business School Advisory Board. Paul is an Engineering graduate from the University of Dublin, Trinity College, where he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Laws in 2018.

Former UK Ambassador to USA

Lord Darroch’s diplomatic career has spanned four decades where he has served as Head of the Cabinet Office European Secretariat and the Prime Ministers Advisor on European affairs from 2004-2007 and four years as British Permanent Representative to the European Union.

He was National Security Advisor from 2012-2015 before taking on the UK’s foremost diplomatic post as the British Ambassador to the USA from 2016 until 2019. He became Chairperson of internationalist campaign group Best for Britain in 2021.

Political Reporter, PoliticsHome

Nadine Batchelor-Hunt is a political reporter at PoliticsHome. She formerly worked at Yahoo News UK as a political correspondent, and regularly appears on television and radio to provide analysis on political stories.

Labour MP and Co-convenor, UK Trade & Business Commission

Hilary is MP for Leeds Central and Co-convener of the UK Trade and Business Commission which provides independent scrutiny of the UK’s trade deals and provides recommendations to the Government.

A former Shadow Foreign Secretary and former Secretary of State for International Development and Food and Rural Affairs, Hilary has a wealth of experience in international relations, trade and the UK’s production economy.

Hilary was chair of the House of Commons Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union which scrutinised the Government on Brexit negotiations and UK-EU trade.

Chief Executive, Independent Society of Musicians

Deborah is the Chief Executive of the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) and has held the role since 2008. The ISM is the UK’s professional body for musicians and has existed since 1882, supporting over 11,000 members across the UK and Ireland. The ISM has a strong policy and research function and since 2016 it has published many reports on the impact of Brexit on the music sector. The ISM has also made available for free a ground breaking guide to the EU visa and work permit requirements for all those UK creatives seeking to work in the EU. It is widely regarded as one of the best in the sector.

Professor of Economics, University of Sussex

Alan is Professor of Economics and a Fellow and Founding Director of the UK Trade Policy Observatory in the University of Sussex. From 2008 to 2011, Alan was Chief Economist at the Department for International Development, and from 2004 to 2007 Director of the Development Research Group of the World Bank.

He was editor of The World Trade Review (2008-2020). Alan’s current work is almost wholly devoted to research and policy analysis on the trade policy implications of Brexit.

CEO & Founder of Fashion Roundtable

Tamara has 20 years experience working in the fashion industry, as a fashion editor and brand consultant, as well as uniquely working in Parliament.

As secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Ethics and Sustainability in Fashion, she is the bridge between fashion and policy.

Director, European Centre for International Political Economy

David is the UK Director at the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE) and a leading expert and writer on Brexit negotiations and the trade policy issues arising from Brexit.

He worked on trade and investment issues for the UK Government for a number of years, including on TTIP throughout the three and a half years of negotiations. After the EU referendum vote he helped establish the new Department for International Trade, engaging in many of the UK’s first working groups with non-EU countries, and setting out options for engagement with the US.