Chris is DIT’s Director for Global Strategy, responsible for leading the department’s contribution to cross-Whitehall international policy and developing DIT’s own strategic thinking function.

He was British Ambassador to Uzbekistan from 2015 to 2019 and previously Deputy Ambassador to Ethiopia, where he also led the UK’s relationship with Somaliland.  From 2003 to 2006, he was posted to Japan as First Secretary for Energy and the Environment.

In London he worked from 2009 to 2010 as Head of South Asia Group at the FCO, with a focus on Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Prior to that he led the FCO’s nuclear deterrence and disarmament policy team.

Chris speaks fluent Japanese and Russian, and passable French.  He comes from Edinburgh and studied at Cambridge and the London School of Economics. 

Melinda Bohannon has a wealth of international experience across a range of high profile policy issues in Government including international development, economic transformation and climate change. She has worked in the Middle East and North Africa, Russia and the Former Soviet Union, and China. She has worked extensively with the United Nations, Multilateral Development Banks and the European Commission. She previously led the UK negotiating team at the UN for the Sustainable Development Goals. Following a role as Deputy Director and head of DFID’s Economic Growth and Resilience Department, Melinda went on to take up a role as DFID’s Director of Strategy. Following the merger of DFID and the FCO, Melinda was appointed as FCDO Director of Strategy.

Dan will bring with him a range of UK and international experience as well as expertise on the research and innovation sector. He is Director of Research and Policy Insight at the British Council, where he set up a new function for the UK’s international culture and education organisation, and before this he was based in the High Commission in New Delhi as Director of UKRI India. He has worked in the Higher Education sector at Universities UK International and the Russell Group, and in research and innovation policy and funding at the Department of Business, Innovation, and Skills, now BEIS.

Emily Jones directs the Global Economic Governance Programme which fosters research and debate on how to make the global economy inclusive and sustainable. She is also a Fellow of University College. Emily’s research examines the political economy of global trade and finance, focusing on the ways in which governments can exert influence in asymmetric negotiations. Emily teaches courses on international political economy and negotiation strategy and skills for public policy, specialising in international trade. She recently ran executive short courses for the UK and Indonesian governments.

Emily holds a DPhil in International Political Economy from the University of Oxford, and an MSc (distinction) in Development Economics from the School of African and Oriental Studies, University of London, and a first-class BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford. She previously worked in Ghana's Ministry of Trade and Industry, for Oxfam GB, and for the UK Department for International Development

Sam Nadel is Head of Policy and Advocacy at Oxfam Great Britain where he is responsible for Oxfam’s advocacy strategy, policy development, political risk management, and overseeing relationships with UK politicians and institutions. He previously held advocacy and campaigns roles at Amnesty International UK. Before starting in the NFP sector, Sam spent over a decade as a professional drummer and musician, recording and performing extensively in Europe, North America and Asia on tour and national TV/radio.

Matthew joined Associated British Ports in 2014 as part of the central function responsible for communications and public policy across the Group’s portfolio of 21 ports. Since 2016, Matthew has been responsible for coordinating engagement with government and industry partners as part of ABP’s preparations for the UK’s departure from the European Union. Matthew leads ABP’s thought leadership, communications and engagement programme on a range of key policy areas, including decarbonisation and freeports. Matthew holds an MSc in International Relations from the University of Bristol.

I am a barrister and chartered accountant, who specialises in UK regulatory issues, having spent the majority of my career in tax. Having worked on the UK implementation of the provisions of the EU Audit Regulation, I am focusing on the implications for the profession of EU exit and on trade and investment from a technical perspective. I am a member of the Professional and Business Services Council's Trade Technical Group. I am a member of ICAEW's Investigation Committee and a Court Assistant of the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers.

Mark is responsible for ensuring Kuehne + Nagel meets the needs of the customer around Trade Compliance and the delivery of Customs Operations in the whole of the UK regardless of mode. This includes the roll-out of Brexit within their organisation covering Customers, Technology and People to ensure a smooth transition.

From 2007 to February 2018, Mark was National Operations Director for International Forwarding in the UK. He managed all 10 International Branches that handle Air, Sea and Road both in for imports and exports.

William Tew joined QinetiQ shortly after the flotation in 2006 and looks after their government relations and public policy.  Will also set up ‘The 5% Club’ of employers who are seeking to increase investment in Britain’s young people by expanding the provision of workplace-based training for those under-25. 

He previously worked at the RICS leading on land and property issues; notably Home Buying Reform, flood management, rural, environmental, land use and regeneration portfolios.  He gained Chartered Status of the Royal Town Planning Institute in recognition of his research services to the land use profession. Will began his professional life at the Home Office where he worked as part of the UK’s law enforcement community.