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Meet the trainers

The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade's training courses are delivered by a pool of experienced, accredited and specialised trainers

Nicholas

Nicholas Blenkinsop MCIEx (Grad)

Nicholas Blenkinsop has over 30 years’ experience in warehouse, contract administration, logistics, supply chain, export sales, project and procurement management, business development, shipping and customs procedures and processes with experience in African, European, Middle Eastern, Indian and Sub-Continent, North and South American markets.

Blenkinsop has also worked for SMEs importing and exporting worldwide with experience of: oil and gas equipment, industrial machinery for pharmaceutical ampoules/vials, food manufacturing lines, polymers/films/fillers/masterbatches and aluminium for flexible packaging, agricultural equipment, laboratory chemicals and equipment, herbs/spices tea and coffee.

During his career, Blenkinsop has obtained qualifications with the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply and has obtained recognised teacher status with Ulster University.

Lyn Dewsbury

Lyn Dewsbury

Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade academy trade & customs specialist, Lyn Dewsbury has over 20 years’ experience working in international trade. Career highlights include five years working as trade & logistics manager, 3 years working as a customs adviser for a major transportation firm and four years working in trading specialised manufacturing.

Dewsbury also has experience working with dual-use/military goods, submitting bills of discharge to HMRC and bonded warehouses.

Matt Vick

Matt Vick

Matt Vick handles the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade delivery of public training courses, customs and SPS consultancy, and tutor for individuals at Level 3.

He has extensive international trade experience, stemming from a background in freight forwarding & customs services, culminating in special recognition at the British International Freight Association Awards in 2022.

He was a team leader at Good Logistics for the Brexit taskforce & customs Team, later moving on to the deep sea forwarding department.

Nicholas Blenkinsop has over 30 years’ experience in warehouse, contract administration, logistics, supply chain, export sales, project and procurement management, business development, shipping and customs procedures and processes with experience in African, European, Middle Eastern, Indian and Sub-Continent, North and South American markets.

Blenkinsop has also worked for SMEs importing and exporting worldwide with experience of: oil and gas equipment, industrial machinery for pharmaceutical ampoules/vials, food manufacturing lines, polymers/films/fillers/masterbatches and aluminium for flexible packaging, agricultural equipment, laboratory chemicals and equipment, herbs/spices tea and coffee.

During his career, Blenkinsop has obtained qualifications with the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply and has obtained recognised teacher status with Ulster University.

Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade academy trade & customs specialist, Lyn Dewsbury has over 20 years’ experience working in international trade. Career highlights include five years working as trade & logistics manager, 3 years working as a customs adviser for a major transportation firm and four years working in trading specialised manufacturing.

Dewsbury also has experience working with dual-use/military goods, submitting bills of discharge to HMRC and bonded warehouses.

Matt Vick handles the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade delivery of public training courses, customs and SPS consultancy, and tutor for individuals at Level 3.

He has extensive international trade experience, stemming from a background in freight forwarding & customs services, culminating in special recognition at the British International Freight Association Awards in 2022.

He was a team leader at Good Logistics for the Brexit taskforce & customs Team, later moving on to the deep sea forwarding department.

Andy Bridges

Andrew Bridges

A trade and customs specialist at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade academy, Andrew Bridges has over 25 years’ experience working in international trade and has been a member of the Chartered Institute since 2020.

He has extensive knowledge of shipping, logistics and other aspects of cross-border movement of goods. Bridges also has 16 years’ worth of experience of moving foodstuffs, military equipment and car parts, especially in North America and China, and has extensive knowledge of the aerospace and defence sector.

Laura Williams

Laura Williams

Laura Williams is a customs and trade specialist with over 18 years’ experience, previously working at PwC UK.

Her wealth of knowledge and experience includes working as UK customs broker and special procedure expert, as well as a Brexit and on-boarding consultant. Williams also has served as a global specialist of electronics, consumables, products for human consumption and supply chain.

She is the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade's academy sanitary and phytosanitary expert, with extensive specialist experience of working with food and agricultural products. Williams also has a significant amount of experience and working knowledge of performing compliance checks and set-up of in-house customs teams for clients, including training and SOP advisory. She is also an AEO specialist.

Neal Barfoot

Neal Barfoot MCIEx

Neal Barfoot is an international trade and marketing professional with 25+ years’ experience prior to joining the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade academy, including 12 years in manufacturing and 11 years with the British Chambers of Commerce advising firms how to maximise their import and export potential.

He is an EU specialist, having formerly worked as Europe direct officer for Lancashire and for the European Commission on projects alongside the then-Department for International Trade.

A trade and customs specialist at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade academy, Andrew Bridges has over 25 years’ experience working in international trade and has been a member of the Chartered Institute since 2020.

He has extensive knowledge of shipping, logistics and other aspects of cross-border movement of goods. Bridges also has 16 years’ worth of experience of moving foodstuffs, military equipment and car parts, especially in North America and China, and has extensive knowledge of the aerospace and defence sector.

Laura Williams is a customs and trade specialist with over 18 years’ experience, previously working at PwC UK.

Her wealth of knowledge and experience includes working as UK customs broker and special procedure expert, as well as a Brexit and on-boarding consultant. Williams also has served as a global specialist of electronics, consumables, products for human consumption and supply chain.

She is the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade's academy sanitary and phytosanitary expert, with extensive specialist experience of working with food and agricultural products. Williams also has a significant amount of experience and working knowledge of performing compliance checks and set-up of in-house customs teams for clients, including training and SOP advisory. She is also an AEO specialist.

Neal Barfoot is an international trade and marketing professional with 25+ years’ experience prior to joining the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade academy, including 12 years in manufacturing and 11 years with the British Chambers of Commerce advising firms how to maximise their import and export potential.

He is an EU specialist, having formerly worked as Europe direct officer for Lancashire and for the European Commission on projects alongside the then-Department for International Trade.

Garima Srivastava

Garima Srivastava

Garima Srivastava is a senior trade & customs specialist at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade academy. She is an accomplished international trade and customs lawyer with extensive experience in customs law advisory.

With an undergraduate law degree from India, Srivastava began her career at leading firm Lakshmikumaran & Attorneys, where she provided expert advice on customs compliance, import regulations, customs classification, valuation, rules of origin, foreign trade policy, free trade zones, warehousing and licensing.

After gaining valuable experience in India, she pursued an masters degree at the University of Pennsylvania Law School in the US. Following her studies, Garima joined Ernst & Young’s global trade advisory team in New York, where she continued to focus on customs compliance projects and customs health checks.

Garima has extensive experience advising clients across a diverse range of industries, including the life sciences, electronics, automotive and food and beverage sectors.

Samantha Hodgkins

Samantha Hodgkins

A trade and customs specialist at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade academy, Samantha Hodgkins has 14 years’ experience in international trade, with extensive work in both the aerospace and defence industries

Her areas of specialisation include export controls, UK dual-use and military, US EAR & ITAR, customs compliance and due diligence, defining and implementing policies and procedures, trade compliance and export controls, Incoterms, and commodity codes

Roger Marshall

Roger Marshall

Roger Marshall has been involved in international trade for over 40 years. After spending 5 years with Sainsbury's in the buying department, where he worked on importing animal products from New Zealand  and Denmark, he spent 13 years working for one of Japan's largest trading companies.

As such, he has been involved in trading a variety of different commodities, ranging from Russian timber to rare earth critical minerals. He has also been involved in the financing and development of electronics production in Eastern Europe and has helped to build up trade in consumer electronics to major UK & European retailers.

Garima Srivastava is a senior trade & customs specialist at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade academy. She is an accomplished international trade and customs lawyer with extensive experience in customs law advisory.

With an undergraduate law degree from India, Srivastava began her career at leading firm Lakshmikumaran & Attorneys, where she provided expert advice on customs compliance, import regulations, customs classification, valuation, rules of origin, foreign trade policy, free trade zones, warehousing and licensing.

After gaining valuable experience in India, she pursued an masters degree at the University of Pennsylvania Law School in the US. Following her studies, Garima joined Ernst & Young’s global trade advisory team in New York, where she continued to focus on customs compliance projects and customs health checks.

Garima has extensive experience advising clients across a diverse range of industries, including the life sciences, electronics, automotive and food and beverage sectors.

A trade and customs specialist at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade academy, Samantha Hodgkins has 14 years’ experience in international trade, with extensive work in both the aerospace and defence industries

Her areas of specialisation include export controls, UK dual-use and military, US EAR & ITAR, customs compliance and due diligence, defining and implementing policies and procedures, trade compliance and export controls, Incoterms, and commodity codes

Roger Marshall has been involved in international trade for over 40 years. After spending 5 years with Sainsbury's in the buying department, where he worked on importing animal products from New Zealand  and Denmark, he spent 13 years working for one of Japan's largest trading companies.

As such, he has been involved in trading a variety of different commodities, ranging from Russian timber to rare earth critical minerals. He has also been involved in the financing and development of electronics production in Eastern Europe and has helped to build up trade in consumer electronics to major UK & European retailers.

Sandra

Sandra Isabel Cooper MCIEx

Sandra Cooper is a trade and customs specialist at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, supporting businesses with guidance and training to increase their growth and international presence.

Previously, she worked as an international trade adviser at the then-Department for International Trade in the North West of England. She has also acted as DIT's business specialist for Latin America and led the agri-tech and automotive sectors in the region. 

With over 20 years' experience in the international trade field, Cooper has worked with companies in the UK and Mexico, successfully developing their global distribution networks and achieving exponential export growth.

She also has a degree in international business, specialising in agriculture, from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education.

Sandra Cooper is a trade and customs specialist at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, supporting businesses with guidance and training to increase their growth and international presence.

Previously, she worked as an international trade adviser at the then-Department for International Trade in the North West of England. She has also acted as DIT's business specialist for Latin America and led the agri-tech and automotive sectors in the region. 

With over 20 years' experience in the international trade field, Cooper has worked with companies in the UK and Mexico, successfully developing their global distribution networks and achieving exponential export growth.

She also has a degree in international business, specialising in agriculture, from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education.