Global Trade Live: The UK-EU reset one year in – what we know so far

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

Since joining the charity in 2017, he has created the industry’s leading webinar programme, hosting several hundred sessions on all aspects of international trade. He has also been the lead writer and editor on the Chartered Institute's Daily Update news bulletin, lead editor on its World Trade Matters journal, and has produced and hosted multiple of its events.

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 he managed in 2018, which resulted in the charity 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. 

Grace began her career working in Parliament as a policy researcher for MPs. She went on to work for Edelman Global Advisory in its London-based public affairs team, supporting a range of clients including those in the food and drink and technology sectors. As UK Public Affairs Lead for the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, Grace works with both members, and colleagues across the Chartered Institute, to identify barriers to trade and put forward policy solutions. Grace is also secretariat for the UK’s first E-Commerce Trade Commission, convened by the Chartered Institute, that has been created to encourage and support businesses to trade and export online. She is passionate about advocating to policymakers regarding measures which help businesses trade more efficiently, competitively and sustainably.

A qualified and accredited customs professional, Anna is a leading international trade and customs specialist and commentator, having worked as a practitioner before joining the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade in April 2023.

She represents the Chartered Institute at industry and government forums, while advising public and private sector clients on trade compliance and customs facilitations.

A regular speaker at UK and European events and at government working groups, Anna is industry chair of HMRC’s Joint Customs Consultative Committee, its forum for consulting with key trade stakeholders on customs procedures and regulations and represents the Chartered Institute at the EU - UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement Domestic Advisory Group.

With expertise in interpreting UK and EU regulations and their impact on business, Anna’s current focus is on the changes within the customs landscape including the UK’s Border Target Operating Model, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and EU’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) as well as the EU customs reform.

Before joining the Chartered Institute, Anna was customs lead at a major UK manufacturing retailer, developing its customs compliance policy and processes for post-Brexit trading.