Global Trade Live: The UK’s Free Trade Agreements

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. 

David leads DBT’s work on ensuring that businesses are taking full advantage of the UK’s new FTAs. David was previously Head of Policy for Europe in the Export Support Service in the Department, where he focused on supporting exporters to adjust to the new post-Brexit trading relationship with the European Union. Prior to this, David was a relationship manager for a portfolio of multinational companies assessed as being of strategic importance to the UK Government, covering companies in the infrastructure, automotive, and defence sectors.

Before joining the Civil Service, David worked as a Public Affairs consultant for several years in Holyrood and Westminster, supporting companies across a broad range of sectors with the development and execution of their political strategies.

• Customs and trade specialist with 25+ years experience
• 7 years at DIT North West as an International Trade Adviser - supporting SMEs with export advice, strategies and diagnostics
• Extensive business experience with Middle East and Indian Sub Cont.
• 20 years industry experience in polymers and packaging
• A Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade member since 2014

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.