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Mikeala is Head of Academic Services at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade. She is a seasoned education professional and academic having qualified as a teacher in 1998 before moving into school leadership and then into academia as a Senior then Principal university lecturer leading a large provision that included foundation, undergraduate, post-graduate and Masters’ qualifications as well as apprenticeships. Her over 27 years of experience spans schools, advisory services, higher education, and military training. She is a qualified school leader holding NPQH, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). Her expertise includes strategic leadership, mentoring and coaching, curriculum design and analysis, teaching, learning and assessment, academic quality assurance, and governance.  

In her role as Head of Academic Services at the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade, Mikeala leads a number of teams including the Education Team (including the Customs Academy), the Academy Quality and Compliance Team, the Learner Services Team and IOEx Ltd apprenticeship provision. She is responsible for the leadership and management of daily operations, performance management, safeguarding, resourcing, recruitment, and team development. She has successfully developed and implemented strategic objectives, ensuring professional, engaging, and up-to-date learning content while overseeing adherence to regulatory education frameworks and academic quality standards. 

A lead tutor and academy trade and customs specialist at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, Pat has over 30 years’ experience in warehouse, logistics, supply chain and customs procedures and processes, previously working for manufacturing companies in the UK and USA.

Pat’s career started in stock control and stores administration, and this led to roles in warehouse management and logistics management. The next step was to progress into customs compliance and procedures, specifically AEO accreditation and customs declarations.

He has obtained qualifications with the Chartered Management Institute and is also an award-winning student in the Diploma in World Customs Compliance & Regulations course with the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade. He was a member of the Brexit preparation team at a multi-national company and has supported the UK Customs Academy with content updates and tutoring support.

Recently, Pat has supported the Trader Support Service and the UK Customs Academy with Brexit content updates, providing students with course updates, and tutoring support.

More recently, Patrick has completed the “TQUK Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (RQF)” and has also started an apprenticeship, “Learning & Skills Teacher (Level 5)”.

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. 

With over 15 years of experience spanning South America and Europe, Luciana is a leading international trade and customs advisor. Thanks to her language skills, varied roles across different contexts, and a legal background including a Master of Law (LLM) at La Sorbonne University in Paris, Luciana possesses a deep understanding of different cultures and trade regulations. 

Luciana started her career in France, at a start-up trading company playing a key role in negotiations with African and Brazilian suppliers, ensuring customs and trade compliance. Since then, she has maintained a steadfast commitment to the field, consistently evolving and enhancing her expertise in this ever-changing trade landscape. 

Whether it is serving at the Brazilian Embassy in Paris facilitating cooperation between navies, advising major OEMs like GM and Renault, or guiding UK traders through the new customs scenario post-Brexit, Luciana’s purpose is to collaborate across borders and industries to propel trade forward. 

Presently, as a tutor at the prestigious Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade and at the UK Customs Academy, Luciana prepares students to adapt and lead in the dynamic world of global commerce. She lives by her multi-cultural heritage and thrives at the intersection of law, business, and diplomacy.