International trade and supply chain chiefs have been recognised in the 2022 New Year Honours list – after a tumultuous year in which the UK emerged as an independent trading nation amidst supply chain and pandemic disruption.
In a list of awardees dominated by Covid-related service – a fifth of the nearly 1300 winners this year, the Cabinet Office said – the Daily Update has counted more than 25 international trade-related awardees.
They include chiefs of major UK supermarkets recognised for their ‘services to the food supply chain’ disrupted by the global pandemic, shortages of logistics workers including HGV drivers and Brexit.
‘Trade champions’
Also recognised were exporters and Department of International Trade staff, including negotiators of UK trade deals agreed in the past year.
Prominent among these was Vivien Life, DIT director and chief negotiator, for ‘services to trade and investment’.
In a social media post, international trade minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan congratulated Life, citing her work on the UK’s recently agreed free trade agreement with Australia.
Trevelyan praised “our dedicated trade officials and fantastic exporters in championing trade across the world”.
She added that 2022 would offer "great opportunities for UK companies to further the key role they play in the global economy, exporting innovative services and high-quality goods across the globe”.
‘Bumper numbers’
Marco Forgione, director general of the Institute of Export & International Trade, said:
“We congratulate all those involved in international trade who have received 2022 New Year Honours in bumper numbers.
“It’s testament to the essential work that’s been done in addressing the challenges of Covid and helping reshape the UK’s new trading relationships. The IOE&IT will continue to play a leading role in this continuing effort, through 2022.”
And the winners are…
DIT, BEIS and FCDO staff awarded include:
- Vivien Life, director and chief negotiator, Department for International Trade (DIT) – ‘for services to trade and investment’ (Award: CMG)
- Dr Faye Smith, materials specialist, DIT and independent consultant ‘for public service’ (OBE)
- Isaac Phillip, trade capability advisor, DIT – ‘for services to international trade’ (OBE)
- Peter Gysin, lately senior policy adviser, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) – ‘for services to energy policy and international trade (BEM)
- Martin Duffy, lead negotiator, trade agreements and capability in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – ‘for services to trade and development (OBE)
Supply chain/logistics awardees:
- Roger Burnley, CEO, Asda Stores – ‘for services to the food supply chain’ (CBE)
- Steven Geoffrey Murrells, CEO, Co-op Group, ‘for services to the Food Supply Chain’ (CBE)
- Angela Johnson, supply chain manager, Wm Morrison Supermarkets, ‘for services to the Food Supply Chain’ (OBE)
- Sharon Louise Davies, vice president, regulatory and public affairs, DHL Express Europe – ‘for services to logistics’ (OBE)
Exporters and business leaders:
- Kevin Moseley, founder and CEO, SwimFin – ‘for services to international trade, to investment and to charity’ (MBE)
- Timothy Smith, chair, Trade and Agriculture Commission – ‘for services to agriculture, food, and drink trade policy’ (CBE)
- Paul Holt, managing director, Photocentric – ‘for services to international trade, to education and to the UK’s PPE supply chain’ (OBE)
- Deborah Harrison, joint managing director, Pricecheck Toiletries – for services to international trade’ (OBE)
- Rekha Thawrani, global head, NEC contracts, Thomas Telford – ‘for services to infrastructure and British exports’ (OBE)
- Alex Burns, CEO, Robert Harter (OBE)
- Munir Mamujee, managing director, m2r Education (MBE)
Trade bodies/associations:
- Richard Ballantyne, CEO, British Ports Association – ‘for services to the maritime sector’ (OBE)
- Jaine Chisholm Caunt, director general, Grain and Feed Trade Association, ‘for services to the promotion of international free trade’ (OBE)
- David Wells, CEO, Logistics UK – ‘for services to transport and logistics during Covid-19' (OBE)
- Timothy John Williams, lately CEO, Welsh Automotive Forum – ‘for services to the automotive industry’ (OBE)
Exporter award profile: SwimFin
Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional death worldwide. Kevin Moseley had developed a passion for swimming, working for more than 40 years to teach swimming and drowning prevention.
Moseley invented his SwimFin product as a multipurpose teaching aid and flotation device used to teach children to learn to swim. Officially launched in 2008, SwimFin is exported to more than 140 countries.
Commenting on his MBE, Moseley said:
“It is a moment of great pride and honour. I am an average man who receives an MBE. I am enormously passionate about making a difference in people’s lives, all children should have the opportunity to learn to swim.”
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