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Driving International Trade Conference 2025

Driving International Trade Conference 2025

EVENTS

Driving International Trade Conference 2025

Accelerate your Global Growth: Unlock New Markets and Opportunities

Thursday 20 March 2025

In an era where global dynamics are rapidly shifting, our ‘Driving International Trade’ conference offers a platform for 300 forward-thinking leaders looking to accelerate their international footprint.

The event will bring together influential national and international business leaders, and political stakeholders, to explore lucrative markets, pivotal trade corridors, and ambitious projects that offer vast opportunities for businesses.

The event is free to attend but tickets are strictly limited – please complete the expressions of interest form below.  

The event will be held on Thursday 20 March 2025 in a central London venue from 09:00 – 16:30 (UK time) with a networking reception taking place afterwards.

Event Highlights

The free-to-attend event will feature key panel discussions, fireside chats, keynote addresses and breakout sessions. Highlights include:

  • Keynote address by the Minister for Investment, Baroness Poppy Gustafsson CBE.
  • Panel discussions –  opportunities across key regions such as the Gulf Cooperation Council, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Asia-Pacific, and LATAC.
  • Project Showcases – in key strategic markets such as Hong Kong, Dubai and Slovenia.
  • Interactive Breakout Sessions – including ‘How to navigate the Local Business Environment in Strategic Markets’ and ‘Transforming Trade with Corridors, Markets, and Technology’.
  • International Reception Keynote by the Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), John WH Denton AO. 

Don’t miss this invaluable platform for C-suite executives to network, gain insights, and explore new avenues for growth. Discover how to navigate the complexities of global trade, understand regulatory environments, and forge partnerships that can propel your company into new international territories.

Join us and be part of the conversation that shapes the future of international trade.

OUR Speakers

DRIVING INTERNATIONAL TRADE CONFERENCE 2025

register your interest

DRIVING INTERNATIONAL TRADE CONFERENCE 2025

Secure Your Spot Now: Priority Application Form

Ready to boost your global business? Don’t miss out on this exclusive conference!

Complete your details below to apply. Please note, spaces are reserved for businesses actively exporting overseas. Our team will review all applications and contact successful applicants.

Get ahead of the competition – apply today!

AGENDA

DRIVING INTERNATIONAL TRADE CONFERENCE 2025

*Please note that our agenda is subject to change

Welcome to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Driving International Trade Conference 2025.

  • Participants are invited to connect and engage with peers during the breakfast session.
  • Make use of the event App to connect with people and exhibitors in the networking area.
  • Simply use the QR code on the App to share your contact details and make a direct connection.

The BCC is delighted to be hosting its inaugural Driving International Trade Conference 2025. We’re looking forward to an amazing day ahead!

  • Introduction by Shevaun Haviland, Director General, BCC: Overview of the day’s objectives and themes
  • Theme: The power of a Global Chamber Network

Topic: A Global Britain – The Future of UK Trade and Investment

As the newly appointed Minister for Investment, Minister Poppy Gustafsson OBE, will provide insights into the government’s strategy for enhancing the UK’s global trade relationships, fostering investment, and positioning the UK for success in an increasingly interconnected world. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A from the audience. 

Details to follow.

Business Opportunities with Key UK Trading Partners

Senior Officials and Ambassadors from markets such as the US, India, Germany, and Turkey will share unique insights into the strategic opportunities their markets offer.

Join this session to hear about cutting-edge innovation, regulatory strengths, and dynamic growth sectors in strategic markets around the world.

Speakers include: 

  • HE Miguel Berger, German Ambassador to the United Kingdom
  • HE Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom
  • HE Osman Koray Ertas, Turkish Ambassador to the United Kingdom
  • Elisabeth Bowes PSM, Australian Deputy High Commissioner, London

Details to follow.

It’s time for a break!

The Networking Zone is an opportunity for delegates to meet existing and new contacts. Join us for informal networking during this time and use the event App to connect.

Our breakout sessions will cover topics including strategic markets, the role of digital technologies, supply chain resilience and more.

Breakout A: How to navigate the Local Business Environment in Strategic Markets

This interactive session will bring together experts in trade finance, law, advisory, and local support, alongside a UK SME, to unlock opportunities in some of the UK’s key trade markets.

Gain practical insights on regulations, financial tools, cultural nuances, and strategies to confidently expand internationally. 

Breakout B: Transforming Trade with Corridors, Markets, and Technology

Explore how emerging trade corridors across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, combined with digital technologies like blockchain and AI, are revolutionising global trade.

Highlights include insights on new trade routes, game-changing tech innovations, and strategies to optimise supply chains and expand market reach. Gain actionable strategies to harness the power of physical and digital trade networks.

Breakout C: Unlocking Global Supply Chain Opportunities for UK companies

Global supply chains are rapidly evolving, presenting UK businesses with significant opportunities in key markets.

This session will provide insights into emerging trends, market-specific strategies, and practical tools to help UK companies integrate into international supply chains.

(Please note that these sessions are running in parallel.)

Our breakout sessions will cover topics including strategic markets, the role of digital technologies, supply chain resilience and more.

Breakout A: How to navigate the Local Business Environment in Strategic Markets

This interactive session will bring together experts in trade finance, law, advisory, and local support, alongside a UK SME, to unlock opportunities in some of the UK’s key trade markets.

Gain practical insights on regulations, financial tools, cultural nuances, and strategies to confidently expand internationally. 

Breakout B: Transforming Trade with Corridors, Markets, and Technology

Explore how emerging trade corridors across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, combined with digital technologies like blockchain and AI, are revolutionising global trade.

Highlights include insights on new trade routes, game-changing tech innovations, and strategies to optimise supply chains and expand market reach. Gain actionable strategies to harness the power of physical and digital trade networks.

Breakout C: Unlocking Global Supply Chain Opportunities for UK companies

Global supply chains are rapidly evolving, presenting UK businesses with significant opportunities in key markets.

This session will provide insights into emerging trends, market-specific strategies, and practical tools to help UK companies integrate into international supply chains.

(Please note that these sessions are running in parallel.)

It’s time for lunch! Join us for informal networking during this time and use the event App to connect.

Details to follow.

Join this session to hear presentations from representatives of strategic projects, highlighting investment and partnership opportunities in markets such as:

  • Hong Kong
  • Dubai
  • Slovenia
  • Morocco/Turkey
  • Kenya/Egypt

Identify and pursue trade opportunities across key regions, including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Africa, South and Southeast Asia, the Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean (LATAC). This panel will focus on high-growth sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and financial services to drive economic partnerships and innovation.

Panellists will discuss economic benefits, market challenges, and strategies to build partnerships and unlock growth potential.

Speakers include: 

  • HE Harjinder Kang – Trade Commissioner for South Asia
  • Rhiannon Harries – Deputy Trade Commissioner, Southeast Asia

HE Pedro Serrano

Chief of Staff to the European Union’s High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy and EC Vice President Josep Borrell Fontelles until October 2022, his previous roles include that of Deputy Secretary General for Common Security and Defence Policy and Crisis Response at the European External Action Service (EEAS) and Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy.

Pedro Serrano was also the first EU Ambassador to the United Nations, in New York, after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.

As the BCC Driving International Trade Conference 2025 ends, join us for an inspiring conclusion covering the key insights and takeaways from the day.

Thank you for joining us!

Theme: Trade as a Gateway to Global Peace and Prosperity.

Join our international reception as we welcome John Denton, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), to share a keynote speech focused on Trade as a Gateway to Global Peace and Prosperity.

HEADLINE PARTNERS
SUPPORTING PARTNERs

LOCATION

Our Global Annual Conference 2025 will take place at the QEII Centre, London.

BCC Partner With Us

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Baroness Poppy Gustafsson CBE
Minister for Investment

Baroness Gustafsson of Chesterton CBE was appointed Minister of State (Minister for Investment) jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury on 10 October 2024.

Prior to entering government, Baroness Gustafsson was part of the team who founded Darktrace in 2013 and brought its AI-powered cybersecurity solutions to market. Under her leadership, Darktrace experienced significant growth and global expansion leading to the company being listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2021, before being sold for over £4bn.

Baroness Gustafsson is a chartered accountant and was honoured with an OBE for services to cybersecurity in 2019. Baroness Gustafsson studied maths at the University of Sheffield and is married with 2 children.

John WH Denton AO
Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

John WH Denton AO is Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris. John was formerly Partner and CEO of Corrs Chambers Westgarth, the leading Australian independent law firm. 
 
John’s appointment to the ICC is the first time that an Australian has held such a position. John is a member of the Board of the global infrastructure investor – IFM Global Investors. He is a member of the Board of the UN Global Compact. He is Asia Pacific Chair of Veracity Worldwide Advisory Board.  
 
John is Co-Chair of the B20 “Financing Growth and Infrastructure” Taskforce, Chair (emeritus) of the Business Council of Australia’s Global Engagement Task Force; Chairman (emeritus) of the Experts Group on Trade and Investment in Indonesia;and a founding member of the Australia-China CEO Roundtable. 
 
John was a member of the Australian Government advisory panel overseeing the development of the ‘Australia in the Asian Century’ White Paper. He was on the Government’s Cabinet sub-committee for the White Paper review process published in October 2012 and later a member of the Strategic Advisory Board advising the Government on implementation and emerging policy issues. 
 
A former diplomat, John was a Panel Member of the Independent Review of Aid Effectiveness and was the founding Chairman of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees Australia for more than a decade. 
 
John has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Melbourne, and is a Harvard Business School Alumnus. 

Daisy Ip
Head of Investment Promotion and Talent Attraction, Invest Hong Kong

Ms Daisy Ip is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in driving economic growth and fostering international trade and investment relationships. Currently serving as the Head of Investment Promotion and Talent Attraction, InvestHK London, Daisy is at the forefront of driving investment and economic development in Hong Kong.

With nearly 13 years of dedicated service in the public sector, which began with a role in promoting trade for Hong Kong in the UK, Ireland, Nordics and Benelux, where she cultivated her expertise in international trade and investment dynamics.

Prior to her illustrious public sector career, Daisy honed her skills in the world of marketing and PR in both London and Hong Kong. This experience endowed her with a keen sense of market trends and the ability to create effective and strategic communications.

She brings a unique blend of public and private sector knowledge to her current role, where she champions economic development through investment promotion.

David Kelly
Executive Director, British Chamber of Commerce Singapore

David Kelly is the Executive Director of the British Chamber of Commerce Singapore responsible for the strategy, growth and profile of the Chamber, representing British business interests, and connecting companies to opportunities in Singapore and across ASEAN. David joined the British Chamber of Commerce (Singapore) in 2019, is a regional Co-Chair of Britain in South East Asia (BiSEA) promoting pan-ASEAN opportunities for UK companies, and is on the Board of the British Chambers of Commerce since January 2024. David has lived in Singapore since 2015.

Prior to his role at the Chamber, David worked at the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) where he spearheaded the development and execution of a completely reinvigorated global growth-marketing strategy. He also built the Asia Pacific regional expansion plan which fortified the Institute and supported rapid growth between 2012-2019, seeing the Institute double in size from 11,000 members to 23,000 with membership in Asia Pacific increasing from 19% to 40% of global subscribers. Alongside his role at the IMarEST, he was also the Chair of the UK’s Marine Industries Leadership Council (MILC) Image Working Group from 2014 – 2016 and was involved in a number of industry reports covering skills, education & training and automation in the shipping industry.

Before the IMarEST, David led and delivered the global turn-around marketing programmes for the International Wine & Spirit Competition Group which had brands in the UK, America and Asia after marketing B2B and B2C solutions, both online and offline, in the financial services industry.

Born in Manchester, UK, David is passionate about mentoring, life-long learning and supporting others and has been a mentor at Ngee Ann Polytechnic (Singapore) and the University of Hull for Business and Marketing students and between 2016 and 2020 was a committee member on the Singapore Institute of Technology’s Marine Programmes’ Industry Advisory Committee (IAC).

elisabeth bowes psm
Australian Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom

Elisabeth Bowes is a senior career officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently First Assistant Secretary and Chief Negotiator, Free Trade Agreements and Stakeholder Engagement Division . She has previously served overseas in postings to Washington and Geneva WTO. Prior to joining DFAT, Elisabeth Bowes was a legal officer in UN organisations in Geneva and Hamburg.

Elisabeth Bowes was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2021 for outstanding public service to international trade policy, particularly as Head of the Tobacco Plain Packaging Taskforce.

Ms Bowes graduated with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Queensland, and a Master of Philosophy in International Relations from the University of Oxford.

HE Harjinder Kang
Trade Commissioner for South Asia

Harjinder Kang is His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia and the British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India. He was appointed in May 2023. 

Prior to his appointment, Harjinder was the UK’s Chief Negotiator for the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA). In parallel, he served as the Director for Trade Policy in the areas of Intellectual Property, Government Procurement and Core Text. He has previously served in the Department for International Trade as Director for Healthcare, Life Sciences, and Bioeconomy. 

Before joining government, Harjinder had a career spanning nearly 30 years with AstraZeneca, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, joining as a Chemist and spending his early career in R&D helping to develop radiopharmaceuticals and new antibiotics. He ultimately served as the company’s Global Commercial Director, working to create and implement strategy for access to medicines for the ‘next billion’ people through creating affordable solutions for pharmaceuticals in some of the less developed parts of the world. 

He is a member of the Council of the University of Birmingham.

Katy Holmes
CEO, British Chamber of Commerce Dubai

Katy Holmes is the CEO of the British Chamber of Commerce Dubai and led its transition from the long-established British Business Group Dubai and Northern Emirates. Katy has a proven track record in international trade and a wealth of expertise working with financial institutions, government agencies, MNCs and SMEs. 

 Throughout Katy’s career, she has successfully developed valuable relationships and encouraged collaborations across borders, providing valuable guidance to businesses looking to expand their international reach and maximise their trade potential. 

In addition to her corporate achievements,  Katy is deeply committed to philanthropic initiatives, actively fund-raising, volunteering, and educational efforts that make a positive impact in the community. 

HE Miguel Berger
German Ambassador to the United Kingdom

Since May 2020, Miguel Berger is State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin.

One of his major stages since starting to work at the Foreign Ministry in 1990 was his position as Head of the representative office in the Palestinian Territories.

From 2010 to 2012 he was Deputy Head at the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations in New York and member of the United Nations Security Council in 2011 and 2012.

At the Federal Foreign Office, he was Head of the Parliamentary and Cabinet Council, Commissioner for Global Issues, External Energy and Climate Policy, Regional Commissioner for the Near and Middle East as well as the Maghreb and, before becoming State Secretary, held the position as Director General of Economic Affairs and Sustainable Development.

HE Osman Koray Ertaş
Turkish Ambassador to the United Kingdom

Ambassador O. Koray Ertaş serves as Turkish Ambassador to the UK since March 2023.

He previously served as the Turkish Ambassador to Romania (2014-2019), Special Advisor to the Foreign Minister (2019-2023), and Chief of Staff to the President (2011-2014).

Prior to that he worked at the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C. (2008-2011), Turkish Permanent Mission to the UN Office in Geneva (2003-2005), Turkish Embassy in Sofia (2000-2003), and the Policy Planning Department at the Turkish Foreign Ministry (1997-2000). Mr. Ertaş also worked at the U.S. State Department as a Transatlantic Fellow (2008-2009).

O. Koray Ertaş has a PhD degree from George Mason University’s School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution. He has an M.A. in Contemporary European Studies from University of Sussex and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Ankara University.

Ambassador Ertaş was born in Iskenderun, Türkiye, in 1974. He is married with three children.

HE Pedro Serrano
EU Ambassador to the United Kingdom

Chief of Staff to the European Union’s High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy and EC Vice President Josep Borrell Fontelles until October 2022, his previous roles include that of Deputy Secretary General for Common Security and Defence Policy and Crisis Response at the European External Action Service (EEAS) and Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy.

Pedro Serrano was also the first EU Ambassador to the United Nations, in New York, after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.

Born in Madrid, Spain, Pedro Serrano is married and has two daughters.

HE Rhiannon Harries
Deputy Trade Commissioner, Southeast Asia

Rhiannon joined the UK Civil Service in 2006 and is currently Deputy Trade Commissioner for Southeast Asia, responsible for the trade and investment relationship between the UK and ASEAN. She is based at the British High Commission in Singapore and leads a team of 90 staff across the region.  

Rhiannon’s previous positions have included Director for the Better Regulation Executive in DBT HQ and Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia, based at the British High Commission New Delhi. Her career has spanned several government departments on topics including business, energy, civil nuclear, policing and national security. 

Rhiannon grew up in Worcestershire and studied at University College, Oxford and the London School of Economics and Political Science.  She is married to Himanshu Pandey, an independent film maker.  

Tamara Zajec Balažič
Deputy Director of SPIRIT Slovenia Business Development Agency

Tamara Zajec Balažič is the Deputy Director of SPIRIT Slovenia Business Development Agency. She holds a master’s degree in social and economic sciences and has many years of experience in various international companies, both in managerial roles and as a strategic consultant. Prior to her current position, she worked for internationally recognised companies such as Kearney, Ernst & Young, Sava Insurance Group and RZB banking group, mainly focusing on strategy design, digitisation, compliance, transformation, and cost as well as process optimisation. 

In her work, she emphasises a forward-looking vision and collaborative effort, as she believes that teamwork is crucial for overcoming challenges and achieving success. 

HE Vikram Doraiswami
High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom

Vikram Doraiswami is India’s High Commissioner in the UK since September 2022.

He has spent over 30 years in the Indian Foreign Service, with foreign assignments in Hong Kong, Beijing, New York (at the Indian Mission to the UN), and Johannesburg in South Africa, where he was India’s Consul General.

He has had Ambassadorial assignments in Uzbekistan, and in the Republic of Korea, and as High Commissioner in Bangladesh.

In India, he has served in the Prime Minister’s Office, including as Private Secretary to the Indian PM (in the mid-2000s), and has headed Divisions dealing with SAARC, North America, Bangladesh& Myanmar, and had established a new Division for the Indo-Pacific in April 2019. His last assignment at headquarters was as Additional Secretary (international organisations).

He speaks Chinese, some Korean and some French.

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