Conference speakers
Session 1: Keynote
Paymaster General - The Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP
Michael Ellis was appointed Paymaster General on 16 September 2021.
He was Solicitor General from 26 July 2019 to 2 March 2021, and re-appointed to that role from 10 September 2021 to 15 September 2021. He was Attorney General from 2 March 2021 to 10 September 2021 while Suella Braverman was designated as a Minister on Leave.
He was previously Minister of State at the Department for Transport from 23 May 2019 to 25 July 2019. He was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from January 2018 to May 2019. He was Deputy Leader of the House of Commons from 17 July 2016 to 8 January 2018. He was elected Conservative MP for Northampton North in May 2010.
Session 2: Customs formalities
Alex Veitch, General Manager - Public Policy, Logistics UK
Alex is responsible for Logistics UK policy positions, advocacy and influencing campaigns across all policy areas, leading our team of policy specialists. Alex has worked at Logistics UK since 2015 and was Head of Multimodal and previously Head of Global Policy, a role that included a one-year secondment to HMRC Customs EU Exit team.
Alex has a varied background across the transport and sustainability sectors, including developing low-carbon vehicle policies and programmes for the Energy Saving Trust; leading the sustainability unit for the global association of railways in Paris (UIC), delivering multimodal passenger transport projects for passenger rail companies and leading EU policy engagement for the Rail Delivery Group.
In addition to his role at Logistics UK, Alex is Vice Chair of Living Streets, the national charity for everyday walking, and is a Chartered Member of CILT and IEMA.
Andrew Cawthorn , HMRC GB Haulier & Carrier Readiness Lead
Joined HMRC in 2002 as a Tax Credits Manager. Spent several years working in CDIO as a Business Analyst before moving into the project delivery space
Over 10 years project experience working on many high profile projects within policy driven change prior to moving onto day one no deal and subsequently end of staged customs control work.
Paul Earnshaw, HMRC GB Haulier Readiness Squad
Joined HMRC in 1999 – initially working in Tax Credits and Taxes.
10 years experience working in major government projects/programme (Universal Credit, Making Tax Digital, Border Systems Programme)
Session 3: Trade between GB and NI
Seamus Leheny, Policy Manager - Northern Ireland, Logistics UK
Seamus is Policy Manager for Northern Ireland. Seamus specialises in Northern Ireland Policy including infrastructure, compliance, Brexit, road safety and skills.
His role also involves keeping members advised of legislative and best practice matters likely to affect the industry both in Great Britain and specifically in Northern Ireland.
Prior to working at Logistics UK Seamus worked in the shipping industry representing European and Deep Sea shipping lines at Belfast Port.
Stephen McAneney, Managing Director of Allied Fleet Services
Having 10 years experience in the transport and logistics sector Stephen founded Allied Fleet Services to provide consultancy and procurement services for the haulage sector. The business quickly developed a reputation of delivering cost saving for its customers throughout Ireland and with Brexit looming and customs formalties being required the businesses built a team of customs agents to provide customs services to ensure hauliers kept the fleet moving. The business has since developed an industry leading customs service for customers throughout UK & Europe with a proven record of delivering an in-house service for import, exports and transit declarations. Stephen has been at the forefront in providing advice and giving input into key government bodies and stakeholders
Elly Paterson, Northern Ireland Stakeholder Engagement Lead at HM Revenue & Customs
Elly Paterson leads the Northern Ireland Stakeholder Engagement Team in HMRC. The team works with external stakeholders on all aspects of the Northern Ireland Protocol, but with a focus on the customs requirements. She joined HMRC in 2004 and has worked across a number of roles including customs policy, international tax compliance and various compliance functions in direct taxes and VAT.
Shanker Singham, Chief Executive Officer - Competere, Digital Trader Services Consortium member and an academic fellow to the IEA.
Shanker sits on the Wilton Park Advisory Council and is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and Bretton Woods Committee. Shanker was an advisor to the US Trade Representative on SPS and TBT issues, and to the UK Trade Secretary on international trade issues.
He is a non-Government Adviser to the International Competition Network. He is one of the world’s leading international trade and competition experts and advises governments and companies on trade, customs, competition and regulatory issues. and is a regular commentator on TV, radio and in newspapers. Shanker has chaired the market access/WTO practices of two global law firms. He has advised parliamentarians and government ministers on the overall approach to UK trade policy including the Brexit negotiations. He is also the Policy Lead of the Trader Support Service Consortium, which is delivering on behalf of HMG the implementation of the NI Protocol.
He has authored over 100 articles and book chapters, as well as the leading textbook on the interface between trade, competition and regulatory issues.
Session 4: Agri-food products and SPS formalities
Sarah Laouadi, Manager - European & International Policy, Logistics UK
As Logistics UK's European & International Policy Manager, Sarah plays an instrumental role in representing Logistics UK members’ interests in relation to European legislation affecting the transport and logistics industry. She also supports Logistics UK Brexit campaigns, leading on aspects impacting road operators. Acting as a contact point with European decision-makers and sister associations in other countries, she is responsible for informing Logistics UK members – in particular European road freight operators – of regulatory changes affecting their operations in Europe.
Prior to this role, Sarah worked as a European Policy Advisor at SNCF, focusing on the multimodal activities of the group, including its logistics subsidiary.
Jack Stacey, Senior External Engagement & Communications Manager, DEFRA
Jack Stacey is Senior External Engagement & Communications Manager in Defra’s Biosecurity, Borders & Trade Programme.His role is to engage with all manner of EU member state and industry stakeholders, and to keep them informed about the latest developments.
Ghazal Tipu, Senior Engagement & Communications Manager, DEFRA
Ghazal is Senior Engagement and Communications Manager for the Biosecurity, Borders and Trade programme at Defra. The programme engages with businesses, organisations, industry bodies and government partners across the SPS supply chain, supporting preparation and readiness for the implementation of new import controls on SPS goods.
Session 5: Readiness - a broader perspective on all supply chain players
Frank Dunsmuir, Head of Customs and International Trade, Digital Trader Services and Fujitsu
Frank leads Fujitsu’s International Trade and Customs practice, advising on the applications of technology in a UK future border strategy and solutions to the more immediate EU exit challenges. As the lead technology advisor to the Alternative Arrangements Commission, he gained in-depth knowledge of the complex implications on Northern Ireland trade and how technology may support addressing these.
He is a Non-Executive Director of IBMATA (International Border Management And Technologies Association) a not for profit organisation (NGO) committed to the safe and secure movement of people and goods across international borders. Working with the Technical University of Munich he is developing technology strategies which support economic growth in developing regions through the use of Special Economic Zones. Frank has published several points of view on the Future Border and provided the technical content for a response to the Chancellors Freeport Consultation document.
Louis Hinzen, Senior Manager Economic Affairs at FoodDrinkEurope
Louis Hinzen is Senior Manager for Economic Affairs at FoodDrinkEurope, the organisation of Europe’s food and drink industry.
He joined FoodDrinkEurope in 2013 and is responsible for the monitoring and analysis of trade policies, bilateral and multilateral negotiations and agreements, market access issues, and represents European food and drink industry interests towards the EU institutions and other stakeholders.
He coordinates the work of FoodDrinkEurope’s Trade Expert group and is in charge of the publication of a quarterly economic and trade bulletin. Mr Hinzen holds a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany, and a Master’s degree in Development Economics from the University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.
Olivier Thouard, Customs and Fiscal Representation Director for GEFCO Group.
After 10 years working for ELIS group (industrial laundry), Olivier joined GEFCO in January 2006.
After 6 years in the Reusable Packaging business, he joined GEFCO Customs & Tax Corporate in January 2012 as head of Customs and Tax Engineering before joining GEFCO France in July 2016 as head of country customs activity.
In May 2018, Olivier took over the position of Customs and Fiscal Representation Director for GEFCO Group.
Participating to meetings and groups for Logistics Industry:
Since November 2017, Olivier is chair of TLF*/TLF OVS** Brexit working group.
In February 2020, Olivier has been elected vice-chair of Customs and Indirect Taxation Institute (CITI) of CLECAT in Brussels.
Olivier is part of EU/UK Logistics & Transport Associations Group and Co-chair of British Intermediaries Task Force Group (ITFG)
*TLF : Transport et logistique de France
**TLF Overseas includes Air & Sea transport + customs
Session 6: Beyond EU Exit - what's happening in the world of international haulage?
Sarah Laouadi, Manager - European & International Policy, Logistics UK
Alex Veitch, General Manager - Public Policy, Logistics UK
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