Aodhán Connolly

Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium

Aodhán Connolly is the director of the NI Retail Consortium, responsible for engagement with the NI Assembly, Westminster and Europe.  He has been to the fore of the Brexit debate with the NIRC’s Fair Deal for Consumers Brexit campaign. He has worked with government at all levels to champion 21st Century High streets including on planning reform, regeneration and future strategy. He is part of the UKG Joint Consultative Committee on Customs for Northern Ireland and the UKG NI Business Engagement Forum. He was part of the Government’s DExEU Alternative Arrangements Working Group, and is a panel member for the NI Food Certification Committee and Convenor of the Northern Ireland Business Brexit group.

Frank Dunsmuir

Head of Customs & International Trade Practice – Fujitsu

Frank leads Fujitsu’s International Trade and Customs practice. He advises 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 has acquired a detail understanding of the complex implications of the Northern Ireland Protocols and the potential role of technology may play in addressing some of these challenges.

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. 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.

Kevin Shakespeare

Director of Stakeholder Engagement - The Institute of Export & International Trade

Kevin manages the Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy specialist and customs training resources. he has developed educational and training programmes including the Diploma in World Customs Planning and Compliance. He has worked with Invest NI, Scottish Enterprise, UK Export Finance, Saudi Export Development Authority and others. He has delivered training and consultancy for overseas commercial and government organisations eg in Saudi Arabia and Ghana. Kevin is also an approved United Nations international trade trainer, a university lecturer, author of the book Trade for Good, and a Dean of the UK Customs Academy 

Shanker Singham

Chief Executive Officer - Competere

Shanker is Chief Executive Officer of Competere. He is Chairman of GENN, Chairman of Global Vision and an academic fellow to the IEA. Shanker has recently be appointed to the Trade and Agriculture Commission. He sits on the Wilton Park Advisory Committee and is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and Bretton Woods Committee. Shanker was an advisor to the US Trade Representative and to the UK Trade Secretary on international trade issues and is a non-Government Adviser to the International Competition Network. He is one of the world’s leading international trade, and competition experts and a regular commentator on TV, radio and in newspapers. Shanker has chaired the market access/WTO practices of two global law firms. He has authored over 100 articles and book chapters, as well as the leading textbook on the interface between trade, competition and regulatory issues.