Global Brunch – Selling Without Shipping: The Rise of Service Exports

Avalon Adjei Maison

Business Growth Advisor, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

Avalon is a dedicated Business Growth Advisor with a focus on helping SMEs grow and expand into international markets, particularly within the EU Single market. With a deep understanding of cross-border trade and the challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses, Avalon provides strategic guidance to unlock international opportunities and drive sustainable growth.

Through tailored support and hands-on advice, Avalon empowers entrepreneurs to navigate complex markets and build resilient global strategies. 

His passion lies in making international trade more accessible, helping UK exporters thrive beyond borders.

Elisabeth Lewis-Jones

CEO, Liquid

Lis founded Liquid in 2004 in a room above her mother’s garage with a phone, a laptop, a toddler, a 5-month-old baby and no clients. Today the company is 21 years old and works across 26 jurisdictions and 20 time zones. With its HQ in Birmingham, UK and offices in Brisbane and Melbourne, Australia, Liquid is an integrated communications agency working across marketing, PR, social, digital, performance marketing, design and content creation.

Liquid was named the ‘Best Agency outside of London’ by PR Week in 2021, won the ‘Best global consultancy of the year’ in the PRCA Platinum Awards in 2022 and was named ‘Midlands Marketing Agency’ of the year in 2023. In 2024 it won PRCA APAC Gold Country Award for its work in Australia.

Lis has played a significant part in shaping the communications landscape in the UK through her involvement in the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) of which she was national president in 2008, chairman of the PRCA Council in 2011/12 and from 2013 was a member of the PRCA Board of Management for 10 years.

She hosted the 5th Global Alliance World Public Relations Conference and Festival in London and has spoken at PR conferences in Argentina, Bahrain, Nigeria and South Africa.

Lis was Chair of Governors of Bloxham School in Oxfordshire for 5 years and a Governor for 15 years, a member of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Transatlantic Committee and for 2024/5 a Midlands Export Champion for the UK Department of Business & Trade.

Lis has been a mentor to the Government Communications Service and has undertaken two capability reviews for the Cabinet Office. In October 2023 she received Freedom of the City of London and in July 2024, she received Fellowship of the PRCA for her contribution to the global PR industry.

In February 2025 she was named Business Woman of the Year at the Signature Awards and in June 2025 was named in the 40 over 40 Women in PR Power List.