Chamber members represent region during International Trade Week

Representatives from the Chamber’s international divisions were out in force representing the region at the House of Lords during the Department for Business and Trade’s International Trade Week.

A selection of patrons and committee members from the Greater Birmingham Global and Transatlantic Chambers of Commerce attended the launch of the British Chambers of Commerce’s trade manifesto.

The event was opened by the BCC’s director general Shevaun Haviland and guest speakers included Minister for the Department for Business and Trade Nigel Huddleston and Shadow Minister for Exports Afzal Khan.

The Greater Birmingham Chambers delegation – led by international director Mandy Haque and international partnerships manager Sian Timmins – included:

• Deb Leary, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce president and CEO of Global Chamber patron Forensic Pathways
• Mark Smith, Global Chamber president and executive director of business engagement at Aston University
• Shaun Gray, European managing director of Global patron Ginho Group and president of Burton & District Chamber of Commerce
• Jack Keeling, US recruitment specialist at Transatlantic Chamber patron Beyond the Book
• Peter Edwards of Transatlantic Chamber patron Kammac
• Andy Dawson, co-founder and director of Curium Solutions, the GBCC patron with bases in Birmingham, Washington DC and Florida
• Warwick Wakefield, director of Customer Experience at Transatlantic Chamber patron Flexeserve
• Declan Cushley, head of London Office of law firm Browne Jacobson
• Janie Frampton, vice president of the Global Chamber and CEO of Sports Officials Consultancy

The group then visited the US Embassy in London, where members of the delegation who have US connections were able to discuss business challenges, objectives and activities with commercial counsellor Brenda VanHorn.

Mandy Haque said: “It was great for so many of our patrons, committee members and member businesses to represent the region at an event which featured so many senior leaders and decision-makers.

“Those with US connections were also able to hold productive talks during our visit to the US Embassy.

“The Select USA summit was heavily discussed, with several businesses interested in attending next June.

“Flexeserve’s Warwick Wakefield also talked about the excellent support they have received through the US Embassy’s Select USA team, including how they really helped propel their objectives to grow in the USA and establish their Texas base.”