UK Trade Strategy Roundtable with Amanda Brooks, Director General, Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations (TPIN)
With Nick Baird, Chair, Trade Remedies Authority. This roundtable will discuss the developments around UK trade strategy and how it aligns with industrial and investment strategies looking at the wider growth mission. It is intended specifically for Director of Government Affairs roles or equivalent; attendance is by invitation.
Please note attendee numbers at roundtables are strictly limited to ensure everyone is able to contribute to the conversation. Invitees are carefully selected in line with WIG's charitable purpose, to bring a range of views and perspectives. If you or a colleague would like to be considered for future roundtables in this series, then please do email us at [email protected].
The discussion will focus on the evolving UK trade strategy, how it can support further economic growth and where sectors need to work together to leverage prospects.
In this roundtable with Amanda and Nick we will discuss the current strategic priorities for 2025, focusing on:
- Discussing the interconnecting of industrial, trade and investment strategies and how this will help build a competitive economy, fuelling the nation’s growth mission
- Hearing how differing sectors can align with the trade strategy and investment opportunities to boost innovation and sustainability
- Understanding how the UK is adapting to the global trade environment, from new trade agreements, and ongoing negotiations to free trade agreements
Speakers
Amanda Brooks became Director General for Trade Negotiations at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in February 2023. From 1 June 2021 she was Director General for Trade Negotiations at the Department for International Trade (DIT). She joined DIT in August 2016.
Amanda’s previous responsibilities include:
- leading the US negotiations
- bilateral trade relationships
- multilateral fora on:
- trade
- trade remedies and disputes
- export controls
She is the cross-government senior responsible owner (SRO) for policy learning and skills and head of the DBT Policy Profession.
Prior to joining DIT, Amanda spent much of her career in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). She worked on domestic and international economic policy.
Amanda has also served overseas as the Deputy High Commissioner and Director of Trade and Investment in Singapore.
Nick Baird was appointed as Chair of the Trade Remedies Authority in January 2024. He is a business leader and former diplomat who has been involved in international trade for many years.
Nick spent 30 years in Government until 2013, mostly in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He was Chief Executive of UK Trade and Investment (which formerly carried out some of the functions of the Department for Business and Trade), FCO Europe and Economic Director General and UK Ambassador to Turkey. Before that, he was Immigration Policy Director in the Home Office, and had postings to the UK Representation to the EU in Brussels as well as in the Middle East.
In 2014, Nick moved to the private sector where he spent 8 years at the international energy company, Centrica (owner of British Gas). He has also been a Non-Executive Director of Nord Anglia Education, which runs premium independent schools around the globe. Since 2022, he has been a consultant on policy and communications issues.
He is also Chair of the charity, Carers UK.
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Event places are non-transferable, but colleagues are welcome to register via our website or email us at [email protected].
