SIITACE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• CEO and Director of Diamond Hard Surfaces Ltd

Chris is CEO and Director of Diamond Hard Surfaces Ltd, a high growth SME in the Advanced Engineering Sector producing innovative patented coating materials. The business was established in 2005 and currently exports 60-80 % of its turnover to 22 countries worldwide. Chris is an entrepreneur, Chartered Marketer and Engineer who has specialised knowledge in establishing relationships between blue chip companies and early-stage technology businesses to exploit new innovations, and markets. He has a broad knowledge of general management in an international environment. He is also Chair of FSB's (Federation of Small Businesses) International Trade Policy Unit working to forge new policies to encourage and promote International Trade.

Keith Stringer MIEx is co-founder and a director at ITSG World Ltd and owner of kps Businesshelpline. As an experienced and established International Trade Adviser, he specialises in export sales development, export planning and strategy, and international marketing including organising and attending overseas trade exhibitions. Using a "hands-on" approach, Keith works with new and existing exporters to establish how they can increase sales profitably and establish long-lasting relationships with overseas partners. During an international trade career spanning over thirty years, Keith has successfully identified and recruited agents and distributors in Europe, North America and Asia. Having travelled to many parts of the world, he has also negotiated at senior level with major department stores and high-quality retailers in Belgium, Spain, USA, China, Japan, France, Germany, South Korea, Hong Kong and many more. Keith has been able to establish close working relationships with UK embassies and government overseas offices including those in Japan, USA and Scandinavia.

Lesley BatchelorOBE is a champion of UK exporters, with a powerful track record in enhancing the export performance of over 1000 SME businesses. From 11 years in a blue-chip background, Lesley went on to set up her own consultancy that has supported and grown over 1000 SMEs into new markets. She worked as director-general of the Institute of Export (IOE), an education foundation providing qualifications, turning it around from a failing charity to over £2m.

Job Titles:

• Managing Director of International Trade Matters

Linda Middleton-Jones is Managing Director of International Trade Matters, a company based in Devon. She has a degree in Law - LLB(Hons) gained from the University of Plymouth and Universidad de Barcelona and certificates from CMI and MIT on Leadership. She is a graduate member of the Institute of Export; is an NLP Practitioner and Coach and, holds qualifications from mBIT and Transactional Analysis. Her company, International Trade Matters Ltd, offers international trade consultancy across sectors, geographies and disciplines. They are a leading independent consultancy for International Trade offering expert advice and support to companies engaged, or interested in, overseas connections or business. With a raft of qualified and experienced specialists, they offer advice on new markets, regulatory compliance and international marketing strategies. Her company delivers British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) accredited International Trade training through several Chambers of Commerce, working closely with International Lawyers on specific international projects.

Job Titles:

• CEO of Go Exporting
• Expert in Expert Readiness Assessments

Mike is CEO of Go Exporting, a specialist export consultancy that supports clients with their international expansion projects. They specialise in helping businesses to profitably expand into export markets with a range of flexible services to meet their specific requirements. Over his career, Mike has worked in Start-Ups, SMEs and multinational corporations. For example, prior to establishing Go Exporting, he spent 7 years as Executive Director of Sales & Marketing in EMEA for a US-based multinational with sales in excess of $800m. As such Mike has a wealth of knowledge and experience of worldwide markets, in varied industries and with contacts on every continent. Throughout his whole career, Mike has been involved in international business, generating over $2b in export sales to date. Developing and implementing strategies, building teams and distribution networks to open new markets. Taking one company to £28m turnover in the space of four years. Mike is a recognised expert in Expert Readiness Assessments, including work for The International Labour Organisation and Jordan Chamber of Industry with refugee owned SMEs.

Paul Walters has over forty years' experience in international trade covering, logistics, supply chain and manufacturing. In 2014 he set up Lime Tree consultancy to act as international trade advisers to small and medium-size companies by tailoring support packages to suit their particular needs. Lime Tree's flexibility can range from a fixed project basis or simply by the hour, day or half day support on an ad-hoc basis. Paul and his team pride themselves in being approachable and are always happy to have an informal chat if you need help with any part of your exporting or to consider your options. Having studied Supply Chain Management with Institute of Supply Chain Management and International Trade with the Institute of Export he became an Department for International Trade ‘Export Champion' in 2018.