The Future of Trade
Steering Committee
The Future of Trade is guided by a steering committee of globally recognised experts who shape its vision and define its strategic direction.
John Ferguson
Global head, Trade and Geopolitics, Future of Trade Initiative
John leads research on trade and geopolitics at Economist Enterprise, and heads the Future of Trade initiative. In this role, he spearheads and develops comprehensive studies on trade, geopolitics, finance and economics, with the mission of realising the shared benefits of an open and interconnected world. As the global economy is being transformed by the unprecedented convergence of shifting geopolitics, climate change, and an AI-driven industrial revolution, John’s research provides clients with crucial insights to navigate these structural shifts. His work is instrumental in guiding conversations towards global progress and helping clients adapt to an evolving economic landscape.
Abe Eshkenazi
Chief Executive Officer, Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM)
Abe Eshkenazi is chief executive officer at the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), the largest organisation for the supply chain and the global pace-setter for organisational transformation, talent development and supply-chain innovation. During his tenure, ASCM has significantly expanded its services to corporations, individuals and communities; its revenue has more than doubled; and three mergers were completed in response to heightened industry awareness and the vast and ongoing global impact of supply chains. Previously, Mr Eshkenazi was managing director of the Operations Consulting Group of American Express Tax and Business Services.
Dmitry Grozoubinski
Executive Director, ExplainTrade and the Geneva Trade Platform
Dmitry Grozoubinski is executive director of the consultancy ExplainTrade and the Geneva Trade Platform, a think-tank based in Switzerland, as well as the author of the book “Why Politicians Lie About Trade”. He previously served as an Australian trade negotiator and diplomat, and has trained thousands of negotiators, government officials, corporate officers and civil-society campaigners on trade policy and negotiation skills. A frequent commentator on trade and international relations, Mr Grozoubinski has been quoted in major publications including the New York Times, The Economist and Bloomberg.
Emily Lydgate
Professor of law, University of Sussex, Co-director, UK Trade Policy Observatory, Deputy Director, Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy
Emily Lydgate is professor of law at the University of Sussex, co-director of the UK Trade Policy Observatory and deputy director of the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy. She is also an associate fellow at Chatham House. She has been a specialist adviser to the UK House of Commons and an instructor for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Advanced Diplomatic Academy. Ms Lydgate has consulted at the United Nations Environment Programme's Economics and Trade Branch, and undertaken research for the UK Climate Change Committee, the EU Horizon 2020 programme and others on trade, sustainability and the low-carbon transition.
Marc Melitz
Professor of Political Economy, Harvard University
Marc Melitz is the David A. Wells professor of political economy at Harvard University. He is a fellow of the Econometric Society and is affiliated with the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), CESifo and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. His broad research interests are in international trade and investment. More specifically, he studies producer-level responses to globalisation and their implications for aggregate trade and investment patterns. His research has been funded by the Sloan Foundation and by the US National Science Foundation.
Stephen Olson
Visiting Senior Fellow, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute
Over the course of his more than 30-year career, Stephen Olson has lived and worked in Asia, the Middle East and the United States, holding senior executive positions in the private sector, government, research institutions and academia. He is a recognised expert on international trade, economic and business issues. He began his career in Washington, DC, as a US trade negotiator. Mr Olson is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Futures Council (GFC) on Trade, and co-leads a joint workstream with the WEF GFC on geopolitics. He is a visiting fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies – Yusof Ishak Institute. He is also a visiting lecturer at the Clayton Yeutter Institute of International Trade and Finance.