Ecuadorian by birth, married and with a daughter. He is an economist with training in foreign trade, has a master's degree in business management and a diploma in competitiveness as well as several training courses on public policies, trade and business. With extensive experience in the union sector, from where he has developed actions to improve the business environment, in particular for the Ecuadorian export sector.
He has also worked as consultant and advisor and has been a professor of macroeconomics at some universities.
Michele Lowe is the Senior Coordinator for Hemispheric and Bilateral negotiations at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat. She has overall responsibility for the technical co-ordination of CARICOM’s bilateral trade negotiations with third countries. She also has responsibility for the Secretariat’s WTO work programme on Trade Facilitation and MSMEs. In this capacity, she is responsible for monitoring, coordinating and supporting regional implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) by CARICOM Member States.
Frank has over 20 years of experience as a senior private sector development specialist with an extensive track record in strategy, programme delivery and management in fourteen countries in Africa and six in Asia. Frank has been the Chief Executive Officer of TradeMark East Africa since October 2010 and prior to this was a private sector adviser for DFID and Country Director for Care. Frank started his career in the financial sector, as an International Fund Manager and Investment Analyst in the UK. Over the years Frank has designed and overseen over 40 major innovative and successful programmes totalling over $1 billion in the fields of trade, financial sector development, privatisation, investment climate reform, market development and skills development. Frank holds two Masters degrees in Economics and Archaeology, and is an IMRO certified Fund Manager.
Dr. Kunio Mikuriya has been Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO) since 1 January 2009. He provides leadership and executive management for the global Customs community’s priorities, including developing global Customs instruments, standards and tools; securing and facilitating global trade; protecting taxable amounts through optimal revenue collection; building Customs-business partnerships; and delivering capacity building in support of Customs reform and modernization.
Prior to joining the WCO, he worked for Japan's Ministry of Finance for 25 years. During his career with the Ministry, Dr. Mikuriya occupied a variety of senior posts, which have given him broad experience and knowledge in Customs, trade, development, budget, and financial policies. He served as Director of Enforcement where he led efforts to fight illicit trade, then as Director of Research and International Affairs, paving the way for the conclusion of Japan’s first regional trade agreement, and then as a Counsellor in the Tariff and Customs Bureau. He also served as Director of Salaries and Allowances to coordinate remuneration levels for the entire government workforce, and as the Budget Controller for Foreign Affairs, Official Aid, International Trade and Industry, in the Budget Bureau. In addition, he spent time as a Counsellor at the Japanese Mission to the WTO in Geneva and participated in the GATT Uruguay Round trade negotiations.
Dr. Mikuriya has a degree in law from the University of Tokyo (Japan) and a PhD in international relations from the University of Kent (United Kingdom).
Associée Gérante ACF et Vice-présidente nationale de la FEC en charge des femmes et jeunes Entrepreneurs Expert Comptable Agréée et Commissaire aux Comptes, Éliane est diplômée en études commerciales administratives, en comptabilité et en gestion financière. En 1992, elle crée le cabinet conseil ACF Sarl, dont elle est associée gérante. Impliquée pour la cause des femmes entrepreneures, Éliane est Formatrice Principale du programme ACCES!
Elle est également élue Vice-présidente nationale de la FEC en charge des femmes et des jeunes entrepreneurs
Jane Musyoki is the Officer in charge of Trade Information Portal and Value Add Services at Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade); the organization mandated to facilitate cross border trade and establish, manage and implement the National Electronic Single Window System in Kenya. She has progressive experience in International Trade for Eight years.
Jane holds a Masters degree in Business Administration (Strategic Management) from the University of Nairobi and is a communication graduate from the same University. She has a post graduate diploma in Information and Technology, Certificate in Trade Law & Policy and is also a Master trainer in Trade facilitation Agreement in East Africa Community Bloc. She is a PRINCE2 Practictioner in certification in managing successful projects as well as a TRALAC Alumni.
Mr. O’Hearn serves as the Deputy Director of the Compliance and Facilitation Directorate in charge of the Procedures and Facilitation Sub-Directorate at the World Customs Organization (WCO) where he directs the development, implementation and maintenance of international treaties, conventions, standards, guidelines and other trade facilitation and Customs procedure tools. He oversees a large staff and the preparation and execution of more than 20 Member driven committees, sub-committees and working groups, which includes the preparation of meeting agendas, documents and reports. Mr. O’Hearn also provides counsel to the Director, Deputy Secretary General and Secretary General on matters relating to the Sub-Directorate.
From July 2013 to November 2019, Mr. O’Hearn served as both the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Attaché and Department of Homeland Security Attaché in Tokyo, Japan. In these positions, he managed a broad range Homeland Security, Customs and Immigration issues. He was also responsible for providing advice and counsel to U.S. Ambassadors to Japan Caroline Kennedy and William Hagerty, as well as numerous Japanese lawmakers, on Homeland Security issues.
Mr. O’Hearn started his public service career with the U.S. Customs Service in 1995 as an Import Specialist at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
Christopher O’Toole has worked in the trade policy field for twenty-five years. He has been Canada’s co-lead or lead negotiator for various chapters in the CETA, the CPTPP and the CUSMA negotiations. Mr. O’Toole is on his second assignment to Canada’s WTO Mission in Geneva where he is responsible for goods market access issues and is the current Chairperson of the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Committee.