Marzia Fontana is currently a Research Associate at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex.
Marzia is a feminist economist with over 25 years of research and teaching experience in the areas of intersecting inequalities, labour markets and international trade. She has published numerous articles and book chapters on these topics. Marzia has collaborated with a wide range of international organizations and bilateral agencies on trade-related projects, with a special focus on inclusive trade and gender equality.
She has a PhD in Economics and an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Sussex.
Michelle Victoria Forbes, a Disaster Risk Management specialist with over twenty (20) years of experience, has an extensive background in disaster risk management planning, community-based disaster management, and emergency operations.
Joining the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) in 2004, she currently serves as Director. She has managed responses to several hazards impact including La Soufriere volcanic eruption in 2021, Hurricane Elsa 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Tomas 2010, April 2011 Floods, Christmas Eve Floods of 2013, and the November 2016 Floods.
A Fulbright Scholar, Ms. Forbes holds a Master's in Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management from Georgia State University, Atlanta.
The area of Public Policy governing disaster risk management is one of Ms. Forbes's focus, and she says that public policies must adapt to the changing environment and seek to build resilience at all levels - the community, national and regional levels.
Lorenzo Formenti is a consultant helping policymakers and businesses tackle sustainability challenges in supply chains.
An economist by training, he has worked on enterprise-focused sustainability and trade initiatives in more than 10 countries with organizations such as the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). At UN Trade and Development, he conducts economic research to support trade-related climate policies in developing countries.
He recently led two global studies on trade in plastic substitutes and a series of policy briefs on the trade implications of the circular economy. Previously, he managed Mondi Group’s supplier sustainability program, promoting responsible sourcing in the packaging sector. Lorenzo holds a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Pavia.
Piergiuseppe Fortunato is an economist at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) where he leads projects on structural transformation, Global Value Chains and economic integration.
He has worked in the offices of the United Nations both in New York and in Geneva as well as for various universities and research institutes (University of Bologna, Universitè de Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, IAE Barcelona, etc.).
He has published widely in leading academic journals, as The Economic Journal and The Journal of Economic Growth and contributes regularly with several media outlets.
He collaborated with governments of several countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America and is an active part of the dialogue on global governance in various international fora.
Eleanor M. Fox is a professor of law and is the Walter J. Derenberg Professor of Trade Regulation at New York University School of Law. She teaches, writes, lectures and advises on antitrust law, competition policy and globalization, and has a special interest in developing countries and the interrelationship between equality and efficiency.
Eleanor was a partner at the New York law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. She served as a member of the International Competition Policy Advisory Committee to the Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice (1997-2000) (President Clinton) and as a Commissioner on President Carter’s National Commission for the Review of Antitrust Laws and Procedures (1978-79). She has advised numerous younger antitrust jurisdictions including South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, The Gambia, Indonesia, Russia, Poland and Hungary and the common market COMESA.
Eleanor received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Paris-Dauphine (2009). She was awarded an inaugural Lifetime Achievement award in 2011 by the Global Competition Review for "substantial, lasting and transformational impact on competition policy and/or practice" and lifetime, inaugural or other achievement awards from ASCOLA, AALS Antitrust Section, New York State Bar Antitrust Association, and the American Antitrust Institute.
With Mor Bakhoum, she wrote MAKING MARKETS WORK FOR AFRICA (Oxford 2019). Her other books include US and EU competition casebooks (with Dan Crane and Damien Gerard, respectively), GLOBAL ISSUES IN ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION LAW with Dan Crane, and readings on developing countries and competition with Abel Mateus.
Ambassador Philip Fox D Gough is currently Secretary of Economic and Financial Affairs of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs., a position he has held since May 2025.
Previously , he held the positions of Director of the Department of Economic Policy, Finance and Trade in Services (2023–2025) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Head of the Division for Market Access Negotiations (2007–2009), Director of the Department of Trade Negotiations (2022–2023), Director of the United States Department (2021–2022), Head of the Division of Economic and Trade Issues of Mercosur (2014–2016), and Head of the Division for Argentina and Uruguay (2013–2014)
In foreign postings, he served as Head of the Trade Policy Section at the Embassy of Brazil in the United States (2009–2010), Head of the Trade Promotion Section at the same Embassy (2010–2012), and as Minister-Counselor at the Brazilian Mission to the United Nations in New York (2016–2021). He also served at the Brazilian Mission to the World Trade Organization in Geneva (2000–2003) and at the Embassy of Brazil in Asunción, Paraguay (2003–2006)
Ambassador Fox-Drummond Gough holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in Economics from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and joined the Brazilian Foreign Service in 1994.
Julian Fraga-Campos, works at the United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD) as Economic Affairs Officer within the Trade Facilitation Section. His work focuses on actively supporting the implementation of Trade Facilitation initiatives, especially the strengthening of National Trade Facilitation Committees, as well as the development and implementation of Trade Information Portals in Africa and the Pacific Region. Previously, he worked at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in its Trade Facilitation Team, conducting research and coordinating several Trade Facilitation initiatives.
Julian also has experience working in the private sector, where he acquired international experience in logistics, production systems, managing projects and staff, and engaging with diverse stakeholders. He has a background in agribusiness, holds a Master's in Marketing Management and Distribution Channels from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and a B.Sc. in Agronomy from the Mayor University of Chile.
Patricia R. Francis is currently a non-resident Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Council, Chair of the Government of Jamaica's Trade Facilitation Task Force and sits on the Boards of Jamaica Producers Group, Portland JSX, Whiteshield Partners of Public Policy and Strategy, several family-owned companies, and the Advisory Board of IESE Graduate Business School.
She is a global leader in trade and development and the former Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (2006-2013), as well as the former President of JAMPRO (1995-2006).
In 2016 she headed the UN Secretary General's High-Level Panel on Women's Economic Empowerment and between 2018-2020 she was Special Advisor to the Executive Director of UN Women.
Patricia has also been a member of the UK House of Lords All Parliamentary Group and a member of the Eminent Persons Group.