2026 Judges

A qualified and accredited customs professional, Anna is a leading international trade and customs specialist and commentator, having worked as a practitioner before joining the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade in April 2023.   She represents the Chartered Institute at industry and government forums, while advising public and private sector clients on trade compliance and customs facilitations.  A regular speaker at UK and European events and at government working groups, Anna is industry chair of HMRC’s Joint Customs Consultative Committee, its forum for consulting with key trade stakeholders on customs procedures and regulations. She also represents the Chartered Institute at the EU – UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement Domestic Advisory Group and the UK CBAM Joint Industry Working Group.   With expertise in interpreting UK and EU regulations and their impact on business, Anna’s current focus is on the changes within the customs landscape including the UK’s Border Target Operating Model, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the EU Customs Reform and the evolving situation around the US tariffs and their impact on international trade.  Before joining the Chartered Institute, Anna was customs lead at a major UK manufacturing retailer, developing its customs compliance policy and processes for post-Brexit trading.   

Damian Brett is editor of Air Cargo News and has been writing about the freight and logistics industry since 2007. He began covering the industry as shipping reporter at UK title International Freighting Weekly where he was later promoted to the role of chief reporter. After a stint in PR, he went onto to work for Containerisation International, where he became editor, and Lloyd’s List, where he was editor of container shipping. Damian joined Air Cargo News in 2015 as news editor and in 2019 was promoted to editor.

Ian has enjoyed a 35-year career in communications within the freight transport industry, starting as a member of the editorial team at Dredging & Port Construction Magazine; then IFW; before moving into PR with ABP.  He set up Impress Communications in 1994; and currently provides consultancy services to the British International Freight Association, Davies Turner and the U-Freight Group. In 2007, he launched Heavy Lift & Project Forwarding magazine, before selling the business in 2019. Married with three grown up daughters, he supports Coventry City;  holds a season ticket at Selhurst Park; and a membership of Surrey County Cricket Club.

Murray Gibson operates an independent consultancy, specialising in ports, logistics and supply chains. He comes from a technology R&D background with BT, joining Hutchison Ports (UK) at Felixstowe in 1986 where over 28 years he held several senior management posts in both an operational and commercial capacity, latterly as Head of Sales & Marketing for the UK Group. Murray left the company in 2014 to concentrate on running his own business, designing the solutions architecture and managing several supply chain projects for a diverse range of clients across the country. On a professional level, Murray is a member of several UK trade and industry bodies. He is a regular speaker and panel moderator at both National and International Conference levels.

Peter Livey FCILT MCIEx is currently Managing Director (Great Britain) at “HMM (Europe) Ltd.” and ‘Global Sustainability Ambassador’ for HMM. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, and a member of The Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade also with more than 30 years of experience in global to local logistics solutions, he has a deep knowledge of liner shipping, international logistics, global supply chains and sustainable business practices. Since 2009 Peter has also represented HMM in a variety of sustainability initiatives such as the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC), but most notably ‘Clean Cargo’, a global initiative which enables B2B collaboration dedicated to integrating environmentally and socially responsible business principles into the maritime supply chain. Peter speaks internationally at various conferences and debate panels, especially on shipping and the environment. Rev. Peter is also an ordained CofE priest, serving as a ‘Self Supporting Minister’ at Christ Church in Felixstowe (UK).

Phil Roe joined Logistics UK as President in April 2022 after five years as a non-executive director. Prior to joining he was a board director at DHL Supply Chain which was the culmination of his 35-year career with DHL and XPO. He is also a non-executive director and trustee at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. Roe has substantial experience of supply chain leadership across multiple customers, sectors and geographies, with 35 years’ experience in a variety of senior leadership roles within operations and functional areas. These include Managing Director, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Customer Officer and Strategy Director.

Richard Ballantyne joined the British Ports Association in 2007 and became the Chief Executive in 2016. Richard has in-depth expertise in ports, transport, trade and environmental policy matters as well as a wide experience of the legislative process around the UK. He is a Director both of Maritime UK and the Scottish Maritime Cluster, a Trustee of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board charity and was previously a Director of Port Skills and Safety Ltd. Before joining the BPA Richard spent five years at a Westminster political consultancy and was previously an MP’s researcher in the House of Commons. Richard was also awarded an OBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours for his services to the maritime sector.