Academic faculty

With a strong background in business, trade and customs, Kevin leads the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade’s trade digitalisation agenda – liaising with governments, commercial businesses and NGOs around the world.

An advocate for international trade for more than 40 years, Kevin is highly respected within the international trade community. He has facilitated cross-border trade for thousands of UK businesses and been pivotal in designing and delivering new documentation and processes pre- and post-Brexit.

Formerly the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade’s Director of Stakeholder Engagement, Kevin was involved in developing the Diploma in World Customs Planning and Compliance, a Foundation Degree in International Trade and the Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA).

Kevin has led many trade initiatives in the UK and Internationally, including work with Invest NI, Scottish Enterprise, UK Export Finance and Saudi Export Development Authority. 

He is a United Nations-approved trainer and author of a best-selling book: Trade for Good.

Mikeala is Head of Academic Services at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade. She is a seasoned education professional and academic having qualified as a teacher in 1998 before moving into school leadership and then into academia as a Senior then Principal university lecturer leading a large provision that included foundation, undergraduate, post-graduate and Masters’ qualifications as well as apprenticeships. Her over 27 years of experience spans schools, advisory services, higher education, and military training. She is a qualified school leader holding NPQH, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). Her expertise includes strategic leadership, mentoring and coaching, curriculum design and analysis, teaching, learning and assessment, academic quality assurance, and governance.  

In her role as Head of Academic Services at the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade, Mikeala leads a number of teams including the Education Team (including the Customs Academy), the Academy Quality and Compliance Team, the Learner Services Team and IOEx Ltd apprenticeship provision. She is responsible for the leadership and management of daily operations, performance management, safeguarding, resourcing, recruitment, and team development. She has successfully developed and implemented strategic objectives, ensuring professional, engaging, and up-to-date learning content while overseeing adherence to regulatory education frameworks and academic quality standards. 

A lead tutor and academy trade and customs specialist at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, Pat has over 30 years’ experience in warehouse, logistics, supply chain and customs procedures and processes, previously working for manufacturing companies in the UK and USA.

Pat’s career started in stock control and stores administration, and this led to roles in warehouse management and logistics management. The next step was to progress into customs compliance and procedures, specifically AEO accreditation and customs declarations.

He has obtained qualifications with the Chartered Management Institute and is also an award-winning student in the Diploma in World Customs Compliance & Regulations course with the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade. He was a member of the Brexit preparation team at a multi-national company and has supported the UK Customs Academy with content updates and tutoring support.

Recently, Pat has supported the Trader Support Service and the UK Customs Academy with Brexit content updates, providing students with course updates, and tutoring support.

More recently, Patrick has completed the “TQUK Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (RQF)” and has also started an apprenticeship, “Learning & Skills Teacher (Level 5)”.

With over 15 years of experience spanning South America and Europe, Luciana is a leading international trade and customs advisor. Thanks to her language skills, varied roles across different contexts, and a legal background including a Master of Law (LLM) at La Sorbonne University in Paris, Luciana possesses a deep understanding of different cultures and trade regulations. 

Luciana started her career in France, at a start-up trading company playing a key role in negotiations with African and Brazilian suppliers, ensuring customs and trade compliance. Since then, she has maintained a steadfast commitment to the field, consistently evolving and enhancing her expertise in this ever-changing trade landscape. 

Whether it is serving at the Brazilian Embassy in Paris facilitating cooperation between navies, advising major OEMs like GM and Renault, or guiding UK traders through the new customs scenario post-Brexit, Luciana’s purpose is to collaborate across borders and industries to propel trade forward. 

Presently, as a tutor at the prestigious Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade and at the UK Customs Academy, Luciana prepares students to adapt and lead in the dynamic world of global commerce. She lives by her multi-cultural heritage and thrives at the intersection of law, business, and diplomacy. 

Roberto has over 30 years' experience in international trade.

He has worked in logistics and supply chain for a host of blue chip companies since 1987, mostly in the freight forwarding industry.

His experience includes developing global distribution networks over projected timescales, as well as expertise in fashion, consumer goods and machinery.