Farmer, Director of Winfrey Farms

James Winfrey was a new entrant to farming in 2014. He started from scratch 9 years ago on a 19 hectare farm. Now farming 270 hectares, and 1000 breeding ewes, James and his wife Sarah together produce around 1700 lambs a year for the domestic and export market.

James and Sarah farm with a very limited amount of government subsidies. This means that they are somewhat insulated from the phase-out of direct payments for all farmers that will take place over the next few years - but they do have a perspective on the contemporary issues facing UK farming and those working in the sector.

ITE Ltd

Lesley Batchelor CBE is a champion of UK exporters, with a powerful track record in enhancing the international performance of hundreds of businesses. Known as a force of nature within the industry she has changed many businesses fortunes in terms of exporting and helped to promote the need for to professionalise the approach the UK takes to trading globally.  

Lesley currently runs International Trade Experts Ltd (ITE Ltd) which has newly launched Export- Angels.com a brand new approach offering an intelligent exporting service for manufacturers, and producers, which helps them find, and succeed in new, or to excel in existing markets, using our talented team’s truly holistic approach to establish the best market, marketing intelligence, financial planning, which includes funding for any eligible business no matter the size.

ITE Ltd also runs Exportbootcamps.com an ICC and ILM accredited training company with a real difference.

She also acts as a board advisor to Smart & Savvy Women Ltd, Open Borders Direct and the International Trade Institute in Dublin. With invaluable expertise in intellectual property, global licensing and marketing Lesley has been awarded CBI Real Business First Woman in Business Services and CEO of the year from Trade Association Congress. She was honoured with the Order of the British Empire by the Queen in her birthday honours list in 2014 now promoted to a Commander of the British Empire in New Year’s Honours list 2023.

Managing Director, Westaway Sausages

Charles is the Managing Director of Westaway Sausages which has grown from a start up 25 years ago to being awarded 2023 UK Meat manufacturer of the Year.

An experienced exporter, he is an entrepreneur that likes to set up and organise companies that have the potential to be disruptive and innovative in their sector. Key strengths are forming and implementing strategy. He has global experience in many roles and interests in social enterprise and sustainability.

Head of International and Transactional Banking, Santander UK

A native Australian, residing in the UK after having studied in Malaysia and worked in Spain for many years, John’s career has always been linked to the international sphere. His 25 years spent with the Santander Group across several different divisions and geographies of the bank have afforded him a unique set of experiences and skills on International Business, providing clear insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by international trading companies. He also acts as Chair of the International Chambers of Commerce’s new UK Trade and Investment Policy Committee since 2016. He has been appointed Chair of ICC United Kingdom’s New Centre For Digital Trade & Innovation in September, 2022.

John and his team have recently launched The Santander Navigator platform. A revolutionary digital portal that supports businesses to trade internationally, tailoring the digital experience to the business’s specific needs. Thanks to insights gained from Santander’s Trade Barometer research, this platform supports the UK economy and post-COVID-19 recovery by drawing on business confidence in future growth prospects, as well as saving businesses both time and money.

Public Policy Editor, Financial Times

Peter Foster is the public policy editor of the Financial Times and author of the FT's weekly Britain After Brexit newsletter.

His brief covers all aspects of UK policy, including the implementation of Brexit, the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and the economic and the 'levelling up' agenda.

He joined the FT in April 2020 from the Telegraph Media Group where he had held the position of Europe editor since 2015, focusing on the Brexit negotiations. He was previously based in New Delhi (2004-2008) and Beijing (2008-2012) and Washington DC (2012-2015).

His book What Went Wrong with Brexit - and what we can do about it will be published by Canongate on September 7.