WSTA reveals Annual Conference panellists

Two business leaders will join former UK trade minister Lord Price and JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin as panellists at The Wine & Spirit Trade Association’s (WSTA)‎ Brexit-focused Annual Conference next week.

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust’s Brexit-focused Annual Conference will take place next week

Miriam González Durántez, partner at Dechert LLP, and Sir Simon Fraser, managing partner at Flint Global, will join the previously announced keynote speakers to provide insight on the theme of Trading Spaces: Creative partnerships with the EU and the rest of the world.

Sir Fraser is the former head of the UK foreign office and diplomatic service, and has also led the UK department for business. Prior to that he served as chief of staff to the European trade commissioner in Brussels, and as director general for European policy at the foreign office.

Prior to joining Dechert, González Durántez led the trade practice of another major international law firm. She previously served seven years as a senior member of the cabinet for EU external relations commissioners, and was an FCO adviser during the UK presidency of the European Union.

The session, which will take place on Tuesday 12 September at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, will also feature panel discussions led by former ITV political correspondent Alex Forrest. Both Martin and Lord Price will participate in a one-on-one interview with Forrest prior to the panel session.

The event aims to set out what needs to be done to support the drinks industry throughout the Brexit process and stimulate ideas on dealing with challenges and opportunities ahead.

“We are pleased and excited to announce Miriam, Sir Simon and Tim as panellists ahead of our Annual Conference,” said WSTA chief executive, Miles Beale.

“It’s been a particularly turbulent 12 months, in which we’ve seen Article 50’s triggering and a snap General Election that produced a surprising result.

“Since our last conference, we are more educated, better prepared and clearer about what we want our government to deliver for our industry, but it’s still a time of great uncertainty.

“We know there will be challenging times ahead for our members and our aim is to work together to find the best way through which allows our industry’s historic trade flows to remain intact. But we need also to look to the future and global opportunities.”