Dr Brendan Vickers
London
Summary
- Accomplished senior leader with over 20 years of experience across government, think tanks and international organisations, offering a unique combination of policy expertise and skills.
- Specialist in international trade, investment and sustainability/SDGs, with a strong track record in leading research projects, policy and strategy development, multilateral negotiations and stakeholder management.
- Proven success in effectively engaging with high-level political leaders and public, private and civic sectors to advocate for impactful policies and foster strategic partnerships.
- Extensive UK and international networks, including roles on the Trade and Investment Advisory Group of the International Business and Diplomatic Exchange, and the Geneva-based Forum on Trade, Environment and SDGs.
- Skilled communicator, evidenced by numerous technical and popular knowledge products, publications and media interviews.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
13
13
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Head of International Trade Policy
Commonwealth Secretariat
London, United Kingdom
03.2019 - Current
- Advise the Secretary-General and the 56 member countries on economic, trade and investment policies.
- Lead the International Trade Policy Division, managing seven professionals in London and Geneva.
- Support intergovernmental negotiations and consensus-building within the Commonwealth.
- Played a key role in delivering the 2021 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda and successfully delivered the 2019 and 2023 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meetings.
- Drive strategic partnerships with the international organisations (WTO, UNCTAD, OECD) and member countries, including UK Government (FCDO, DBT and Parliament).
- Negotiated MoUs with the WTO and UNCTAD to strengthen institutional collaboration and led a range of joint initiatives.
- Convene outreach and advocacy events at the WTO, including the Public Forum and Global Review of Aid for Trade.
- Direct the trade research programme, producing over 80 knowledge products to support evidence-based policymaking in member countries, including three flagship Trade Reviews presented to Heads of Government.
- Effective resource mobilisation and manage the Trade Adviser project at the Commonwealth Small States Office in Geneva, overseeing a budget of £350k and Results-Based Management reporting to the donor
- Engage with national and international stakeholders to promote Commonwealth priorities.
Economic Adviser: International Trade Policy
Commonwealth Secretariat
London
01.2015 - 03.2019
- Served as policy lead on Brexit’s implications for UK and Commonwealth trade, including organising roundtable events and providing oral evidence to the House of Commons International Trade Committee.
- Provided technical and advisory support on trade policy to member countries, including organising eight multi-stakeholder consultations across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
- Organised high-level consultations and workshops on multilateral, regional and emerging trade issues, including public events at the 10th and 11th WTO Ministerial Conferences.
- Supported the ‘Trade 2018’ business outreach platform at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia and produced a specialised trade magazine for the event.
- Authored the 2018 Commonwealth Trade Review for Heads of Government.
Head of Research and Policy
Department of Trade and Industry
Pretoria, South Africa
06.2010 - 12.2014
- Advised and supported the Minister, Deputy Minister and Director-General, and represented the Department in strategic engagements with internal and external stakeholders.
- Represented the Deputy Director-General and advanced the DTI's interests in the ICTS Cabinet and Directors-General Clusters, and co-chaired the Global Governance Committee of the ICTS Cluster to support more integrated policymaking across government departments.
- Led the review and formulation of the second iteration of the Trade Policy and Strategy Framework.
- Supported the Minister, the DDG and WTO Ambassador at the 13th WTO Ministerial Meeting in Bali, Indonesia, including coordinating bilateral meetings with strategic partners.
- Supported parliamentary engagements and regularly briefed the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry about developments in trade policy and negotiations.
- Coordinated the BRICS Contact Group for Economic and Trade Issues during South Africa’s term as BRICS Chair (2013-2014), successfully leading a multi-country Joint Trade Study and BRICS Seminar on International Investment Agreements.
- Led trade-related negotiations in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), coordinating the African Group on response measures, and the UN Convention on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) Rio+20.
- Managed and participated in OECD and G20 engagements focused on trade and investment
- Conducted in-depth research to inform trade policy development and negotiating positions.
Director: Global Economy and Development Programme
Institute for Global Dialogue
Johannesburg
01.2006 - 05.2010
- Headhunted to establish a new research programme from the ground up to monitor regional and multilateral trade negotiations, delivering research, leading training workshops and spearheading advocacy campaigns.
- Subsequently promoted to Director in June 2009.
Deputy Director: International Relations and Trade
Office of President Thabo Mbeki
Pretoria
01.2002 - 12.2005
- Provided research and advisory support to the President, Deputy President, Minister and senior executives within The Presidency
- Represented The Presidency in policy engagements with public and private sector stakeholders, fostering strategic partnerships and collaborations
- Led coordination efforts for monitoring international relations and trade policies, proactively identifying implementation challenges and formulating effective corrective measures
- Authored a major report on the Government’s International Relations, Peace and Security cluster of departments’ activities, contributing significantly to The Presidency’s Ten-Year Review of the first decade of democracy.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - Politics
University of London
London, United Kingdom 09.2003 - 11.2008
Master of Arts (Cum Laude) - Political Studies
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa 01.2000 - 12.2003
Bachelor of Arts Honours (Cum Laude) - Political Studies
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa 01.1999 - 12.1999
Bachelor of Arts (Cum Laude) - Political Science
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa 01.1996 - 12.1998
Executive Course - Professional Communication: Business Writing and Storytelling
The Economist Executive Education
London, United Kingdom 03.2022 - 06.2022
Executive Course - Climate Change Economics and Governance
London School of Economics and Political Science
London, United Kingdom /2013 -
Skills
- Strategy and Planning
- Government Affairs
- Public Policy Development and Implementation
- International Negotiations and Consensus-building
- Management and Team Leadership
- Stakeholder Engagement and Networking
- Advocacy, Communication and Public Speaking
- Event Management
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Publications
Extensive list of publications available upon request.
Timeline
Executive Course - Professional Communication: Business Writing and Storytelling
The Economist Executive Education
03.2022 - 06.2022
Head of International Trade Policy
Commonwealth Secretariat
03.2019 - Current
Economic Adviser: International Trade Policy
Commonwealth Secretariat
01.2015 - 03.2019
Head of Research and Policy
Department of Trade and Industry
06.2010 - 12.2014
Director: Global Economy and Development Programme
Institute for Global Dialogue
01.2006 - 05.2010
Doctor of Philosophy - Politics
University of London
09.2003 - 11.2008
Deputy Director: International Relations and Trade
Office of President Thabo Mbeki
01.2002 - 12.2005
Master of Arts (Cum Laude) - Political Studies
University of Johannesburg
01.2000 - 12.2003
Bachelor of Arts Honours (Cum Laude) - Political Studies
University of Johannesburg
01.1999 - 12.1999
Bachelor of Arts (Cum Laude) - Political Science
University of Johannesburg
01.1996 - 12.1998
Executive Course - Climate Change Economics and Governance
London School of Economics and Political Science
/2013 -
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