Dublin | 9 September 2026
What does the future of global trade look like?
That was the question at the heart of the Global Trade Leadership Summit, hosted by the International Trade Institute at AMD’s Dublin offices on 9 September.
Bringing together 70 senior professionals from across international trade, customs, compliance, technology and business, the Summit created a space for people working at the heart of global commerce to step back from the day-to-day and consider what comes next.
And there was plenty to talk about.
A global trading system in transition
International trade is entering a period of profound change. Geopolitical uncertainty, economic security, industrial policy, increasingly complex regulation, supply-chain resilience and rapid technological development are changing the environment in which organisations operate across borders.
For trade professionals, that means the role itself is evolving. The Summit opened with AMD, exploring how AI is being used in an international marketplace, before Professor Thomas Cottier led a Leadership Dialogue on The Future of Global Trade.
The conversation examined the forces reshaping international trade from geopolitics and trade policy to AI, technology, resilience and global competitiveness.
A Leadership Panel then explored Global Trade in Transition: What Every Trade Professional Needs to Know, bringing perspectives on geopolitics, industrial policy, economic security and international cooperation. Very interesting remarks from Atharv Joshi, Trade Compliance Specialist, On, Claudia Custura, Associate Director, Leonid Group, Philipp Weber-Lortsch, Director, Deloitte Switzerland’s Global Trade Advisory team and Dominic McGough, Founder & CEO, CustomsPlus®.
AI is changing the trade function
Artificial intelligence was a recurring theme throughout the day. The dedicated session AI in International Trade, led by Chen Cui, Founder of Gingercontrol, examined how AI could transform decision-making, trade compliance, customs and supply chains.
But the conversation went beyond technology itself and a bigger question emerged: What skills will trade professionals need as AI becomes increasingly embedded in the way organisations make decisions?
For the trade function, the opportunity is significant. AI has the potential to help professionals analyse data, identify risks, improve processes and support more informed decision-making. But technology also creates new questions around governance, accountability, data quality, human judgement and professional capability. The trade leaders of the future will need to understand both sides of that equation.
From compliance to strategic influence
Another strong theme throughout the Summit was the changing role of the trade function within organisations.
The Executive Panel: Leading the Modern Trade Function explored how leading organisations are transforming their trade functions to meet the demands of an increasingly complex global environment. Led by John Whelan, International Trade Consultant, Alfredo Motty, International Trade Expert, Octapharma, Colm Halpin, Customs and Trade Expert and Nikolai Masoni, Trade Compliance Specialist contributed their observations and experiences within their respective fields.
Trade, customs and compliance professionals are increasingly working across functions including supply chain, procurement, finance, technology, risk and senior management.
That shift requires a broader skill set and a stronger strategic voice.
The day concluded with Why good compliance is good business, featuring Tom McGrath, former Head of the Customs Audit Unit, Large Cases Division at Irish Revenue. The message was clear: strong customs and trade compliance can be a source of business value, resilience and informed decision-making.
Building the global trade community
For ITI, the Summit was about more than a single day. It was about bringing together a community.
Trade professionals often work across very different parts of the same ecosystem. Customs specialists, compliance professionals, supply-chain leaders, technology experts, advisers and business leaders may face many of the same challenges without always having the opportunity to sit around the same table. The Summit was designed to change that.
Throughout the day, conversations continued between sessions, over coffee and lunch, and long after individual panels had finished. The future of global trade will require collaboration across disciplines, industries and borders. To help these connections remain strong, the ITI launched a first-of-its-kind online community, where trade leaders and professionals can discuss current affairs, ask questions, create awareness and network amongst peers. This platform is free to use and is available at https://internationaltradeinstitute.gingercontrol.com/
Looking ahead
Speaking at the Summit, Fiona Luciani, Managing Director of the International Trade Institute, said:
“Trade is no longer something that sits neatly within one function of a business. It touches supply chains, technology, finance, risk, compliance, procurement and increasingly, the boardroom.
“The conversations today demonstrated just how important it is for trade professionals to have a stronger strategic voice within their organisations.”
The Global Trade Leadership Summit marks another step in ITI’s ambition to build a stronger professional community around international trade and develop the capabilities needed for the next generation of trade leaders.
The challenges facing global trade will continue to evolve. So will the people responsible for navigating them. The conversation has started.
Thank you
The International Trade Institute would like to thank AMD, our speakers, panellists, partners, alumni and every delegate who joined us in Dublin.
Your expertise, questions, conversations and ideas made the Summit what it was.
We look forward to continuing the conversation.
International Trade Institute
Developing the people who shape global trade.
Interested in future ITI events, programmes and professional development? https://www.internationaltradeinstitute.com/
