Our team

Chris Southworth is Secretary General at ICC United Kingdom and a regular voice for business in the international media. He is also co-founder of the UK Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation and acts as the ICC representative to The Commonwealth as well as Co-Chair of the B2B Cluster for the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda. He is a member of the ICC World Council as well as the International Advisory Boards of the Digital Trade Network and Queen Mary-UNIDROIT Institute of Transnational Commercial Law.

Chris is a leading international expert on creating modern digital trade ecosystems, the founder of the ICC Digital Trade Roadmap, a member of the global team supporting the ICC Digital Standards Initiative, ICC G7 United Kingdom representative, a member of the ICC G7, G20, Digitisation and Ecommerce Working Groups. He is also a lead independent adviser to the UK government on the digitisation of trade on behalf of industry working with the Department for Business and Trade, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, Her Majesty’s Treasury and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Prior to joining ICC, Chris was Executive Director for Global Partnerships, at the British Chambers of Commerce, Head of the International Chambers of Commerce Unit at UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and a Senior Policy Advisor to Lord Heseltine, former Deputy Prime Minister, for his independent review of UK competitiveness. In 2011 he was advisor to the Minister for Trade and Investment for the government review of mid-size businesses and consequent establishment of the mid-size business export programme. Former roles have encompassed deregulatory and social enterprise policy at the Department for Business.

Emma Bennett is the Chief of Staff & Director of Operations at ICC United Kingdom, where she oversees strategy, governance, communications, and operations. With extensive experience across global corporates, charities, and start-ups, Emma blends strategic insight with operational excellence. As a trusted advisor to CEOs and Chairmen, she has consistently delivered impactful results at the highest levels of leadership.

Her early career at Lombard Odier, Cable & Wireless, and Change Live Grow allowed her to cultivate her expertise in governance, stakeholder management, and communications. In 2017, Emma founded Avenal Ausden, a boutique brand communications agency specializing in luxury hospitality. There, she crafted innovative branding strategies and narratives for ultra-luxury and premium brands, positioning them for success in competitive markets.

Prior to Avenal Ausden, Emma held key development roles at FRHI and Accor, where she contributed to the development strategy, brand integrity, and commercial viability for renowned brands such as Raffles, Fairmont, and Swissôtel.

Beyond the corporate world, Emma has provided strategic guidance to national charities and tech start-ups, navigating complex organisational challenges and supporting leadership through transformation.

At ICC United Kingdom, Emma continues to demonstrate leadership, managing governance and strategy decisions that influence key stakeholders. She holds a degree in Business Leadership Practice from the Open University, underscoring her commitment to continuous improvement and leadership excellence.

Brendan Vickers is the Policy Director at ICC United Kingdom, where he works to position ICC as a leading convener and ‘go-to’ organisation for international trade and business priorities. He ensures that UK companies are effectively represented in ICC’s international rule-making and standard-setting activities, as well as in key multilateral forums.

Prior to joining ICC, Brendan was the Head of International Trade Policy at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, supporting the 56 member countries in advancing trade, investment and sustainable development initiatives. He also managed institutional partnerships and spearheaded joint projects with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva.

Brendan’s career includes extensive experience in trade policy and multilateral engagements, having previously worked for South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry. He brings a wealth of UK and international networks, including roles on the Trade and Investment Advisory Group of the International Business and Diplomatic Exchange (IBDE) and the Geneva-based Forum on Trade, Environment and SDGs.