Mr Andrew L Stoler
Executive Director
Biography

Andrew Stoler is the Executive Director of the Institute for International Trade and holds the title of Professor of International Trade at the University of Adelaide.

Mr Stoler is a Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia and sits on the Advisory Board of the European Centre for International Political Economy, the Advisory Board of Stanford University's GATT Digital Library, and is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Shanghai WTO Affairs Consultation Centre and a Senior Advisor to the Shenzhen WTO Affairs Centre. He is also a founding member of the International Academic Advisory Committee of the University of Sydney's United States Studies Centre. In 2008, Mr Stoler was a member of the Australian Trade Minister's FTA Reference Group and 2005 - 2007 he served for two years on the Australian Foreign Minister's Aid Advisory Council.  In 2009-2010 Andrew Stoler was a part-time Associate Commissioner of the Australian Productivity Commission in connection with the Commission's review of bilateral and regional trade agreements.

Over the course of a long career in international trade, he has served as Deputy Director-General of the Geneva-based World Trade Organization (1999-2002) and as a senior official of the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President (Washington, DC). He holds an MBA in International Business from George Washington University and a BSFS in International Economic Affairs from Georgetown University.

Ms Marie Gutsche
Personal Assistant and Office Manager

Marie joined the Institute for International Trade from when it began operation in January 2003 as Personal Assistant to the Executive Director and later as Office Manager. She has worked for the University of Adelaide since 1985 in various administration departments. She has extensive experience, a sound knowledge and a good understanding of the workings of the university, its campuses, administrative procedures and policies.

Mrs Vanessa Morris
Academic Program Manager

Vanessa joined the Institute for International Trade in October 2009 as the Academic Program Manager. She previously worked as the Student Program Advisor in the Professions Student Support Hub-Postgraduate in the Faculty of Professions. She now oversees the administration of the Institute’s postgraduate academic programs in particular the Masters of International Trade and Development and the Professional Certificate in International Trade.

After completing her Bachelors in Psychology and Honours Philosophy degrees in 2004 Vanessa joined the University of Adelaide as a Student Advisor.  Working for the Faculty of Engineering Computer and Mathematical Science, School of Economics and Postgraduate Professions Student Support Hub, Vanessa developed an adept knowledge of student administrative services, program pathways and student experience.

Mr Jim Redden
Senior Program Manager

Jim Redden, while originally from Adelaide, has worked in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Australia in both public and private sectors in the fields of development economics, international trade and foreign aid. During his time as a lobbyist in Canberra for international development organisations he served on the Australian Government's WTO Advisory Committee and has attended and closely monitored events at Doha, Cancun and Hong Kong WTO Ministerial meetings. He regularly ran trade training workshops for DFAT and AusAID officials and before leaving Canberra Jim worked as a trade and development consultant assisting industry associations and advocacy groups on policy development and the building of effective political relationships. In 2004 Jim assisted the former Prime Minister, Hon Kevin Rudd MP, with policy and speeches on trade and development matters before returning to Adelaide where he has taken up the post of Adjunct Senior Lecturer and Director of International Programs (China) with the Institute for International Trade at the University of Adelaide. He lectures in international trade, business and international development policy, coordinates tailored trade related training programs for developing country officials and has completed a diverse portfolio of research projects including recent work on ASEAN Business Services, Uneven Growth in APEC, Trade and Poverty Reduction in the Asia Pacific region and on the potential impact of Free Trade Agreements for the economy of South Australia.

Ms Shoo Lin Siah
Program Officer

Linnie joined the Institute for International Trade in September 2011 as the Program Officer responsible for assisting senior staff in the development of the Institute's core research, training and academic programs.

Linnie holds a MA by research and BA Hons from the University of Adelaide and a Bachelor of Business (International Business) from the University of South Australia.  She has previously worked at the University's Major Projects and Development unit, the School of Social Sciences and the Centre for Asian Studies.

Mr Keith Wilson
Senior International Trade Law Counsellor

Keith is a lawyer with over 20 years experience in international law and international relations in the fields of international trade law, transport, air and space law, security and disarmament, human rights and public accountability. He has held positions in the government and private sectors, in international organisations and as an international training and development consultant.

Keith has delivered training programs in over 30 countries in the Asia-Pacific and other regions, including on WTO law and negotiation, trade, environment and economic laws at Hanoi Law College in the process of Vietnam's preparations for accession to the WTO. He has also been a visiting lecturer in undergraduate and postgraduate international law courses at the University of Adelaide, Flinders University, and the University of South Pacific, and in law, diplomacy and fellowship programs for several UK- and European-based universities including London, Oxford and The Hague. Keith has a combined Law/Arts degree from the University of Adelaide and a Masters in Public International Law from the University of Leiden. He has worked previously in trade and commercial litigation in private practice, in international trade law and policy at the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department in the Office of International Law, and in government relations and political affairs for the OPCW, an international chemical disarmament organisation based in the Netherlands. He was admitted to the Supreme Court of South Australia in 1986. Keith has been engaged recently on business development planning and training delivery in Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Pacific Island countries for Australian and offshore clients. He joined IIT in May, 2009.

Mr Peter Pedersen
Visiting WTO Fellow (October 2011 - April 2012)
Visiting Lecturer

Peter Pedersen returned to the Institute as the Visiting WTO Fellow in October 2011 while on leave from the WTO Secretariat where he has been employed since July, 1996. Peter is the Head of the Trade Negotiations Committee Section of the Council & TNC Division of the WTO. He has also held positions in the External Relations Division, the Office of the Director-General and the Ministerial Sessions Division. Prior to joining the WTO Peter worked at the Centre for East European Studies at the Copenhagen Business School. Peter holds a Master of Science degree in International Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School and a Master of Philosophy degree in International Relations from Cambridge University. He is the author of several articles on the WTO and international trade. He is fluent in Danish, English, French, German and Spanish.

Mr Peter Pedersen
Former Visiting WTO Fellow (January-July 2005)
Visiting Lecturer

Peter Pedersen joined the IIBE&L as the first Visiting WTO Fellow in January 2005 while on leave from the WTO Secretariat where he has been employed since July, 1996. Peter has since re-joined the Institute in October 2011 (see above).

Ms Marie-Isabelle Pellan
Visiting WTO Fellow (August 2010-February 2011)

Marie-Isabelle joined the Institute in August 2010 as the 7th Visiting WTO Fellow while on leave from WTO where she has been employed since 2000. Marie-Isabelle is Counsellor in the Trade and Environment Division. From 2005-2010, she served as Secretary to the Committee dealing with Trade and Environment negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda. As part of her duties she also delivered training and technical assistance to WTO member governments in her area of expertise. Prior to joining WTO, Marie-Isabelle worked in the legal team of Bombardier Transportation in Brussels. She holds a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, as well as Bachelors’ degrees in common law and civil law from McGill University. She is fluent in French, English and Spanish.

Mr Raúl Torres Troconis
Former Visiting WTO Fellow (January 2010-July 2010)
Biography

Raúl Torres Troconis served as the 6th Visiting WTO Fellow at the Institute for International Trade while on leave from the WTO Development Division. Before joining the Institute, Raúl was a Counsellor in Development Division of the WTO, working on issues concerning the international trade integration of Small, Vulnerable Economies and Landlocked Developing Countries. He has been employed by WTO since July 1996, starting with the Rules Division where he worked for 8 years on issues related to Anti-dumping, Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, Safeguards, and State Trading Enterprises. Prior to joining the WTO, Raúl worked for Venezuela's Instituto de Comercio Exterior and participated in the Foreign Associate Program of Morrison & Foerster in its Washington D.C. office. He holds a degree in law from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (Caracas) and an LL.M. from Georgetown University. He has contributed to books on the WTO and the Multilateral Trading System and published articles on Anti-dumping and Duty Free Zones. Raúl is fluent in Spanish, English and French, and has an intermediate level of Italian and Portuguese.

Ms Victoria Donaldson
Former Visiting WTO Fellow (February 2008-July 2008)
Biography

Victoria served as the 5th Visiting WTO Fellow at the Institute for International Trade while on leave from the WTO Appellate Body Secretariat. Before joining Victoria worked as a Counsellor at the Appellate Body Secretariat of the WTO since 1999. From 1996-1999 she practiced law with the Brussels office of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen and Hamilton, and from 1995-1996 with Russell & DuMoulin in Vancouver. Ms. Donaldson obtained Bachelors' degrees in Law from the University of Oxford and the University of British Columbia, and a Master of Laws degree from Harvard Law School. She served as a law clerk to Mr. Justice Peter de Carteret Cory at the Supreme Court of Canada in 1993-94. Ms. Donaldson has contributed to books on WTO dispute settlement, writing in particular on procedures for appellate review.

Mr John Finn
Former Visiting WTO Fellow (August 2007-February 2008)
Biography

John completed an assignment as a Visiting WTO Fellow at the Institute for International Trade while on leave from the Agriculture and Commodities Division of the WTO where he has worked since 1998. At the WTO, he was responsible for the administrative work associated with the negotiations on agriculture which are part of the Doha Development Agenda. In addition, he has extensive experience with training and other technical co-operation related work for the Member governments of the WTO. Before joining the WTO Secretariat he worked for the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry as an economic analyst and as the agriculture attaché in the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva. He is married with two children.

Mr Aik Hoe Lim
Former Visiting WTO Fellow (February-August 2007)

Hoe Lim completed an assignment as Visiting WTO Fellow at the Institute for International Trade while on leave from the WTO Secretariat where he has been employed since 1999. He has held several positions in the WTO, most recently as Counsellor in the Trade in Services Division with responsibilities for regional trade agreements in services, mutual recognition arrangements and education services. Between 2001-2005, he served in the Office of the WTO Director-General where he was consecutively Deputy to the Chef de Cabinet of Mr Mike Moore and Counsellor to Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi. During that time he also served as adviser to the Eminent Persons Consultative Board on The Future of the WTO. Before joining the WTO, he was Senior Economic Affairs Officer of the G-15 Summit Level Group of Developing Countries. He has also been an economic consultant to various UN specialised agencies including the International Labour Organization, United Nations Development Programme and UNCTAD. He holds a Masters in International Economic Management from the University of Birmingham, a post-graduate Diploma in Financial Economics from the University of London and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Land Management from the University of Reading. He is fluent in Malaysian, French and intemediate Mandarin.

Ms Dariel De Sousa
Former Visiting WTO Fellow (May-October 2006)

Dariel De Sousa completed an assignment (from May to October 2006) working with the Institute while on leave from the WTO Secretariat. She commenced employment with the WTO Secretariat in 1999 with the Intellectual Property Division, where she worked in the areas of intellectual property, competition policy and government procurement. Since 2002, she has been employed in the Legal Affairs Division, where she is currently a Counsellor working on the resolution of disputes between members of the WTO concerning compliance with their obligations under the WTO Agreements. She holds undergraduate degrees in law and mechanical engineering from Monash University (Melbourne, Australia) and post-graduates degrees in law and business administration from Oxford University and Yale University respectively.

Mr Peter Gallagher
Associate Expert
Biography

Peter Gallagher is Managing Director and Principal Consultant at Inquit, where he provides analysis and advice on international trade, public policy and business communications. His clients include Australian food companies, industry organisations, government agencies and international institutions. After pursuing a diplomatic career with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade over more than two decades Mr. Gallagher headed the Australian Dairy Industry Council and taught at the Business School of the University of Melbourne prior to establishing Inquit. Peter is the author of numerous publications on international trade issues and has participated in several trade capacity-building projects in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region. He holds degrees in law and philosophy from the Australian National University and the University of Sydney.

Simon Molloy is an economist with 20 years of experience consulting in media, telecommunications, information technology and creative industry economics. He is principal of Systems Knowledge Concepts Pty Ltd, an economic analysis consultancy with a focus on network and infrastructure industries – information technology, telecommunications, creative industries, network industries and infrastructure.

SKC specialises in applied microeconomics including qualitative modelling. Simon’s work emphasises exposition of underlying economic theory, analytical transparency and accessible arguments.

His consulting work includes research and training on international trade and poverty reduction with particular respect to the Asia Pacific region with a focus on the relationship between economic efficiency measures, trade measures and trade facilitation (includes research work on APEC, ASEAN and Pacific trade agreements).

Mrs Letizia Raschella-Sergi
Associate Expert

Letizia worked in international services marketing for 15 years before becoming an international lawyer. After interning in the WTO Legal Affairs division, she returned to Australia to teach law, international relations and diplomacy. Her teaching area of expertise is World Trade Organization Law, International Trade & Business Law and Competition Law, Negotiations and Trade Policy. She has taught at several Australian universities, delivered a number of WTO law and policy courses to Chinese Government officials and consulted to the Queensland Government on WTO issues. In 2002, she was appointed Asia-Pacific Academic Supervisor of the WTO Law global mooting competition that seeks to develop the next generation of trade lawyers and negotiators. Letizia holds a Bachelor degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Law, a Masters degree in Foreign Affairs and Trade and is currently completing her doctoral studies in International Trade and Educational Services. She was admitted as Barrister-at-Law to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1997. Letizia was the Inaugural Senior International Trade Law Counsellor at the Institute for International Trade from April 2007-March 2009 where she worked on numerous trade policy and trade law issues as well as taught in the School of Law Masters Program on International Trade Law.

Mr Graeme A Thomson
Associate Expert
Biography

Graeme Thomson is Principal, Graeme Thomson and Associates, International Trade and Government Relations Consultants, Canberra. He is a former senior official of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with nearly four decades of experience as a negotiator for Australia in bilateral, regional and multilateral trade agreements. Mr. Thomson was Chief Negotiator for Australia on the accession of China and Chinese Taipei to the World Trade Organisation. He holds degrees in economics and politics from the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University.

Geoff Upton is a founding Director of Trade Focus International, a trade consultancy and a former State Manager for South Australia for the Australian Trade Commission, Austrade. Geoff has assisted Australian businesses in export markets over a long career including overseas postings with the private sector and with Austrade in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Thailand. He has extensive operational, marketing and export training experience and has led many overseas trade missions. His expert knowledge of the technical requirements of exporting, his long years of real-life experience and his hundreds of personal contacts around the world make him uniquely qualified to offer practical assistance to exporters.

Geoff teaches in International Business topics at undergraduate and postgraduate level at the Flinders Business School, Flinders University.

Dr Peter van Diermen
Associate Expert
Biography

Dr Peter van Diermen is a Development Economist with over 20 years international experience providing team leadership, technical assistance and policy advice for governments, bilateral and multilateral agencies, and national and regional chambers of commerce and non-government organizations.  He has worked extensively with policy makers at Ministerial and heads of department level, as well as, with numerous businesses.  He specializes in analysing and promoting an enabling environment for businesses, developing trade policies, advising on economic policy reform and developing appropriate national and regional strategies and policies.

Peter van Diermen has worked as an academic in the field of applied development economics in several leading Australian and New Zealand Universities.  He has published extensively on a wide variety of economic topics and has frequently lectured and presented seminars on issues related to improving the business environment, including topics on SMEs, trade and regulatory reforms.  He has published more than 50 pieces of writing, including a large number of refereed journal articles and several books.

Ms Maria Teresa Nunes - Currently on Maternity Leave
Research Assistant

Maria has been with the Institute on a part-time basis since mid 2008. She has been involved in different IIT research projects. She holds a Bachelors degree in Economics from the Central University of Venezuela. Previously she was a trade specialist with the Ministry of Light Industries and Trade in Venezuela and also spent time working as an intern in the General Secretariat of the Andean Community in Peru.