David Slatter

Scholar background

David serves as the Senior Strategy and Policy Advisor for the Levelling Up program and Economic Development at Essex County Council in the UK. He leads the development and implementation of long-term plans and policies designed to significantly impact the county's social and economic development priorities. His focus is on ensuring equal opportunities for all Essex residents.

Previously, David worked for the UK government as the Regional Manager for the Asia-Pacific Export Support Services within the Vietnam office of the Department for International Trade (DIT). He led a 20-member regional team that provided UK companies with market intelligence and practical guidance regarding business opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. David was instrumental in promoting UK trade globally and attracting foreign investment.

His prior experience with DIT includes roles in Korea and Singapore. He served as Head of Marketing & Digital Campaigns at DIT Korea and as Regional Marketing Campaigns Manager at DIT Singapore, overseeing strategy, budget and marketing activities across Southeast Asia.

David holds a Bachelor's degree in International History and Politics from the University of the West of England. In 2023, he completed his Master of Global Trade at RMIT University through the Hinrich Global Trade Leader Scholarship Program.

Personal statement

I have been working in the field of global trade for eight years for the UK Government’s Department for International Trade to support the UK’s importing and exporting relationships in Asia with my background in trade promotion, market entry support, and economic policy analysis. I am the Asia-Pacific Trade Operations and Partnership Manager based in Vietnam. I worked previously worked for the department in trade promotion and marketing roles in Singapore and South Korea.

My experience until now, however, has been mostly from the governmental view, and I feel the Hinrich Foundation’s Global Trade Leader Scholarship and the Master of Global Trade program, with its curriculum developed by industry leaders, will provide me with a fuller understanding of considerations companies face when making decisions on when, where, and with whom they trade. It is important that government policy makers listen to the needs of business and the support services we offer are optimized for the real-world business requirements. I trust this course will allow to further develop my expertise and improve my own understanding and support of global trade.

The principles of free trade are facing increased political scrutiny in many countries, as well as facing logistical challenges due to COVID. It is more important than ever that we have leaders who understand and can navigate these complexities. I am personally passionate about the role international trade plays in global development, peace and security, and hope the skills offered by the Hinrich Foundation will allow me to be a leader for free and fair trade in both the UK and Asia-Pacific.