OWIT-Toronto (Organization of Women in International Trade) is pleased to announce and introduce its two new Co-Presidents for the 2022-23 year: Justine Namara and Audrey Ross.

Justine is currently a Special Advisor, Economic Cooperation, in the Pan-Africa Affairs Bureau at Global Affairs Canada. An international trade and development expert, with over 15 years' experience working on impact from the grassroots through to global policy change, Justine is a passionate advocate for inclusive trade. Previously, Justine was a Director at the Africa Trade Desk, and formerly Associate Director of Programs and Strategic Initiatives at Skills for Change. She has also managed partnerships, outreach and advocacy in Switzerland at the World Trade Organization’s trade program for least developed countries, and was the lead on gender and trade. In Uganda, she has worked as a legal trade and development specialist.

Justine is a Board Advisor at the City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee and also serves as OWIT-Toronto’s VP of Strategic Partnerships. She holds an LL.M. in International Trade and Investment Law (University of Western Cape, South Africa), a Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (BAR COURSE) and a Bachelor of Laws Degree (Hons).

Currently the Import & Export Compliance Manager at Orchard Custom Beauty, Audrey Ross is an in-house expert tasked with managing the cross-border activities and compliance of a global supply chain in over 16 countries.   A self-described #TradeGeek, she is experienced in multi-modal shipping, supply chain operations, customs compliance, free trade agreements and international tax. She is recognized as a Certified International Trade Professional (CITP® | FIBP®) by the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) and is a frequent panelist/interviewee on webinars, podcasts and conferences. She is a regular guest on “Thoughts & Coffee” with Let’s Talk Supply Chain where she discusses hot topics in the global supply chain. Audrey is a founding member of the Blended Pledge (a grant initiative to foster next gen/diverse voices at industry events), a member of the TradeExperettes and will also continue in her role as VP-Secretary on the International Board for OWIT.

“We are pleased to welcome Justine and Audrey into their shared role,” says outgoing President Helen Hemmingsen. “With their impressive backgrounds and solid experience in trade, they are well positioned to build on the strengths of OWIT-Toronto. Justine’s sharp strategic sense has already played a valuable role on our Board, and we are also excited about how Audrey’s involvement in OWIT International will broaden our chapter’s connection with the mother organization and increase the value of membership.”

About OWIT-Toronto

OWIT-Toronto (The Organization of Women in International Trade-Toronto; www.owit-toronto.ca) is part of an international, non-profit professional organization with chapters around the world (www.owit.org), dedicated to advancing global trade opportunities for women.