Chris Southworth

He is Chair and co‑founder of the International Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation (iC4DTI), serves on the Advisory Board of the Digital Trade Test Bed, and co‑chairs the Commonwealth Legal Reform and Digitalisation programme. He is also a member of the ICC Digital Standards Initiative’s Legal Reform Advisory Board, the UK Smart Data Council, the ICC World Council and several international advisory boards, including those at Queen Mary‑UNIDROIT and the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy.

A leading expert on digital trade and finance ecosystems, Chris regularly speaks at global forums and has co‑authored key reports such as the ICC Digital Trade Roadmap and the Roadmap to Digitalise UK Trade. He played a central role in initiating the Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 and securing the 2021 G7 commitment to remove legal barriers to digital trade documents. He advises the UK government and ICC network on digital trade strategy, working closely with the Department for Business and Trade, HMRC, the Cabinet Office and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Before joining ICC, he held senior roles at the British Chambers of Commerce and UK Trade and Investment, and served as Senior Adviser to Lord Heseltine on UK competitiveness.