Involved in the trading of animal feed, oilseeds, and oils and non-agricultural commodities globally. Responsibilities included:• Generate income, enhance revenues, and maximise profitability with measured risk management as part of the leadership team• Extensive international travel: attending various trade fairs to generate business by sourcing products and suppliers, and liaising with organizations throughout the many parts of the supply chain• Sourcing & marketing the various products to and from clients in Europe, East Africa, South Asia, and the Far East• Conversing with brokers and buyers to understand their product requirements and specifications• Participating in tender processes for international governments to supply both agricultural and industrial commodities • Conduct market research by identifying the suppliers who can meet the requirements, discuss prices and delivery schedules• Calculate costs including domestic transport, international freight, insurance, and finance in order to set a price for the consumer incorporating our services, risk management and profit margins, whilst ensuring competitiveness in the market• Negotiating the terms of both buyers’ sales contracts and sellers’ purchase contracts • Overseeing and engaging with the supply chain to ensure the customers’ delivery schedules are satisfied, including monitoring and expediting the deliveries to the loading ports and the designated carriers• Ensuring the correct preparation and presentation of shipping documents complying with the contractual terms• Having fulfilled the contractual obligations, making sure payments are received promptly• Managing and resolving any contractual disputes in line with organizations such as:o Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA)o Federation of Oils, Seeds and Fats Association (FOSFA)o International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

Initially appointed to manage all aspects of the trading desk in London, I predominantly took on the role of a broker sourcing material to satisfy the requirements of clients based in Europe. As the company developed to specialise in business in China, the Management decided to establish a liaison office in China, and I was appointed to run the commodity-trading desk in Beijing. The business centred on the trading of several agricultural commodities such as animal feed stuffs, vegetable and technical oils and oilseeds. My responsibilities were wide and varied involving extensive travel across China to contact suppliers, negotiate contract terms, follow deliveries to the ports, supervise the loading of bulk cargo on vessels chartered by the clients and ensuring the correct shipping documents were prepared and presented on time against letters of credit.This was a period pre-internet and mobile phones which made communication and travel both within and out of China extremely challenging. Despite these obstacles, in the two years I was in Beijing, I was able to create and build an export market from China of approximately 2 million metric tonnes per annum, where the products were all shipped to Europe.

The company was engaged in the import and export business of products to and from the Caribbean. My responsibilities included order processing, arranging, and handling of the shipping documents and ensuring timely payments.

Responsible as a Tea Buyer to taste various samples, then select, trade and purchase at the weekly Colombo tea auctions and export the different types of tea from Sri Lanka to the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.