ISoB 2019

This week I have participated in the International Summit on Borders (ISoB) 2019 in Washington D.C.

This years’ conference was held in the Ronald Reagan Building on Pennsylvania Avenue.

ISoB is the leading think-tank and arena for international dialogue on Borders, Customs, Immigration, Security, Safety, Terrorism, Cross-Border Organized Crime and Global Trade.

I have been on Board of ISoB since the start. This is one of the misions I have that I most proud of. It is great to be a part of this community.

The annual conference this year had amazing speakers and panels. Also the networking is outstanding, having the leading experts in the world in the dame room for two days having open and frank discussions about the future under the Chatham House Rule.

ISoB conference is co-chaired by Judge Rob Bonner and first Director General of the UK Border Force, Tony Smith.

The conference was opened by the Head of Homeland Security, Secretary Kevin McAleenan.

Here is the Secretary, who I know and have met many times, interviewed by my old mentor and friend, Judge Rob Bonner.

I delivered a speech and moderated a panel on Invisible Borders & the future of AEO/Trusted Traders.

On the panel I had excellent experts like; Shanker Singham Head of Trade for the IEA and Director of International Trade and Competition Unit, Institute of Economic Affairs, Dr. Katy Hayward from the Centre for International Borders Research at Queen’s University Belfast, Ernani Checcucci from the World Bank (exDirector WCO & Under Secretary (DG) Receita Federal (Brazil Customs) and Ronaldo Medina, former Under Secretary (DG) from Receita Federal (Brazil Customs) and now in the Brazilian Embassy to U.S.

ISoB is also an opportunity to meet old friends and to discuss with the best experts around.

Here with legendary colleagues & friends, Seth Stodder (DHS/USCBP) & Judge Rob Bonner (exCommisioner USCBP/DEA). We developed the current international standards (SAFE) together 15 years ago.

My mates Tom Winkowski, President, Global Border Solutions, exDeputy Assistant Secretary U.S. Immigration & exCustoms Enforcement exActing Commissioner, U.S.CBP & Luc Portalance, President/CEO CrossPoint Integrated Strategies, exPresident of Canada Border Services Agency.

More good old friends, Doug Browning (former Deputy Commissioner USCBP) & Clarence Yao (exCommissioner Immigration & Checkpoints Authority Singapore).

Brothers-in-arms. With Mike Schmitz, my Director colleagues & very dear friend from WCO days (and beyond).

Rodolphe Gintz Director General, French Customs and Excise Administration delivered an excellent Key Note Speech.

One of the really special things with ISoB is the high quality of doscusions due to top level participation from the innovative leaders and best experts in the world.

We also had an amazing panel on Transnational Organized Crime. Some of the best experts in the world in discusions on how to fight international cross-border crime syndicates.

This years’ conference was the best so far. Great and very productive days of work and discussions around the future of international movements of people and trade.