PR: TRACIT names expert advisory council

Today, the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) announced the formation of an Advisory Council of thought leaders to help shape the global policy response to illicit trade.

“Our Advisory Council members provide TRACIT with the expertise, skills and practical experience necessary to elucidate complicated issues and ensure that the organization takes fully-informed decisions,” said Jeffrey Hardy, TRACIT’s Director-General. “Together, we have the opportunity to establish policy priorities and identify areas that merit greater attention in a united effort to stop illicit trade.”

The TRACIT Advisory Council comprises a broad range of experts from different sectors, providing the organization with viewpoints on the international, multi-sector nature of illicit trade and the ancillary problems of corruption, criminal activity and financial fraud.

“Addressing the global problem of illicit trade will require active engagement by the private sector in partnership with key intergovernmental organizations, UN agencies and development banks,” said Mr. Leonard F. McCarthy, President of LFMcCarthy Associates and former World Bank Group Vice President for Integrity. “TRACIT helps fill that gap by channeling business expertise into the policymaking process.”

Members of the Advisory Council are distinguished authorities in their respective fields. They serve in their personal capacity and share a common interest in combatting illicit trade.

They include:

• Rachel Bae, Senior Counsellor in the Trade and Agriculture Directorate at OECD;
• Naomi Doak, Head of Conservation Programmes at The Royal Foundation and Project Director United for Wildlife;
• Karl Lallerstedt, Senior Advisor for Security Policy at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise;
• Leonard F. McCarthy, President of LFMcCarthy Associates, Inc., and former World Bank Group Vice President for Integrity;
• Ronald S. Ntuli, Chairman at Thelo Group (Pty) Ltd., and Board of Directors at African Export-Import Bank; and
• Nikos Passas, Professor of criminology and criminal justice at Northeastern University and co-director of the Institute for Security and Public Policy.

“Corruption is a primary enabler of illicit trade across all sectors,” said Mr. Passas. “In working with TRACIT, we aim to tackle corruption head on and ensure that there is no place for it in supply chains, Customs and government agencies responsible for promoting trade.” 

“We’re fortunate to have such a distinguished group of experts available to lend strategic guidance to TRACIT’s mission, projects and external engagements,” said Stefano Betti, TRACIT’s Deputy Director-General.

About TRACIT

The Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) is an independent, private sector initiative to drive change to mitigate the economic and social damages of illicit trade by strengthening government enforcement mechanisms and mobilizing businesses across industry sectors most impacted by illicit trade. TRACIT draws from industry strengths and market experience to build habits of cooperation between business, government and the diverse group of countries that have limited capacities for regulatory enforcement. Connecting and mobilizing businesses across industries, sectors and national borders makes it possible to achieve results more effectively than any single actor can accomplish alone.