In 2017 Alexander Groba had been appointed Head of Export Control, Customs and Foreign Trade at MTU Aero Engines, Germany’s leading engine manufacturer. Being an established global player in the industry, MTU is engaged in the development, manufacture, marketing and support of commercial and military aircraft engines in all thrust and power categories and industrial gas turbines.

Prior joining MTU, Alexander was Airbus Group’s Coordinator for U.S. Export Control, driving the company through the U.S. export control reform, and also headed the Centre of Competence Tools & Training. Before being selected to support the corporate team in 2010, he served as Head of Customs and Export Control of Tesat-Spacecom, Europe’s largest equipment supplier in the field of satellite communications. Until 2007, he worked within the Central Export Administration of EADS, providing guidance to the German subsidiaries.

Furthermore, being a regular speaker on conferences around the World, e.g. in Ankara, London, Washington or Paris, Alexander works as a consultant and lecturer for export compliance and is also co-author of the German textbook “Praxis der US-(Re-)Exportkontrolle” (3rd edition, 2015).

In 2006, he graduated with a diploma from Brunswick European Law School which had been awarded as the best thesis in International Law.

Bettina Mertgen is Partner at Deloitte and is responsible for all Deloitte’s services around export controls, embargoes and sanctions. After more than 8 years in an international Law Firm she joined Deloitte in April 2015. Bettina has long-term experience in advising national and international clients. She is focused on advising in her clients in al all aspects of Internal Compliance. She and her team develops customized customs and trade compliance processes including working and organizational guidelines for her clients and assists in its implementation.

Michael Schäfer is a Partner and head of Deloitte‘s Global Trade Advisory (GTA) Team in Germany since January 2015. He has more than 25 years of experience in customs and global trade matters. Michael Schäferstarted his career as auditor for the German customs authorities. Consecutively he gathered experience in industrial enterprises as head of goods dispatch and customs. He implemented export control management and customs systems and added during his time at SAP a profound knowledge in SAP ERP. He was responsible for the go-to-market for SAP’s global trade management solution (SAP GTS) in Europe. Before joining Deloitte, Michael worked as Consultant and was leading several IT-related customs & trade projects.

Selected clients
Various companies in different industries as Automotive, Industrial products, Process industries, Aerospace & defense, Retail, Consumer products, Technology, Logistic Service providers etc.

Selected experiences
•30 years of experience in customs and global trade matters
•Working experience as customs auditor
•experience in industrial enterprises
•Implementation of export control management and customs systems •Roll-out of SAP’s global trade management solution (SAP GTS) •Experience in IT-related customs & trade projects
• Academic background and memberships

Michael has a Master in financial administration (customs) and a Master in business administration.

Mr. Pölzl has more than 10 years global trade industry and project experience and has performed various roles in leading software solution vendors. He has extensive global trade consulting experience with a current focus on compliance and process automation, which complements previous work in customs compliance management. Roles have included software development, support, implementation, project management and sales for customers across Europe and Asia in different sectors including automotive, electronics, retail and 3PL.

♦ Ms. Ingrun Retzlaff, Head of Export Control, Brüker Daltonics

♦ Ms. Erika Trujillo, Trade Compliance Professional, Private Enterprise

♦ Mr. Ed Peartree, Group Head of Export Control, BAE Systems Plc (tentative)

Van Bael & Bellis is a leading independent law firm based in Brussels with more than 30 years of experience in EU trade and customs law, specialising in trade defence instruments, investigations and export controls. The firm has an office in Geneva dedicated to WTO matters. With nearly 70 lawyers coming from 20 different countries, we offer our clients the support of a highly effective team of professionals with multi-jurisdictional expertise and an international perspective. Our expertise is focused and specific, resulting in deep experience within our specialisations, which include EU competition law, EU regulatory law and Belgian business law.