IOTA launches expert advice for TWIN: UK trade professionals should deliver
- The IOTA Foundation is setting up a new Expert Advisory Board for TWIN, with a clear focus on Great Britain.
- The board is intended to dock TWIN to real customs processes, IT systems and compliance controls.
The IOTA Foundation is expanding its TWIN (Trade Worldwide Information Network) trading initiative and is getting a new Expert Advisory Board for this purpose. The focus is clearly on the United Kingdom. The idea: TWIN should not only look good from a technical point of view, but should also exist in real operation and be adaptable.
Like the IOTA Foundation in one Blog post of February 19, the problem in reality lies not with “design”, but with customs processes, regulation and implementation along real supply chains. In the announcement, IOTA writes:
“As the technological architect behind TWIN, IOTA is building the foundation for a more connected global trading ecosystem. But technology alone is not enough. Turning this vision into a functioning system requires the knowledge of professionals who know trading processes, customs systems and regulatory frameworks first-hand.”
The same tone comes across on X too: less theory, more everyday life. The board is “market-driven and expert-led” and should help ensure that TWIN is ultimately usable in practice – i.e. compatible with real processes, real IT systems and real controls.
According to IOTA, the board consists of independent industry people who can say early on what is not working in the company:
“The IOTA Expert Advisory Board is made up of independent industry leaders who will bring extensive practical experience to the development of the TWIN platform, particularly with a focus on the UK. The Advisory Board will provide practical advice and key insights to optimize the solutions developed and ensure that TWIN is based on operational reality, economic viability and the needs of the evolving market.”
This is the new IOTA Expert Advisory Board
Mark Johnson should bring this practical pressure particularly directly. IOTA describes him as a customs and trade specialist with over 40 years of experience in logistics, including a senior role at Kuehne+Nagel. He advised the British government during and after Brexit and continues to support the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
John Lucy is introduced as a transportation and logistics manager with four decades of experience across multiple regions. He advises on cross-border transport, customs reform, digitalization and decarbonization – and is active in organizations such as the Road Haulage Association and the World Free Zones Organization.
Dr. According to IOTA, Anna Jerzewska, founder and managing director of Trade & Borders, brings more than 20 years of consulting experience – for governments, international organizations and companies, from London to Brussels to Geneva. She is also named as a customs rapporteur for EuroCommerce and as a member of the Windsor Framework Independent Monitoring Panel.
Professor Sangeeta Khorana is classified as an economist and data analyst with over 25 years of experience – with positions in science, government, consulting and advisory. Her focus is on trade, free trade agreements, market access and impact analysis for policy decisions.
Daniel Shelcot, Head of Business Solutions and Border Compliance at Maritime Cargo Processing (Destin8), is tasked with bridging the gap to port and border systems. IOTA points to more than 17 years of experience in port and border IT – and its perspective on how platforms interact with real supply chains and government controls.
Gavin Johnson, Managing Director at Mobius Technology, will be positioned as an interface between industry and IT. He developed the “Signal” system for tracking temperature-controlled logistics and has experience in the digitization of complex supply chains, business development and international operations.
The bottom line is that IOTA TWIN wants to make it “real-world”, i.e. away from the pilot and towards a system that runs in day-to-day business. As CNF recently reported, the IOTA Foundation also wants to gain a foothold in South Korea. Dominik Schiener met with large companies and financial institutions for this purpose.
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