Paul BarnesChief Executive of the Association of International Retail

Paul has 30 years’ experience advising clients at board level on public affairs and strategic reputation management. His clients range from FTSE 100 companies to smaller businesses, trade associations and charities. Paul’s recent work includes a national campaign to change UK business taxation, a programme to reform visitor visa procedures and the securing of commitment and funding for a major infrastructure programme in central London. Paul was a councillor for ten years and, at 23, became Britain’s youngest mayor. He is currently Campaigns Director of Conservatives Abroad, working with the Conservative Party to engage British expats worldwide.