Chris Bennett
Caribbean Council
Managing Director
For 10 years, Chris has advised UK members and clients on developments in the Caribbean region relating to trade, investment and international development as well as supporting Caribbean Governments and the private sector on trade policy issues in London, Brussels and Geneva. He has provided Europe-wide public affairs and trade policy advice to some of the largest corporations and business groups in the Caribbean and Central America at CEO level, primarily on trade and regulatory issues affecting the spirits, tourism and financial services industries.
Chris has worked with numerous international investors to the region, undertaking legislative analysis and research on political, economic and commercial developments in the Caribbean and Central America for British and international companies. This has included research on the impact of a new EU Free Trade Agreement on the Caribbean Tourism industry; international frameworks relating to the shipment of waste; a comprehensive study of the cruise industry; detailed reporting on Cuba; and a quantitative and qualitative study on the market for banking services among the Caribbean diaspora in the UK.
He has acted as an advisor to the British Government on the Caribbean and Central America including producing detailed reports for the British Embassies and High Commissions in Guatemala, El Salvador, Guyana and Suriname on business opportunities for UK companies in those countries, visiting and interviewing, often in Spanish, over 50 senior figures from the private and public sector including Ministers.
Chris has managed and led over eight trade and investment missions to the region with delegations of senior British business people and MPs and Peers, including the first ever UK Parliamentary visit to Haiti. Countries include Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana and Nicaragua.
Before working at the Caribbean Council, Chris worked at the European Commission and worked for five years on UK and European policy issues for a major manufacturing industry trade body based in London. He also worked in Parliament as a researcher for Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP. A fluent Spanish, Italian and French speaker, Chris holds a Master Degree in European Politics and Policy from the London School of Economics. He completed his first degree in Modern European Studies at University College London.