Sir Crawford Falconer KCMG
Senior Adviser, Bradshaw Advisory

Sir Crawford is one of the world’s most experienced and talented trade experts, with more than 25 years at the forefront of geopolitics and global business. He has held senior leadership roles across governments, international organisations, and academia, advising on complex negotiations and helping shape global trade frameworks.

Most recently, he served as Permanent Secretary and Second Permanent at the UK Department for Business and Trade, where he oversaw the department and led the government’s trade negotiation profession. He was instrumental in delivering the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), one of the world’s largest free trade areas, as well as overseeing trade negotiations with Japan, USA, India, and Australia.

Earlier in his career, Sir Crawford was New Zealand’s Chief Trade Negotiator and Ambassador to the WTO, where he played a central role in advancing the ‘Doha round’, chairing multiple negotiating groups and helping steer talks on agriculture, subsidies, and market access. His leadership made him a key figure in efforts to rebalance the global trading system in favour of developing economies.

At the OECD, he chaired the Trade Committee and directed work on services and trade value-added, helping governments understand the role of global supply chains and services in competitiveness. He has also served as a judge in more than 15 WTO disputes, including the landmark Boeing–Airbus case.

Recognised with a knighthood in 2024 for services to international trade, Sir Crawford brings unparalleled insight into the political, economic, and technical dimensions of negotiation, offering clients deep expertise in navigating complex government, trade, market access and regulatory landscapes.