Carol West Honoured by I.E. Canada CATIE Award
I.E. Canada has awarded its inaugural CATIE award for Trade Leadership to Carol West, President of the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers, in recognition of her leadership and vision promoting compliance and the culture of professionalism in trade.
In presenting the Trade Leadership award, Paul Lalonde, Partner with Heenan Blaikie LLP, recognized Carol’s contributions to trade, “…which have earned her the respect of her colleagues for her integrity, honesty, knowledge and expertise, along with her skill in collaborating and building consensus on some very important issues facing the trade community”. Carol has been an influential voice providing leadership and innovation relating to trade policy and trade facilitation, both in Canada and internationally.
Carol has been instrumental in advancing professionalism and promoting education among customs and compliance professionals, especially with the development of the CCS program in Canada. With its focus on ongoing professional development for customs and border management professionals, the CCS designation is now a highly recognized, desired professional certification in the trade community in both Canada and the United States.
In addition to her responsibilities as President of the CSCB, Carol is the Secretary of the International Federation of Customs Brokers Associations (IFCBA). She is also the Chair of the World Customs Organization’s Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG), a committee of 17 global companies and 13 international trade associations which advises the WCO Secretary General and Policy Commission on a variety of important strategic issues, including the implementation of the SAFE Framework of Standards. Most recently, Carol has advocated for enhanced benefits for trusted traders both nationally and through the work of the PSCG with its Authorized Economic Operator policy development, all the while ensuring that the voice of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises is heard and understood.
CSCB Chair Candace Sider was delighted that Carol West received the inaugural award for Trade Leadership, and said: “To be selected from a prestigious group of trade professionals is a testament to Carol’s reputation, the respect of her colleagues and peers, and her unwavering commitment to advancing trade. She truly does exemplify the standard and ethic that I.E. Canada was looking for in this most prestigious award.”
I.E. Canada President Mary Anderson said: “Carol is an influential voice in the Canadian trade industry. She has devoted her career to advancing trade and has set a standard for professionalism that exemplifies Canada as a trading nation.”
The Canadian Awards of Trade in Imports and Exports (CATIE) celebrate excellence in Canada’s trade community. The awards have been established to recognize the unsung heroes in trade, those who have implemented outstanding processes, improved trade operations, created efficiencies and increased profitability, and nurtured the culture of trade professionalism.
