Meet The Team
Our team has led FDI and trade initiatives across the globe, working with international organisations and governments alike. What makes us different is that we’ve been on the inside — each of us has worked within government, so we understand how policy, politics, and process really work. That insight enables us to turn strategic ideas into practical, effective outcomes.
Martin Phelan
Martin brings two decades of senior-level investment promotion experience, including directing the UK's investment presence in Africa. He led the development of the UK's Outward Direct Investment Programme and has been instrumental in organising UK-Africa Investment Conferences.
Kristian J Schnack
With over 30 years of international experience in FDI, Kris has led major projects across the Pacific, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. He specializes in investment readiness, strategic promotion, and building institutional capacity for attracting investment. He has worked with OCO Global, Wavteq, the EU, and the World Bank, among others.
Donna Rubino
Donna supports the team in the areas of project management, research, marketing and quality control. With a background in international investment promotion, she has worked with economic development agencies across North America and Europe.
Robyn Ekstrom
Robyn is a trade facilitation and SME development expert with deep knowledge of Pacific economies. Her work includes establishing the PTI Europe Office in Geneva and developing trade programs across diverse sectors in small island developing states.
Greg Elms
Greg is a senior expert in investment promotion with over 36 years of experience across Asia-Pacific. He has led major projects for the World Bank, IFC, and Global Affairs Canada, advising governments on investment strategies in sectors including tourism, infrastructure, and manufacturing. Greg has worked extensively in Indonesia and India, supporting SEZ development, FDI attraction, and institutional capacity building.
Mehrdad Rahmani
Mehrdad is an economist and international consultant with over 13 years of experience advising governments, development agencies (including UNIDO, UNDP, World Bank, and the EU), and private sector clients. He specializes in industrial development, strategic planning, and investment facilitation, with a strong focus on FDI and impact investment.
He has delivered technical assistance and pre-investment studies in over 60 countries and has led numerous training programmes on UNIDO’s COMFAR software.
Mike Bartley
Mike Bartley is an inward investment specialist with over 20 years’ experience across regional and national investment promotion agencies. He has held senior roles at UK Trade & Investment and the Department for Business and Trade, leading activity in digital, creative and e-commerce sectors.
Mike has supported hundreds of companies to establish and grow in the UK, working with both innovative SMEs and major international investors. He brings particular expertise in market entry, international expansion, and developing targeted programmes to attract and retain investment, supported by a strong network across the UK’s digital, creative and technology sectors.