About Emma

Emma is the former Member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands constituency in the United Kingdom. She had held this position since 2009 and had risen through the ranks in Brussels. Emma has extensive experience in digital, technology and international trade owing to her prominent roles on the International Trade Committee (INTA) and Internal Market Committee (IMCO).

After joining INTA in early 2012, Emma was soon appointed as the ECR Group Coordinator for the committee, tasked with leading the Group in all trade matters. In this role, Emma worked extensively to deliver free trade agreements and push for an open and transparent trade agenda in the EU. Moreover, Emma worked extensively on policy relating to emerging technologies and the Digital Single Market. As part of her work on INTA, she was the first MEP to publish an Own Initiative Report that considers the use of blockchain in a specific policy area. Moreover, Emma has worked on cybersecurity, Copyright in the Digital Single Market and most recently the EU regulation to prevent the dissemination of terrorist content online.

Emma was also Chairman of the Commonwealth Forum, which is a Brussels-based association and a branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society, which serves as the main forum for the Parliament’s relations with the Commonwealth nations.

She now holds a number of international and advisory roles. Including Digital Transformation Ambassador at Finserv, Independent Director of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) board, advisor to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Blockchain in the House, and is a member of the Commonwealth Enterprise & Investment Council (CWEIC) board.

As part of her expertise in policymaking, Emma has spoken at and worked with several organisations and industry stakeholders including the European Centre for International Political Economy, Allied for Startups, the APPG on Blockchain in the UK Parliament, Dubai World Trade Centre and the Big Innovation Centre.

Emma is a well-recognised thought leader in the policy space of emerging technologies, in particular distributed-ledger technologies and artificial intelligence.

Career History

Director of Global Sport Policy, SIGA – 2019 – present

Founder & Managing Director, Emma McClarkin Global Consulting LTD, 2019 – present

Member of the European Parliament, Brussels, 2009 –2019

High level relations with UK Government, EU institutions, international institutions as well as industry and NGOs. Member of the International Trade, International Development, Culture, Internal Market & Consumer Protection Committees. Working with multi-range of industries and stakeholders.
Lead Coordinator for the International Trade Committee – Responsible for EU Trade and Investment policy. Overview of all ongoing and potential negotiations at bilateral, plurilateral and multinational level. In particular, the negotiations for Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with US, Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada, Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan as well as EU-India EU-China Agreements and current upgrading of the EU-Mexico FTA. Responsible for negotiations and trialogue management on Conflict Minerals and Trade Defence Instruments as well as the key negotiations on Trade in Services Agreement covering 70% of global services economy. Special focus on use of emerging technologies for future trade policy and trade facilitation.
Political and economic relations with the US, USTR, Transatlantic Legislators Dialogue. Member of the US Delegation.
Member of the European Parliament WTO Steering Group. Addressing the WTO in Geneva on many occasions and speaker at Buenos Aires WTO Ministerial on e-Commerce and Internationalisation of SMEs.
Intellectual Property Rights Specialist
Rapporteur on Illegal Wildlife Trade. Operational knowledge of CITIES OECD and World Customs Organisation.

Chairman, Commonwealth Forum, 2016 – 2019

Branch of Royal Commonwealth Society in EU responsible for fostering relations between Commonwealth Nations and EU.
Advising Commonwealth partners on Trade and Development, Economic Partnerships Agreements and accessing aid.
Special advice given throughout Brexit process to reassure nations of the continuation and indeed deepening of trade relations with UK and EU.

Independent Non-Executive Director, BASCA, 2018 – Present

Giving strategic advice and oversight of the running and rebranding of BASCA.
Advising on policy and campaigns around intellectual property rights and creative industries.

Special Advisory Board Member, Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, 2017 – Present

Advising Board on CWEIC Strategy and delivery of business and trade focused projects throughout the Commonwealth, namely the Commonwealth First Initiative.
Helping advise on access to funding for trade and development
Leading delegations and participating in trade forums around the Commonwealth.

Rugby Football Union, Twickenham – Government Relations, 2008-2009

RFU Representative for EU & UK Government Relations in charge of stakeholder relationship management
Successful bids for two World Cups Women’s in 2010 & Men’s 2015 underwritten by UK Government for £100m
Securing £33m from the Government for Community Rugby

Political Advisor, European Parliament, Brussels, July 2004 – 2008

Technical, legal & political advice & in-depth research on current legislative proposals and their impact.
Stakeholder relationship management – Maintaining relationships with Industry, Westminster and the Commission

Press Officer East Midlands MEPs, Leicestershire, August 2002 – July 2004

Creating media strategies & quality editorial highlighting successes & focusing on priorities
Coordinating media briefings, media campaigns, visits/briefings for high level politicians

Roche Diagnostics, Lewes – Logistics AdministratorJuly 2002 – August 2002

East Sussex County Council, Lewes – Administrator, June 2002 – July 2002

Goldinghams Solicitors, Stroud – Senior Litigation Legal Assistant, Nov 2001 – March 2002

Political Achievements

Helping Business & promoting Trade: Supporting SMEs and fighting for exemptions for UK businesses from burdensome legislation; connecting businesses together with UK and overseas opportunities.
As a well-known International Trade expert & Free Trade advocate Emma has addressed the WTO, OECD and WCO and is a British American Business Council Champion.
Established the European Parliament’s position on the use of blockchain and distributed-ledger technologies within international trade.
Initiating & securing a majority vote for her report on the use of trade policy in the fight against Illegal Wildlife Trade
Working to get the best from the EU & Single Market: Emma has worked hard to reduce red tape and secure our fair share of EU funds and Horizon 2020 for priorities on research, investment & growth.
Secured the implementation of an alert-mechanism for disqualified professionals operating in Europe and language testing for healthcare professionals.
Helped attain an EU license for a new childhood leukaemia drug developed and manufactured in East Midlands.
Campaigned with farmers for better implementation of animal welfare rules; supporting our farmers on use of Glyphosates and an end to fish discards madness.
Spearheaded campaign on Child Protection online and authored the first paper in Parliament on Cybercrime and how we need to crack down on it.
Chairman of the Commonwealth Forum in Brussels strengthening our links within the Commonwealth both at home and overseas