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Liz Whitehouse

Liz Whitehouse is a research specialist with a specific focus on international trade and export development, investment, and business linkages. Having worked in the international trade arena for a number of years, she has developed a keen understanding of South African trade and investment, and the issues facing potential investors and traders in international markets. Liz has an established network of contacts across the continent at all levels of business. Her years of experience managing the research unit at the South African Foreign Trade Organisation (Safto) have given her an insight into the dealings of the business sector in international markets and through her research work she has established a network of contacts in a number of countries. Her research has covered a variety of economic sectors ranging from food and beverages to mining and heavy industry to consumer goods.

Following a brief period as a management trainee at the retail group, Woolworths, Liz joined the South African Foreign Trade Organisation (Safto) in August 1988 as the researcher responsible for Africa. At the time of Safto's closure in March 1998, Liz was the General Manager of the Research and Consulting Division. During her ten years at Safto, Liz has gained experience in African trade and has made extensive contacts across the continent. She has assisted a number of South African and international companies further their business interests in Africa and has traveled to a number of African countries to undertake research assignments on behalf of clients.

Following the closure of Safto in March 1998, Liz established a specialist research company, Whitehouse & Associates. Aside from the research undertaken on a daily basis for Whitehouse & Associates' clients, Liz keeps up to date with the South African export sector through her joint venture with Mbendi Information Services which entails the development and maintenance of trade related Internet sites on the Mbendi server. Liz regularly provides comments to the South African and international media on issues relating to African trade and investment and has co-authored a report published by the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO entitled Food and Beverages: A practical guide to the South African market.

Liz has a Bachelor of Social Science degree (1986) from Rhodes University and a post-graduate diploma in Human Resources Management (1987) from the University of Cape Town.