Duncan Willson is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for China & Mongolia at the International Trade Administration (ITA) within the U.S. Department of Commerce. In this role, Mr. Willson is responsible for leading ITA’s efforts to develop policies and strategies to meet the multi-dimensional challenges posed by China in bilateral trade with the United States and across the globe, from addressing persistent market access barriers to shaping trade promotion activities that enhance U.S. economic security, support U.S. workers, and create market opportunities for U.S. companies in the region. He is supported by a team of over 100 professionals in seven offices across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and the United States.
Prior to assuming the role of Deputy Assistant Secretary, Mr. Willson served as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) in Washington, DC, helping to develop and deploy Under Secretary initiatives across the agency. This followed a five-year tour at U.S. Embassy Beijing as an IP Counselor, where he advised U.S. government agencies on how China’s technology policies and practices threaten U.S. economic security, while counseling hundreds of U.S. individuals and businesses on how to assess and address IP-related risks unique to China.
Prior to his assignment in Beijing, Mr. Willson was detailed to the White House Office of the U.S. IP Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC), where he worked with the IPEC and White House officials to draft the technology components of strategic policies and trade-related matters, in addition to providing his expertise on Chinese laws, policies, and practices. Before his detail to the Office of the IPEC, Mr. Willson served as an Attorney Advisor in the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs, where he handled bilateral IP policy matters relating to China.
Prior to joining public service, Mr. Willson was a senior associate with the law firm of Baker & McKenzie in Beijing, China, where he provided advice on a wide range of IP and technology issues, including advising on IP protection and enforcement, licensing, and dispute resolution.
Mr. Willson received his law degree from the George Washington University Law School and holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Washington. He is a Seattle native and is licensed to practice law in California.

Dr. Harley Seyedin is an international businessman, humanitarian, and philanthropist.

Achievements:

- Dr. Harley Seyedin, together with Elon Musk, Durreen Shahnaz and Murad Al-Katib won the 2017 Oslo Business for Peace Award. The Oslo Business for Peace Prize is awarded by an Award Committee of Nobel Laureates in Peace and Economics. The task of appointing a new member to the Award committee has been given to former Swedish prime minister Göran Persson, former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, and the former director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Kristian Berg Harpviken.

- Among fewer than 20 individuals to be awarded the “Peace Through Commerce Medal” by the U.S. Government since its inception by Thomas Jefferson in 1790 when he served as the nascent US Secretary of State under President George Washington and the only person in history to have been awarded both the Oslo Business for Peace Award and the Peace Through Commerce Medal.

- President, Allelon Energy Systems and former President of Sithe Global Pacific (Sithe Global is majority owned by and is the international power arm of the Blackstone Group).

- Under his direction since 1991, companies led by Harley have achieved firsts in many areas in China, including: the first majority western owned and operated power plant; first western invested toll road; and, first western owned and operated joint US-China university in China offering four year fully US accredited degrees without the need for the students to travel to US.

- Visiting Professor, Jinan University – one of the oldest universities established on mainland China tracing back to the Qing dynasty (1644–1911).

- Former Chairman of Montgomery College and State Chairman of the Maryland Association of Community College Trustees representing all seventeen community colleges of higher education in the State with over 35,000 faculty and staff and 100,000 students.

- Former Member of the Board of Directors of the Kennedy Institute, the largest private Catholic Charity in the United States, by appointment of Cardinal James A. Hickey.

- Together with Secretary of State of Cambodia, Dr. Heng Sokkung Knighted under the Philippine act of Parliament 646 joining Dr. Henry Kissinger and King Carlos of Spain and others previously knighted.

- knighted by the Head of Royal House, Duke of Braganza, Titular King of Portugal.

- Recognized by President George Herbert Walker Bush for his involvement with the
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

- Chairman and President, the American Chamber of Commerce in South China.

- Vice Chair, American Chambers of Asia Pacific (AAP).