Annika Barton is based in Amsterdam, where she commenced her posting as Trade and Investment Commissioner in 2021 for the Netherlands, Nordics and Baltics. Annika is an experienced trade and investment practitioner with strong capabilities in international business development and strategic planning.
Most recently, Annika managed Austrade's global Landing Pad program and the alignment of Austrade’s suite of services for high growth, tech-driven scale ups to fast-track their international growth. Prior to this, Annika was the Trade and Investment Commissioner in San Francisco, where she managed the Americas Region Cyber Security Sector Team and the San Francisco Landing Pad.
In management roles across Austrade’s Trade and Investment Divisions in Sydney, Annika’s achievements include the design and implementation of the Australian Government Fintech Trade and Investment Program, an initiative to enhance the support provided to fintech exporters and investors; a key role in the negotiation of the Australia-UK Fintech Bridge; and a role as Austrade’s representative seconded to the Innovation Science Australia Taskforce, providing trade and investment expertise for the development of the 'Australia 2030: Prosperity through Innovation' strategy paper.
Annika has extensive public sector experience, with a particular focus on the intersection of government and industry, having come to Austrade from the New South Wales Department of Industry, where she worked on strategies and programs to address skills shortages and boost Australia’s economic prosperity.