Shaun Lake
Senior Adviser E-Learning, International Trade Centre, Switzerland
Shaun Lake started in the training business as a training officer in 1989. Early in his career he began experimenting with different media such as video to enhance the learning experience. It soon became clear that the Internet could provide a new avenue of delivery. It made sense to move from video and workbooks to something that resembled this on a learning management system.
He formed a company in 2000 that offered online diplomas and courses for the logistics industry. This opened up opportunities for young people to access high quality accredited education from their homes.
He then took up the challenge to launch the SME Trade Academy at the International Trade Centre in Geneva. The ITC is a multilateral agency which has a joint mandate with the World Trade Organization and the United Nations and it focuses on helping small businesses in developing countries to participate in global trade. The Academy currently has more than 120 courses and supports around 150 000 enrolments per year.