2015 WCO IT Conference and Exhibition
 


Title
Head, Administration and Personnel
Company
WCO
Bio

Ray Mc Donagh is currently Head of Administration and Personnel in the World Customs Organization.

Before joining the WCO he worked for more than thirty years in Irish Revenue on Customs and taxation issues. His work included determination of national policy on a wide range of taxation and Customs issues including budgetary and legislative matters. He was a member of the High Level Group on the abolition of Fiscal Frontiers within the European Community that was established to oversee the creation of the Internal Market.

From 1991 to 1997 Ray served as Customs Attaché to the European Community during which time he was responsible for the customs aspects of the 1996 Irish Presidency of the European Union. During this period he also represented Ireland in the negotiation of the Common Customs Code which is applicable throughout the European Community. His brief also extended to WCO matters and he attended meetings on a range of issues including the development of the revised International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (revised Kyoto Convention). His brief later included the development of Customs policy with particular reference to e-commerce, trade facilitation and inter-agency co-operation. He was also the Irish Customs representative on WTO matters.

As Head of Administration and Personnel at the WCO, Ray is responsible for a wide range of issue including overseeing preparations for the Council, Policy Commission, Finance Committee and Audit Committee. He is also engaged in overall Policy issues and developing the relationship with Members and external bodies.

Born in August 1953, Ray is married to Gretta, they have two adult daughters, Lisa, a research chemist working in Australia and Carol a travel consultant working in London.