With Sabina Ciofu | Hosted by Jake E. Jennings

June 12, 2025
Coffee, Trade, and Tech, Episode #5

In episode five of our Tholos Talks series that unpacks the defining economic challenges of the 21st century — Coffee, Trade, and Tech — Jake welcomes Sabina Ciofu, Associate Director - International at techUK, to discuss the evolving landscape of digital trade policy. The conversation highlights recent developments such as the UK–India Free Trade Agreement and the U.S.–UK digital trade framework, with Sabina offering insights into the uncertain future of U.S. engagement in digital trade and its potential implications for other countries. The discussion also explores whether international trade can help prevent future conflicts and the growing emphasis countries are placing on digital sovereignty.

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This episode is brought to you by the Basilinna Institute.

About Our Guest

Sabina Ciofu leads global policy and trade work at techUK, where she heads the International Policy and Trade Program. Based in Brussels, Sabina drives techUK’s global policy engagement across the EU, US, Canada, Asia-Pacific and the Gulf region. Her focus areas include digital trade at both bilateral and multilateral levels, regulatory cooperation, and expanding international commercial opportunities for techUK’s small and medium-sized enterprises.

Previously, she spent nearly a decade as Policy Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament, specializing in tech regulation, international trade, and EU-US relations.

Sabina is passionate about building communities and fostering connections. For 10 years, she co-organized Young Professionals in Digital Policy, growing the network to over 800 members. These days, she runs Old Professionals in Digital Policy - more experience, better wine, and slightly earlier bedtimes.

Sabina is also the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club; a community of 500+ women committed to supporting each other with kindness and authenticity. In the past, she also led civic engagement and gender equality initiatives through the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community.

She serves on the Advisory Board of the UCL European Institute, Café Transatlantique (a network of women in transatlantic tech policy), and The Nine, Brussels’ first women’s members club.

Sabina has been recognized as one of the most influential women in UK tech by ComputerWeekly, and regularly speaks on tech regulatory cooperation, digital trade, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

She holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.

When she is not doing all the above, she loves travelling (mostly for work - but she squeezes in fun when she can!) and running marathons around the world.

About Our Host

Jake E. Jennings is Chair of Technology and Trade at Basilinna. He is a seasoned government affairs leader with over three decades of experience with expertise in global trade, supply chain policy, and international markets. His career spans...read the full bio here.

About the Show

Tholos Talks, a series following the spirit of the tholos circle, where Ancient Greek intellectuals gathered to debate the issues of the day. Through deep insight and thought-provoking dialogue, we offer the tools to decode complexity and illuminate the path forward.

Tholos Talks is a Basilinna Institute-produced podcast.

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