Erin Ennis

Erin Ennis has been Senior Vice President of the US-China Business Council since February 2015, after serving as Vice President since 2005. In that position, she directs USCBC’s government affairs and advocacy work for member companies and oversees USCBC’s Business Advisory Services. She also leads a coalition of other trade associations on issues of interest to companies doing business with China. Founded in 1973, the US-China Business Council provides extensive China-focused information, advisory, and advocacy services, along with comprehensive events, to nearly 250 US corporations operating within the United States and throughout Asia. She is a cleared advisor as part of the US Government’s International Trade Advisory Committee (ITAC) system and Vice Chair of the ITAC’s Investment Working Group.

Prior to joining USCBC, Ms. Ennis worked at Kissinger McLarty Associates, the international consulting firm headed by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former White House Chief of Staff Thomas “Mack” McLarty. At Kissinger McLarty, Ms. Ennis was responsible for implementing strategies for international business clients on proprietary trade matters, primarily in Vietnam and Japan.

Before entering the private sector, Ms. Ennis held several positions in the US Government. From 1992 to 1996, Ms. Ennis was a legislative aide to former U.S. Senator John Breaux, working on international trade and commerce. She also worked on health care issues during the Senate’s consideration of President Bill Clinton’s health care reform, an issue on which Senator Breaux actively worked to broker a compromise.

At the Office of the US Trade Representative from 1996 to 2000, Ms. Ennis first worked in Congressional Affairs on Asia issues, including annual approvals of China’s most favored nation status and the ill-fated 1997 push to renew presidential “fast track” negotiating authority. Beginning in 1998, she was assistant to Deputy US Trade Representative Richard Fisher, who led US trade negotiations and enforcement with Asia, the Americas, and on intellectual property rights.

A native of Louisiana, Ms. Ennis has a BA from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts and a Masters in International Affairs from Catholic University in Washington, DC. She is an active volunteer for the Mount Holyoke Alumnae Association and the Washington National Cathedral. In 1999, Ms. Ennis completed the Marine Corps Marathon in under a quarter of a day and successfully laid to rest any lingering desire to run future races.

Virginia Foote

Ginny Foote is President and CEO of Bay Global Strategies, a strategic consulting firm that helps clients doing business in and with Vietnam. Beginning in 1989, she co-founded and ran the non-profit U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council (USVTC) and has been engaged on U.S.-Vietnam trade issues for over 25 years, including with the normalization of relations with the United States, the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement, Vietnam’s accession to the WTO, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, APEC and other economic and policy issues.                                               

Virginia B. Foote founded Bay Global Strategies LLC to provide clients with critical knowledge and strategic planning for doing business in and with Vietnam. With over 25 years of experience with Vietnam, Ms. Foote provides clients with top notch on-the-ground strategic advisory services, stakeholder engagement, planning and implementation support, and government relations.  Ms. Foote is a well-known  expert on Vietnamese politics, economics and the business environment and formed a partnership with the investment firm Indochina Capital in 2012. 

From 2007 to 2011, Ms. Foote served as President and Partner of Vietnam Partners LLC, providing investment banking and advisory services. For three years prior, Ms. Foote served as Executive Vice President of the US-ASEAN Business Council, merging the US-Vietnam Trade Council members with the US-ASEAN Business Council.

In 1989, Ms. Foote co-founded with former Ambassador William H. Sullivan, the non-profit U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council (USVTC) under the International Center, in Washington DC and remains IC President today.  Under Ms. Foote's leadership, USVTC played a leading role in normalization, the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement, Vietnam's accession to the WTO, and she received the U.S. Ambassador's Award for Citizen Diplomacy (1999).  Ms. Foote served as Chair for the U.S. Business Coalition for APEC 2006 and Chair of the U.S.-Vietnam WTO Coalition. She received the Vietnam President’s Medal of Friendship for her career achievements in 2007. 

Ms. Foote continued to help efforts to build economic and political relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam, including work on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.  Ms. Foote serves as President of the Board of the International Center where she oversaw the humanitarian projects of VIC in Cambodia and VVAF in Vietnam.  She is the past Co-Chair of the Vietnam Business Forum 2014-2016, the premier foreign and domestic business association in Vietnam, and Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, and currently serves as Board member of both the VBF and AmCham. 

In June 2016, Ms. Foote was honored to be awarded the Vietnam President's Friendship Order Medal for active contribution to the normalization and development of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the US.