25 July 2023
The inaugural NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, Dr James Cockayne, has announced the formation of an Advisory Panel to support efforts to combat modern slavery in NSW.
Comprising experts from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds, the Advisory Panel will provide crucial advice and guidance to the Commissioner as he seeks to implement his new Strategic Plan 2023-2026, Working Together for Real Freedom, which was launched at NSW Parliament House on 22 June 2023.
The first intake of 20 members includes leaders from business, unions, investing, human rights groups, researchers, the public service and community support organisations. Amongst the first intake are noted leaders such as Craig Foster AM, Violet Roumeliotis AM, Fiona Reynolds, Cindy Penrose and Kerry O’Brien.
“I’m thrilled to be able to call on the wisdom and experience of this Advisory Panel as we ramp up efforts to assist the 16,400 people thought to be in modern slavery in New South Wales”, said Dr Cockayne. “The makeup of the Advisory Panel reflects the incredible diversity of our community and the wealth of experience and expertise that puts NSW at the forefront of global anti-slavery efforts.”
Consistent with the Commissioner’s vision of a NSW anti-slavery movement that empowers people with lived experience of modern slavery, 20 percent of the Advisory Panel members have declared lived experience of modern slavery.
All members of the Advisory Panel are entitled to be paid for their time and expertise and receive counselling and other supports.
The members of the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner’s Advisory Panel are (in alphabetical order):
- Cindy Penrose was previously Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary of the Paul Ramsay Foundation.
- Craig Foster AM is a highly respected broadcaster, social justice advocate and human rights campaigner. A member of the Australian Multicultural Council, Craig works across a vast range of social programs, including indigenous rights and self-determination, refugee advocacy, homelessness and domestic violence, and gender equality.
- Esty Marcu is the Director of the Modern Slavery Unit at the University of Sydney, where she leads the University’s strategic response to reporting obligations under the Modern Slavery Act and enables academic excellence on business and human rights.
- Fiona Reynolds is a renowned global sustainable investment expert and the Chair of the UN Global Compact Network Australia. She previously led the Principles for Responsible Investment global initiative.
- Heather Moore is a counter-trafficking specialist with a deep commitment to developing evidence-based responses to contemporary forms of slavery. She works with government, business and multi-stakeholder networks to develop survivor-led initiatives that transcend minimum standards to achieve practical and measurable positive change.
- Jenny Stanger is a well-known anti-slavery leader with over 20 years’ experience in service delivery, policy reform, community outreach, capacity-building and support for survivor leadership. Currently, she is a Program Manager at the Australian Catholic Anti-slavery Network (ACAN) assisting over 50 Catholic health, education, finance and community organisations to comply with the Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act 2018. She represents ACAN on the Australian Government’s National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery.
- Joseph La Posta is the CEO of Multicultural NSW. He has a deep understanding of the needs and experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse communities, including those vulnerable to modern slavery. His experience in policy development, community engagement, and working with diverse stakeholders will see him represent a range of voices and perspectives on the Advisory Panel.
- Kerry O’Brien is a proud Koori lawyer, Chair of Redfern Legal Centre, and Special Counsel in the Employment Relations and Safety team at McCullough Robertson. He is a specialist in employment law, discrimination law and work health and safety across disputes, investigations and advisory work.
- Kyla Raby is an internationally recognised antitrafficking specialist with expertise in designing and implementing survivor support services and developing evidence-based recommendations for policy change. Her research specialisations are related to the role of consumers in responding to modern slavery, intersections between housing and exploitation, and strengthening rights and protections for survivors.
- Luke Geary is a Partner in the NFPs, Human Rights & Social Impact team at Mills Oakley and one of Australia’s leading lawyers representing victims of human trafficking and labour exploitation. He also assists large organisations in their compliance with modern slavery regulations.
- Moe Turaga is a modern slavery warrior and advocate who uses his personal experience to help others. He champions the rights and needs of survivors, raising awareness of modern slavery, and advocating for reform to government, business, and wider society.
- Nanushka is a lived experience advocate. They are passionate about ending sexual, domestic and family violence, and removing access barriers for sex workers who are migrants or living with disability.
- Poonam Datar is an expert in worker-led due diligence, who previously led the Cleaning Accountability Framework certification scheme, a world leading anti-slavery initiative that places workers at the centre of due diligence.
- Rachel Elliott is Woolworth's Group's General Manager – Human Rights and brings experience in identifying, mitigating and remedying modern slavery from the perspective of Australia’s largest retailer, including working with a large, diverse and complex global supply chain. She is also Co-Chair of the Consumer Goods Forum Human Rights Coalition.
- Richard Boele is the Chief Purpose Officer and Partner at KPMG Banarra, focusing on Human Rights & Social Impact Services. His life goal is to see the corporate responsibility to respect human rights mainstreamed.
- Rizwana Khan is a Project Officer at the NSW Department of Education and is an expert in co-designing governmental services, including with young people, people with disability and marginalised communities.
- Sarah S is the Lived Experience Advisor to the Office of the Antislavery Commissioner, and a member of the pilot Survivor Advisory Council to the Australian government on matters of human trafficking and modern slavery. She comes with a background of emergency and intensive care nursing, prior to her experience of exploitation in the adult industry.
- Sophie Reid is a Clinical Psychologist and Co-Director of Birchtree Centre, where she supports people who have experienced childhood and adulthood abuse, complex trauma and maltreatment.
- Thomas Costa is an employment and industrial lawyer and the Assistant Secretary of Unions NSW. Overseeing Union NSW’s Visa Assist program in partnership with the Immigration and Rights Centre, he is a leading advocate for migrant workers who have been exploited at work or been forced to work and live in slave-like conditions.
- Violet Roumeliotis AM is the CEO of national non-profit organisation SSI. As a for-purpose leader and advocate, she works across a number of boards and advisory bodies with the aim of advancing equality and levelling the playing field for individuals and families experiencing inequality.
