patron and ambassadors

We are lucky to have a dedicated patron and loyal supporters who champion our work and help spread the word about modern slavery. Whether it’s attending an event or speaking up on social media, our Patrons generously give their time to Unseen.

Levison Wood

Levison wood

Patron

Levison Wood is Unseen’s Patron and a British explorer, writer and photographer. Says Levison: “I am proud to be connected to this wonderful organisation which is a beacon of hope and provides much-needed support for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”

Baroness Stroud

Ambassador

Philippa Stroud is CEO of the Legatum Institute. Philippa’s life and career have been strongly influenced by her passion to tackle poverty and social breakdown. Previously, she was Chief Executive of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), where the “It Happens Here” report was conceived: one of the foundational reports into modern slavery in the UK. She has also worked as Special Adviser to Iain Duncan Smith MP (then Secretary of State for Work and Pensions) and the Prime Minister from 2012.

james ewins qc

Ambassador

Many partners will know James for the review on visas for overseas domestic workers he undertook for the UK Government. James has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the area of modern slavery, and Unseen is delighted to have James as one of our ambassadors and welcome his support for the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline at key events each year.

Stephen Chapman

Ambassador

Stephen retired from his role as the Anti-Slavery Coordinator with the Welsh Government in April 2021, where he worked closely with the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline and raised awareness across Wales. Stephen firmly believes that the more people who are made aware of the crime of modern slavery, then the more likely we are to identify and support victims, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

James Ewins

james ewins qc

Ambassador

Many partners will know James for the review on visas for overseas domestic workers he undertook for the UK Government. James has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the area of modern slavery, and Unseen is delighted to have James as one of our ambassadors. We welcome his support for the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline at key events each year.

IAN THEODORESON

Stephen Chapman

Ambassador

Stephen retired from his role as the Anti-Slavery Coordinator with the Welsh Government in April 2021, where he worked closely with the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline and raised awareness across Wales. Stephen firmly believes that the more people who are made aware of the crime of modern slavery, then the more likely we are to identify and support victims, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

find out more

work for us

work with us

Our mission is simple: to put an end to slavery for good. We do this by supporting survivors of modern slavery and work collaboratively with our partners to put an end to exploitation.

get involved

get involved

We are proud of the expertise and experience of everyone in our team. We’re working together to end modern slavery and bring about positive and transformational change.

our impact

our impact

Our work is vital. We provide potential victims and survivors with the guidance, support, and information they need to leave, recover, and move on from their ordeal.

Justine Currell

As I came to understand more about the issue, including through a visit to an Unseen safehouse, I knew I needed to do more to stop this abuse and exploitation.

For the last five years of my Civil Service career, I was the Modern Slavery Senior Policy Advisor in the Home Office and led on development of the Modern Slavery Act, including the transparency in supply chains provision and business guidance.

I joined Unseen to lead the development of the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, and Unseen’s work with businesses. I am regularly called upon to present at national and international conferences and use my experience of working with Ministers to influence other governments internationally to take action to address modern slavery and, in particular, business supply chain issues.

In my spare time I enjoy keeping fit, music, reading and travelling.

Andrew Wallis

What ultimately compelled me to act was a report on how people from Eastern Europe were being trafficked through Bristol airport to the USA. Kate Garbers, who went on to be an Unseen Director, and I wrote to all the city councillors, MPs and the Police Chief Constable challenging them on the issue. The challenge came back to us: this city needs safe housing for trafficked women. And so Unseen began.

But we never wanted Unseen to be just about safe housing. We wanted to end slavery once and for all, and that remains our driving focus.

I chaired the working group for the Centre for Social Justice’s landmark report “It Happens Here: Equipping the United Kingdom to Fight Modern Slavery”. This is now acknowledged as the catalyst behind the UK’s Modern Slavery Act of 2015. It was a great honour to be awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours that year. On the other hand, I’ve also been described as “the loveliest disrupter you could ever hope to meet”.

This job has taken me from building flat-pack furniture for safehouses, to working with businesses to address slavery in supply chains, to delivering training, raising awareness and advising governments around the world.

When not at work, I enjoy travelling, spending time with my dog Harley, cooking, supporting Liverpool and Yorkshire CC, music (I’m a former DJ) and endurance events such as the Three Peaks Challenge and Tribe Freedom Runs – which I vow never to do again. Until the next time.