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CEO Andrew Wallis moves on after nearly two decades of leading the fight against modern slavery

From advising on the Modern Slavery Act to launching the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, Andrew has played a pivotal role in the UK’s response to human trafficking. He leaves behind robust infrastructure dedicated to high quality survivor support and systemic change.

Andrew Wallis OBE, the founder and Chief Executive of Unseen, will step down from his role this summer after nearly twenty years of leading the organisation’s efforts to combat modern slavery and exploitation. 

During his tenure, Unseen played a key role in shaping the UK’s response to human trafficking and modern slavery. He chaired the Centre for Social Justice report, It Happens Here, which is widely recognised as a catalyst for the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and advised on the Act’s development. 

Under his leadership as founder and CEO, Unseen has grown into a nationally and internationally regarded organisation with a unique focus on systemic change. It combines frontline delivery with policy, data, and institutional influence – not to continue providing services, but to strengthen how the state, business, and civil society prevent exploitation and respond effectively when it happens. 

Unseen offers specialist support to survivors through safe houses and outreach services, runs the UK Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline, and collaborates with businesses to reduce risks of exploitation within supply chains. Additionally, it has built trusted insights and infrastructure that enable earlier intervention, better decision-making, and long-term reductions in harm throughout the system. 

Reflecting on his departure, Andrew said, “I am proud of what has been built over time. Unseen was designed to do more than respond to individual cases. It exists to improve how institutions and individuals recognise, prevent, reduce, and ultimately end exploitation, while keeping survivors at the centre of that work. Longevity was never the point, impact was.” 

He added: “I will remain supportive of Unseen beyond my tenure and am focused on ensuring the organisation is well positioned for its next phase of impact.” 

Andrew was awarded an OBE in 2015 for services to tackling human trafficking.

Unseen’s Chair Rosey Hurst and the board of trustees will ensure that the next CEO builds on Andrew’s legacy and leads the organisation into its subsequent phase of impact, with recruitment communications due in early February. 

Andrew will remain in post until August, working closely with the board of trustees and senior leadership team to ensure continuity and momentum. The board will lead a rigorous recruitment process to appoint Unseen’s next CEO.

“Andrew’s leadership, innovation and drive have built Unseen into a unique and valuable organisation, central to the fight against modern slavery,” Rosey said. 

“Andrew will leave the organisation in good heart. The board and I are very much looking forward to identifying his successor to leading the organisation in the next exciting phase, building on Andrew’s strong foundations.” 

Guiding Unseen’s next chapter with confidence and conviction 

We are seeking an inspirational, confident, and values-led chief executive officer to lead Unseen in its mission to tackle modern slavery and support survivors to rebuild their lives. The successful candidate will act as our principal ambassador, engaging credibly and persuasively with government, policymakers, media, and the public.  

More information on this role and how to apply is available. The closing date for applications is 25 February. 

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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.