Be Slavery Free welcomes new Board Members
Top Row: Robyn Parkin, Hannah Thinyane, Robert Shelton, Skye Kakoscheke-Moore Middle Row: Kyla Raby, Hayley Whatarau, Steve Cooke, Kristian Doolan Botton Row: Nick Dexter, Carolyn Kitto, Fuzz Kitto, Anna Jun
We are excited to announce the appointment of an incredible group of new leaders to the Be Slavery Free Board. Each brings unique expertise, deep passion, and a shared commitment to ending modern slavery.
Robyn Parkin joins as our new Chairperson. Robyn is a recognised leader in responsible investment and sustainability, with extensive experience in ESG, corporate engagement, and advocacy. She has been honoured globally for her work advancing human rights and climate action. Reflecting on her appointment, Robyn shared:
“I am honoured and excited to join Be Slavery Free as Chair. This organisation has been pivotal in modern slavery advocacy in Australia and globally, and I look forward to helping drive deeper conversations and collaborative action to address exploitation at every level. I have long believed in the power of collaboration between business, investors, academics, civil society, government, and consumers to tackle these complex challenges. This opportunity to help facilitate that collaboration through my ESG and sustainability networks is a very exciting full-circle moment.”
Joining Robyn on the Board are Dr. Hannah Thinyane, Steve Cooke, Hayley Whatarau, and Kristian Doolan, each bringing diverse and invaluable perspectives:
Dr. Hannah Thinyane is a leading expert in technology for human rights, with over 20 years’ experience developing tools to identify and prevent exploitation. At Diginex, she focuses on using technology to address vulnerabilities in supply chains and protect workers from forced labour.
Steve Cooke is an experienced advocate and international development professional who has led major anti-slavery campaigns in Australia and worked across Asia and Latin America designing programs to address the root causes of exploitation and modern slavery.
Hayley Whatarau is a qualified lawyer and human rights practitioner with two decades of international experience, specialising in business and human rights, supply chain resilience, and technology-driven solutions. A proud indigenous woman from the northern tribes of Ngāti Whātua and Te Rarawa in Aotearoa (New Zealand), as well as Iama/Tudu of the Torres Strait in Australia, she also serves on several social impact boards.
Kristian Doolan is a former corporate strategist turned agri-tech innovator, now leading Bridge.ong, a Swiss nonprofit using digital identity to empower smallholder farmers and workers with ownership of their data.
This new team joins an already impactful Board that includes academics, modern slavery specialists, business professionals, and leaders of civil society groups. Together, this diverse group brings extraordinary depth and breadth of expertise—from technology and program implementation to corporate sustainability, worker rights, and the investment community. We are truly going from strength to strength.
Finally, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our outgoing Board members—Dr Darian McBain, Irene Crowther, Karen Dickinson, and Peter Loone—for their incredible contributions in shaping and strengthening Be Slavery Free. Your leadership has laid a strong foundation for the work ahead.
With this dynamic team and our dedicated supporters, we are ready to take the next steps in driving systemic change and building a world free from modern slavery.
Let’s end modern slavery together.