Slavery Unravelled - Conversations on being slavery free

Laura Murphy is a globally recognised expert on modern slavery and one of the leading voices on forced labour in the Uyghur region. A professor and seasoned researcher, she has spent two decades documenting the realities of forced labour across the world—from bonded labourers in India to trafficked youth in North America and exploited workers in West Africa. Her groundbreaking work on state‑impose...

Aarti Kapoor is the Founder and Executive Director of Embode, an international consultancy at the forefront of human rights and social protection. Aarti is widely recognised as a global leader in addressing child labor, forced labor, and exploitation within business supply chains. Qualified as a lawyer in both the UK and USA, Aarti brings over 20 years of technical expertise spanning NGOs, governm...

Linda Reynolds is a former Australian Senator and Minister who played a pivotal role in introducing the Australian Modern Slavery Act . With a distinguished career in politics and defence, Linda has combined her legislative expertise with a deep commitment to human rights and anti-trafficking advocacy. Her journey began after attending a Commonwealth workshop on modern slavery in London, which ins...

Professor Paul Redmond is a distinguished legal scholar and long-time advocate for embedding human dignity in law and business. As a Professor of Law and expert in business law and human rights, Paul has played a key advisory role in shaping Australia’s Modern Slavery Act and advancing corporate responsibility. His work focuses on legislative reform, ethical governance, and the intersection of law...

Ramila is a Uyghur-Australian advocate and the president of the Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women’s Association. She is a passionate campaigner for Uyghur rights and a leading voice against forced labour and human rights abuses in East Turkistan (Xinjiang). Ramila’s work focuses on raising awareness of Uyghur forced labour, advocating for legislative change, and supporting her community both in A...

Andy is a British human rights researcher and activist who has spent over two decades working across Southeast Asia, with a focus on Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Nepal. His work has consistently centered on defending the rights of migrant workers and exposing forced labour and unethical recruitment practices. With a PhD in corporate criminal responsibility, Andy brings academic rigour to his f...

Dr. David Cooke is the former Managing Director of Konica Minolta Australia and a leading voice in ethical business. As the author of Kind Business , David champions a values-driven approach to leadership, where purpose and profit go hand in hand. Throughout his career, David has worked to embed human rights and social responsibility into corporate culture. He has chaired the UN Global Compact Net...

Gary is a former New Zealand police detective who spent years working undercover to rescue victims of human trafficking. His frontline experience as an anti-slavery investigator gave him rare insight into the realities of exploitation and the resilience of those affected. After leaving law enforcement, Gary transitioned into the corporate world, advising businesses on how to identify and address m...

Joanna is a passionate advocate for freedom and the co-founder of Freedom United, a global community working to end modern slavery through collective action. Her work bridges grassroots activism with international policy, mobilising citizens around the world to push for systemic change. Joanna’s focus is on empowering people to take meaningful action—whether by influencing legislation, holding cor...

Kristi is the founder of Offspring Project, a grassroots initiative based in Kolkata, India, dedicated to supporting survivors of sex trafficking and girls at risk. With a background as an educator and social entrepreneur, Kristi brings both compassion and innovation to her work on the front lines of prevention and recovery. Her focus lies in empowering survivors through vocational training, traum...

Matt is an international anti-slavery leader and the founder and CEO of the Mekong Club. With over 35 years of experience across Asia—from Nepal to Hong Kong—he has worked with governments, NGOs, and especially the private sector to combat human trafficking and modern slavery. His background includes serving as a UN counter-trafficking expert and a public health officer, giving him a unique blend...

In this episode, guest hosts Leisl and Katie sit down with Sam Mawutor — a Ghanaian environmental advocate, researcher, and current PhD candidate at Oregon State University — to unpack the complex relationship between cocoa farming and deforestation in Ghana. They continue the conversation looking at deforestation in cocoa.

In this episode, guest hosts Leisl and Katie sit down with Sam Mawutor — a Ghanaian environmental advocate, researcher, and current PhD candidate at Oregon State University — to unpack the complex relationship between cocoa farming and deforestation in Ghana. They explore what cocoa farming looks - the scale, location, expenses, and how cocoa growing works.

Join Fuzz and Carolyn Kitto in this episode as we continue the exploration of modern slavery by debunking common myths. MYTH #6: There’s no chains or barbed wires keeping victims of modern slavery trapped. Surely they can leave if they want to? FACT: People caught in modern slavery are tricked, coerced and threatened with violence against them and their families. Their identity papers may have bee...

In this episode as we continue the exploration of modern slavery by debunking common myths. MYTH #3: Modern slavery is mostly in sectors like sex trafficking. While sex trafficking is a visible aspect, it constitutes only a fraction of modern slavery. Forced marriage, for example, makes up a significant portion, affecting millions globally. We share the story of Jasvinda Sagara, who escaped a forc...

Like most things, slavery is often portrayed as cliches. Heavy chains. Shackles. Hands tied with thick rope. Cages. Metal bars. While some of these have been true, the reality of modern slavery is much more varied. These myths or common misconceptions about slavery can be harmful. Without recognising slavery and its nuance, it's difficult for us to fight the realities of modern slavery. So let...

Sayana spent her childhood stacking bricks. When Sayana was just 8 years old, her family moved into the brickyard. They were full of hope. 

We continue to conversation with Matt, an Australian investigative journalist in Asia, who has investigated and written dozens of stories on modern slavery. They continue to discuss Matt’s personal journey and growth in understanding modern slavery and the wicked problem that makes victims look like monsters.

Modern slavery comes in many forms. This is a new and unique one in many ways but the story gives an insight into the fears and smart thinking of a 30 year old professional. View the video clip at www.beslaveryfree.com/oxana

This is the start of a new series of Slavery Unravelled with investigative journalist Matt who has been covering modern slavery for over a decade and produced a series of stories for Be Slavery Free.

The last in this miniseries on prevention of modern slavery looks at what civil society and consumers can do.

Society has 3 key elements civil society, business and government. In this episode we look at the role of governments in preventing modern slavery.

Prevention is better than cure - so what can businesses do to prevent modern slavery?

It's better to build a fence at the top of the cliff than run an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

Can modern slavery be solved or do we have to manage it? A look at approaching modern slavery as a whole.