The Business of Crime: How Modern Slavery and Corporate Power Intersect

What really drives the global economy, and who pays the hidden cost?
You’re here because you care about the ethics behind business, leadership, and the systems that shape our world. But beneath the surface of global supply chains lies a growing risk: exploitation.

This event brings together a compelling panel of experts to explore the intersection of corporate power and modern slavery—how everyday business practices can unknowingly sustain harmful systems, and what ethical leadership can do to change that.

If you’ve ever questioned what’s behind the products we use, the services we deliver, or the decisions being made at the top, this conversation is for you.

So you can have your own personal impact against this crime - Your ticket purchase will support survivors of modern slavery at The Freedom Hub Survivor School - that is another great reason to come!!

👇 Scroll down for panelist details, event details and ticket info.

‘Survivors of modern slavery are often excluded from traditional victim narratives, as they do not fit the typical victim image. Our expert panel on criminology and modern slavery will address explore how corporate power, labour practices, weak protections, and biases allow marginalised groups to be exploited and overlooked. These victims - whether forced into illegal industries or criminality, trapped in forced labour in our business' supply chains, or domestic servitude - are frequently overlooked due to gaps in legal protections or even criminalisation of their activities.‘ Dr Allan McCay

It cannot be 'business as usual' while survivors of slavery are still falling victim to criminal activity within businesses.

The panel will examine how to bring these victim/survivors into focus and explore strategies for strengthening protections, accountability, and ethical labour practices.

This event is co-organised by The Freedom Hub and the Sydney Institute of Criminology. Join us at The Freedom Hub's venue in Waterloo as we hear from our expert panel, moderated by Dr Allan McCay and hosted by Sally Irwin. There will be drinks on arrival, cheeseboards available to purchase, and time for networking afterwards.

- MEET THE PANELISTS & MODERATOR - 

Dr Allan McCay
Dr Allan is Co-Director of the Sydney Institute of Criminology and an Academic Fellow at the University of Sydney's Law School. He coordinates the Legal Research units at the Sydney Law School, and lectures in Criminal Law. Allan trained as a solicitor in Scotland, practised as a commercial litigator in Hong Kong, and has also been admitted to practice in two Australian jurisdictions. Much of his work as focused on neuroscience, neurotechnology, and the criminal law. He is also interested in free will and punishment, ethical issues related to emerging neurotechnologies, and the future of legal work.

Dr David Cooke
David is the Executive Director of ESG Advisory. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology Sydney in the Business faculty. He previously held the position of Managing Director and Chair, for Australia New Zealand, of global technology firm Konica Minolta, where he led a major program of cultural change. He has previously held the positions of Chair at the United Nations Global Compact Network Australia and the Australian Human Rights Institute Advisory Committee.
He was awarded a doctorate in 2009 by Southern Cross University for his research entitled “Building Social Capital through Corporate Social Investment” and his work was awarded the Emerald Publishing Global Social Impact Award in 2011. In 2022 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Edith Cowan University in Western Australia for the implementation of responsible business initiatives including addressing modern slavery within corporate supply chains.

Dr Polina Smiragina-Ingelström
Dr Polina is a lecturer and researcher in criminology and sociology with current affiliations at DIS Stockholm and Lund University. Polina holds the position of Executive Secretary within the Victimology Working Group of the European Society of Criminology and serves on the advisory board of the Journal of Modern Slavery. Polina’s experience extends to various domains, including Children's Rights NGOs, and international organisations e.g. IOM, UNODC, and OSCE. Since 2010, she has been dedicated to addressing human trafficking and exploitation-related issues, with a special focus on gender and help-seeking behaviour. Polina completed her PhD in 2021 within the Department of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Sydney.

Dr Tyrone Kirchengast
Dr Tyrone is Professor of Criminal Law and Program Director for Criminology at the University of Sydney Law School. He is a member of the Sydney Institute of Criminology. Tyrone is a global expert on crime victim rights and improving victim’s access to justice. He has published widely on the integration of victims in the adversarial criminal trial, and is series co-editor for Palgrave Studies in Victims and Victimology.