We are thrilled to have Phil Hyldgaard, the Global COO of A21, back on the podcast. This has been in the works for some time now, and I finally got the chance to jump on a video call with my long-time friend and social impact leader!

In this episode, we delve deep into A21's mission to eradicate slavery globally and their innovative approaches, covering the following topics:

1. A21's transition to the next phase, which involves giving away resources and knowledge to empower communities and organizations.

2. How mutually beneficial partnerships are key to A21's success in amplifying their anti-trafficking efforts.

3. The challenges that exist in legislation and law enforcement regarding human trafficking, emphasizing the need for effective mechanisms.

4. Why the film "Sound of Freedom" has successfully and controversially raised awareness and sparked dialogue about human trafficking.

5. Why survivors of human trafficking play a pivotal role as heroes and leaders in the fight against slavery.

6. The incredible success of A21's annual "Walk for Freedom" campaign, held in 70 countries, amplifies the anti-slavery message.

7. How real change occurs through organic cultural shifts and grassroots movements.

8. Why collaboration and partnerships are crucial in addressing the urgent mission of eradicating slavery.

Jacob Lee is not just a celebrated Australian pop, singer-songwriter but also the visionary behind the Luminary Club and joins me on the latest instalment of Justice Matters. Dive into an enlightening conversation where we explore the depths of authentic artistry, the birth and vision of Luminary Club, and the profound impact of creating new systems of value in today's world. This isn't just a talk about music; it's about redefining creativity and community in a digital age.

Jacob delves deep into what prompted the creation of the Luminary Club, an online sanctuary for creatives. What gaps did he see in the artistic community that he aimed to bridge? We discuss the essence of authentic art. What does it mean to Jacob to create from a place of authenticity? How has the music industry evolved in its acceptance and recognition of genuine artistry?

Gear up for a special episode as we bring in John Richmond, not just as the dedicated former U.S. Ambassador fighting human trafficking, but also as a close friend with stories that are sure to inspire. Alongside his impactful role at Love Does, an organization born from Bob Goff’s vision, John has been a companion in journeys that matter. Our shared experiences include a trip to Israel in 2022, paving the way for the exciting launch launch of the Love Does school in Nazareth in March 2023, a beacon of hope in a land that yearns for peace.

Venture into the great outdoors with Cam Greenwood, the visionary founder of the Zorali outdoor gear company. In this fun episode, we unearth the intersection of passion for nature, sustainable entrepreneurship, and the pursuit of justice. Cam shares the origins of Zorali, the challenges faced in building a brand committed to environmental conservation, and the strides taken to ensure that justice remains at the heart of every business decision.

In this episode, we're joined by Kayra Niebur, an inspiring young woman who serves as an assistant director at The Red Carpet in Tel Aviv. Kayra opens up not just about her transformative work serving alongside women involved in the underground sex industry in Tel Aviv, but also about her own life story. From her early days growing up in the Middle East, Kayra shares her journey, family influences, and the motivating factors that led her to serve some of the most heartbroken and hurting individuals in our society.

The Red Carpet is an oasis of hope for women caught in the cycles of prostitution, addiction, and abuse. Through their exceptional efforts, women are provided with a safe place to sleep, food, medical treatment, counselling, and job training. Kayra's work is making a profound impact, both in the lives of the individuals she helps and by inspiring others to make a difference in their communities.

Tabea Oppliger was born in 1977 to Swiss parents and raised in Papua New Guinea, spending her first 16 years of life speaking mainly Pidgin English and English. Tabea then lived in Switzerland for 20 years for education and professional reasons where she also got married and gave birth to her three children. An unstoppable force to see justice and freedom for all, Tabea founded GlowbalAct, a charity seeking to eradicate modern day slavery. In 2014 Tabea and her family moved to Tel Aviv, Israel where they established a social business called KitePride as a solution for people formerly exploited in the sex industry and beyond. A catalyst for change, Tabea’s enthusiasm and charisma will inspire you to action.

In this episode we discuss the real challenges of running a social business — a topic she discusses in her recent TEDx Talk. entitled "Social Business: The Balancing Act Between Head and Heart".

Kelly Forbes is the CEO and founder of the AI Asia Pacific Institute, a think tank and research organization that focuses on the impact of artificial intelligence on society. She has a deep understanding of both its potential and its pitfalls. Kelly is a frequent speaker at conferences and events around the world and is known for her insightful commentary on the future of AI and its role in shaping society.

Episode Show Notes:

In this episode, we sit down with Kelly Forbes, CEO and founder of the AI Asia Pacific Institute, to talk about the impact of artificial intelligence on society. We delve into the role of AI in creating a more just society and explore the ethical challenges presented in a world where AI has greater decision-making powers.

Kelly shares her insights on the potential risks and rewards of AI, and whether we are on a trajectory where AI is likely to destroy the world as we know it. We discuss the importance of creating AI systems that are transparent, explainable, and accountable, and the need to ensure that they are aligned with human values and priorities.

We also explore how we can use AI for good and create a better world for all, especially the vulnerable and marginalized. Kelly shares some examples of how AI is already being used to address social challenges, such as reducing inequality in access to healthcare and education.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who wants to better understand the impact of AI on society and the potential for this powerful technology to create positive change. Join us as we explore the complex and fascinating world of AI with Kelly Forbes.

Nick serves as a co-founder at Miles4Migrants, supporting the technology development that powers our mission. Nick also piloted the original idea of using points and miles to reunite families by flying the family of a Pakistani Christian personal friend in Europe. He later shared this idea on with other online reward point enthusiasts on Reddit, where Seth and Nick later sparked the movement.

Nick is passionate about developing technologies that bridge cultural boundaries and overcome language barriers to improve lives. Outside his work at Miles4Migrants, Nick is a natural language processing research scientist at Interactions, working on virtual assistants for customer care. Nick lives near New Providence, New Jersey with his wife Jennifer and his daughters, Julia and Chiara.

In this episode, we talk about the first rescue mission that sparked the idea of using flight miles to bring thousands more refugees and asylum seekers to safety. Additional topics we cover include:

- Taking an idea to starting an organisation

- The challenges that refugees and migrants face

- Language learning technology, and the social impact of AI

Amanda is the founder of DISTRACTD, a brand new Gold Coast organisation connecting communities, delivering information, education, panel discussions, mingles and advocacy, all about ADHD.

Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, she became hyper-focused on ensuring that there was a local organisation where people could come together and support one another, learn and break down some of the stigma around this hugely misunderstood disorder.

As a passionate creative, Amanda has also spent many years working behind the scenes in stage productions, where she learned from an early age that side of stage and not centre stage was where her heart lay. She is the Co-founder and Business Development Director of the Gold Coast Music Network, as well as Blank Street Press.

Amanda has always been endlessly creative and draws inspiration constantly from the world around her. She creates works from contemporary ink pieces, along with children's illustrations to fine art sketches.

Her TEDx Talk "Unleashing the artist within" — https://youtu.be/2AB0NBeTIjY

Jon Owen is the Pastor and CEO at Wayside Chapel, leading an incredible team of 140 staff and some 600 volunteers each week.

Jon has dedicated his life to closing the gap on inequality, both living and working amongst some of the most disadvantaged communities in Sydney and Melbourne. Jon is a qualified social worker and prior to Wayside, he built his way up through the organisation Urban Neighbourhoods of Hope, an international not-for-profit organisation specialising in community development and care coordination for families living in poverty. In this role, he shared his family home with those seeking asylum, refugees, people in recovery and ex-prisoners.

In this episode Jon and I danced around the theme and mission of Wayside — Creating a community of no ‘us and them’.

The topics we cover include:

- Serving from a place of self-awareness and not need

- Being real not ideal in our relationships and life

- Parenting and modelling healthy service

- Growing up in Australia as an immigrant

In this episode of Justice Matters, I speak with Nicole Lamoureux, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC). She works with the NAFC and its 1,200 member organizations, its Board of Directors and its partners to advance the mission of ensuring the medically underserved have access to affordable, quality health care. 

We discuss the following topics:

- Nicole's own personal health crisis and subsequent financial emergency.

- The profiteering and marketisation of the healthcare industry

- How to build a more equitable and effective healthcare system

- Why quality & affordable healthcare is a human right

- How we can all advocate and advance services that are addressing the healthcare crisis

After a number of years in the tech industry, Luke rejoined Tekton which by this time was ready to merge with an amazing organisation called Refcode (refcode.org) Refcode provides software engineering training for the refugee community.

Luke's vision is big. He hopes that we can build dynamic, competitive, businesses that provide opportunities for training and upward mobility for our refugee friends globally. He believes that advances and needs in technology have giving us the opportunity to see men and women stuck in refugee camps or in very harsh situations thrive educationally and vocationally in ways not previously possible.

Jody Luke is the Executive Director of Love Does, an incredible organisation that has been fighting for human rights, caring for the vulnerable and providing education in conflict zones since 2002.

In this episode we talk about:

- What it's like to work alongside the one and only Bob Goff

- Travelling to serve in some of the most difficult places

- Serving refugees and paroles from Ukraine & Afghanistan in her home town of San Diego

- The secret power of being good at asking questions

- How we can all make a difference through even the smallest acts

Wherever you are around the world, we invite you to join us for this very special HUMAN RIGHTS DAY event with special guests Bob Goff from Love Does, Sophie McNeill from Human Rights Watch and Rahila Abdul Hadi from you Belong Australia. Let’s join together with intention and heart this Human Rights Day.

In this episode, I caught up with the exceptional Isla Freer, a thirteen year old youth advocate who recently gave a remarkable TED talk at Currumbin TEDx. Her topic — Sexism in schools!

In this episode I talk with former El Salvador refugee and lawyer, Eduardo Cruz, about his passion for redemptive justice, his tattoos which include patron saint of El Salvador — Oscar Romero and even his reluctance in pursuing a career in law.

For the past 25 years, Susan Slotnick has gone behind the walls at correctional facilities every week to bring the joy of modern dance to incarcerated men and boys. Her choreography dealt with serious themes geared to inspire audiences and students toward social justice activism.