Colleen founded Ardea in 2010 (back then CLT-Envirolaw) with the vision to harness her niche legal expertise in order to help companies understand how to meet their legal obligations for sustainability and business and human rights and create progressive voluntary best practice standards. Tackling modern slavery in supply chains and communities is a key passion of hers.

Colleen is a tri-qualified solicitor with over 25 years’ legal and commercial experience of working with businesses and NGOs across sectors at both a strategic and operational level. She provides training to both directors and employees on human rights, modern slavery and sustainability issues. Colleen has a LLM (with distinction) in Environmental Law from the University of Aberdeen. She is recognised by The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading environmental law practitioner. Colleen is a fellow of IEMA and a fellow at the Centre for the Study of Modern Slavery, St Mary’s University. Twickenham. She is also an independent legal consultant and consults with Re:Links

Colleen’s indefatigable passion for combating human trafficking, led her to found the not-for-profit organisation Finance Against Trafficking. Colleen lectures on business and human rights and environmental issues at Birkbeck School of Law. Recently she taught on an MBA programme at the University of Pisa on responsible business practices and modern slavery transparency in supply chains and teaches on sustainable supply chains at the University of Westminster.  She has spoken widely on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, modern slavery and sustainable business.

She sits on the advisory board for LexisPSL Environment.   She has been appointed to development committee of the Social Responsibility Alliance       and is also appointed to APSCA’s disciplinary board. Colleen is currently on the BSI committee developing a standard guidance note on modern salvery.

She was previously a  member of the steering group of the British Association for Sustainable Sport (BASIS) and was an executive member and trustee of the UK Environmental Law Association for seven years has recently been appointed by Positive Luxury to their Advisory Council. She is also an Acre accredited expert.

Colleen is a regular contributor to the legal and professional press and authored numerous chapters in published books. Her most recent book ‘Strategic Sustainable Procurement: law and best practice‘  is published by Routledge. She has also published a chapter on ‘Modern Slavery and Transparency in Supply Chains’ in ‘The Modern Slavery Agenda:Policy, Politics and Practice in the UK published by Policy Press.

Colleen was part of the Modern Slavery Garden team which won Gold at the Chelsea Flower Show 2016 and has been nominated for an award by the Anti Slavery Awards group. She has set up an anti trafficking hub at the Towers Convent school in West Sussex.

Recently nominated as on of the UK’s top 100 Influencer of business on modern slavery and ethical business issues.

Laura is a qualified US lawyer and previously was a director at Talking Oak International, a specialist legal consultancy providing human rights advice, compliance support and training design and delivery to private security companies and other companies and NGOs operating in challenging and complex environments. She assisted the Security in Complex Environments Group (SCEG)—the trade association for the UK’s private security industry—with numerous projects preparatory work with the British Standards Institute to develop ISO 28007—2015; and the transition of the international standard for land based Private Security Companies (PSC 1) to a full International Standard (ISO 18788—2015).

Laura retired from the US Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps after 23 years of active duty service. Her last military posting was in the UK Ministry of Defence as a member of the strategy team for the British Army Chief of the General Staff. Prior to this, she served in the British Army’s Operational Law Branch.

Prior to her secondment with the British Army, Laura was the Chief of Operational Law in the US Army’s International and Operational Law Department, US Army Pentagon, where she also served as Rule of Law coordinator for the Army’s Stability Operations division. Laura’s deployed operational assignments with the US Army include tours in the Republic of South Korea, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iraq serving in various legal and leadership roles.

Laura earned her J.D. at Louisiana State University Law School (civil and common law), her LLM in Military law (International and Operational law specialty) from The Judge Advocate General’s School in Charlottesville, Virginia, and her BA from Brown University.
Among her publications is, “Fog of Law: an introduction to the legal erosion of British fighting power” a report she co-authored for the Policy Exchange, a London based think tank. She also contributed to the US Army’s Rule of Law Handbook, Operational Law Handbook, and Interagency (U.S. Government) Complex Contingency Operations Legal Handbook.

Claire is a Business and Human Rights expert, specialising in stakeholder engagement through learning and training. She has over 10 year’s experience working in responsible supply chains, delivering Human Rights Impact Assessments, SCDD Gap Assessments, and supplier capacity-building programmes. She is experienced in international food and beverage, FMCG and garments supply chains – including familiarity with the cocoa sector in Africa. She  has an LLM in International Human Rights and BA in International Relations and is a  certified SA8000 social auditor

Claire has special interests in Child Rights and in Gender equality & women’s empowerment. She is highly experienced in drafting Human Rights reports, responsible sourcing policies, and strategy documents; and in co-creating learning materials with clients on topics including Child Labour, Forced Labour,  Rights of Workers, etc.

As a consultant, Rory has contributed to a range of projects relating to modern slavery and sustainability, developing practical solutions to embed human rights due diligence across supply chains in line with the law and international standards. In his time at Ardea, Rory’s projects have involved clients in professional sports, finance, IT, manufacturing and agriculture sectors.

Rory recently graduated with a Masters in Law (with distinction) from the University of Law, Surrey. Previously, he earned a History (First class honours) degree at the University of Reading. His decision to make the transition to law was driven by a keen interest in the role that responsible business practices play in eradicating modern slavery.

Hannah  graduated from the University of Sussex where she studied an undergraduate degree in Law and Masters in International Human Rights Law. She is passionate about spreading awareness of the consequences of fast fashion. In particular, the human cost of our clothes and prevalence of modern slavery in supply chains.

Hannah has  worked as a Legal Researcher at Ardea International and is now a Junior Consultant. Hannah has had an article published in a series of Research Briefings, sponsored by the Modern Slavery Research Consortium on the impact of fast fashion has on modern slavery.

What motivated Hannah is applying creative solutions to challenges, and a change she would like to see in the world is; a fairer future – a sustainable environment for the next generation filled with equal opportunities for people across the globe.

A quote Hannah lives by “Do you little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world” Desmond Tutu

Jacob is a Human Rights Legal Researcher at Ardea International with the following qualifications an undergraduate degree in LLB Law and an LLM in International Human Rights Law.

Jacob is motivated by overcoming challenges and solving problems. He likes to see growth both personally, and in the areas where he works, and he finds it hugely encouraging to be able to look back and see the progress that has been made, both in work life and in the world at large.

Jacob wants to provide positive change and believes that supporting others is the most motivating and fulfilling experience.

A motto Jacob lives by is by Mark Twain:

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so”

Richard is an e-learning content specialist. A highly experienced creative professional with skills in video editing, animation, design and illustration, he has previously worked in house designing training and elearning content for Sussex Police and on a freelance basis for a variety of businesses and individuals. Richard has a Masters degree in animation and currently lectures in Visual Effects and Animation at the University of Sussex.