Our dedicated team combines expertise across a range of disciplines who work together to combat online child abuse and exploitation. Get to know the people driving our mission to create a safer digital world for children everywhere.
Iain Drennan
Executive Director
Iain is an experienced, influential leader and has been the Executive Director of WeProtect Global Alliance since its launch as an independent international institution in April 2020.
Under Iain’s leadership and strategic vision, the organisation has grown from start-up to international team of twelve delivering an ambitious strategy, and membership has more than doubled to comprise more than 320 organisations. He led the delivery of WeProtect’s landmark Global Threat Assessment, the first study of its kind on the scale and nature of child sexual abuse and exploitation online, and has overseen the delivery of two Global Summits in Brussels and Abu Dhabi.
Previously, he led the UK Home Office’s international response to child sexual abuse. Under Iain’s leadership, the UK was assessed top out of 60 countries in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Out of the Shadows Index on response to child sexual abuse and ratified the Council of Europe’s Lanzarote Convention against child sexual abuse. Prior to this, Iain worked in national security, foreign policy and counter terrorism roles in the UK civil service and diplomatic service.
Michelle Burns
Chief Operating Officer
Michelle has over 18 years senior level experience leading and enhancing the reach and impact of organisations and programmes designed to address some of the most complex political economy, health, humanitarian, social and environmental protection challenges at local, national and international level on behalf of a broad range of donors including the FCDO, DFID, the UK Department for Health and Social Care and the EU.
Michelle has experience living, working and leading multi-sector and specialist policy and operational networks in Eurasia (England and Devolved Nations, Brussels, Bulgaria, France, Spain, Turkey, Italy), Middle East and North Africa (Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq) and Sub-Saharan Africa (Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, South Africa, Ghana and Sierra Leone).
Michelle holds degrees in Psychology, Sociology and Social Policy and has recently completed her PhD in Governance and Ethical Decision Making in International Organisations in Transition.
Mark Bradshaw
Head of Development
Mark is an international development and humanitarian professional with two decades of experience in non-governmental organisations, including a particular focus on children’s rights. His experience includes supporting and leading programme delivery, business development and stakeholder management, grant management and compliance, and team leadership.
Before joining WeProtect Global Alliance, he has worked for ChildLine, NSPCC, Mines Advisory Group, ECPAT International, War Child, and the International Rescue Committee.
Delali Mortty
Participation Manager
Delali has worked extensively in children and women’s rights issues across global programme management, strategic partnerships, and non-formal education.
Delali has collaborated with major social media companies and NGOs to embed youth voices and participation in safety by design initiatives. She also brings expertise in gender-based violence and has worked closely with survivor-led organisations. Delali is a founding Director of Player Voice, an organisation enabling young people’s views and ideas to be heard regarding their education and sporting development, with their safety always in mind.
Alison McNulty
Head of Strategy
Alison McNulty is a passionate advocate for positive social change, with over 15 years’ experience leading strategy and operations in the charity and not-for-profit sector. As Head of Strategy at WeProtect Global Alliance, she brings together governments, civil society, intergovernmental organisations, and the private sector to protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse, turning shared vision into meaningful action.
Her career includes senior roles at Action Against Hunger, Co-op Foundation, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, and the British Red Cross, where she championed evidence-led decision-making, collaboration, and impact. With a degree in Behavioural Sciences and experience teaching psychology and nursing students at university level, Alison draws on her deep understanding of human behaviour to inspire partnerships, shape strategy, and create lasting change for communities worldwide.
Bethany Jennings
Research Manager
Bethany has worked extensively in the areas of child protection, homelessness, sexual violence and exploitation, holistic services and participation, both as a social worker and researcher.
Before joining WeProtect Global Alliance, she worked for Children In All Policies 2030, based at UCL, advocating for children’s health and wellbeing to be centred in all policies through science, advocacy and coalition building.
Veronica Polizzi
Operations and Finance Manager
Veronica has worked in diverse industries with a special interest in financial budgeting and efficiency strategies.
Before joining WeProtect Global Alliance, Veronica was Financial Reporting Manager at a private healthcare company where she was responsible for tracking, analysing and reporting business income as well as taking the lead in creating and implementing processes to improve workflow.
Katie Burke
Policy Manager
Katie is a children’s rights researcher and policy professional who has worked on issues related to child protection for the last 6 years. Prior to joining WeProtect Global Alliance Katie worked for Coram International as a research consultant for UNICEF, the European Union and other I/NGOs in 22 countries on issues related to violence against children and gender based violence. She has also held a variety of policy and research roles in the United Kingdom and the United States. Katie is a passionate advocate for child participation, having led both the Scottish Youth Parliament and British Youth Council as Deputy Chairperson.
Katie was a Fulbright scholar at the University of Minnesota where she received her Masters in Human Rights, building on her previous Masters in International Relations from the University of St Andrews.
Poppy Reid
Senior Communications and Content Officer
Poppy is a communications professional with over 7 years experience in frontline charities and policy and research not-for-profits with a focus on human rights and social justice. She brings particular expertise in tackling modern slavery and human trafficking.
Before joining WeProtect Global Alliance, Poppy led on communications for Focus on Labour Exploitation. She previously led regional communications for the UK homelessness charity St Mungo’s, worked at anti-slavery charity Unseen UK and for a private sector PR agency. Poppy has also worked as a volunteer with several organisations supporting refugees and asylum seekers over the past decade. She has studied Public Policy Analysis at the London School of Economics and holds a degree in Politics and History.
Federica Dadone
Head of Members
Federica is a membership expert with fifteen years of experience in non-governmental organisations, with a specific focus on human and digital rights, community building, and antidiscrimination. Her background is in Data Journalism and International Relations. Her career started in communications, and she later moved on to project management and membership and partnership management.
Before joining WeProtect Global Alliance, she has worked for big membership organisations like Youth Business International, FARE Network, and Open Rights Group. She has been a delegate of UNITED for Intercultural Action for over a decade and a Board Member of the European Network Against Racism.