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Governance

In October 2023, the Safe Online Steering Committee was established as the new governing body, overseeing Safe Online’s strategy, investments, and impact. The Steering Committee operates independently, bringing together experts committed to creating a safer digital future for children

Meet the Safe Online Steering Committee members

Christian Papaleontiou

Deputy Director, Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Unit, UK Home Office
“Being safe online means a world where children can access the internet and all the benefits it brings, without the risk of harm and abuse. It is the responsibility of every sector and society to step up and take action to safeguard children accordingly.”
Christian Papaleontiou has served as Deputy Director of the Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Unit at the UK Home Office since 2018. He leads the team responsible for developing and implementing the UK Government’s policies to combat all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse. In this role, he collaborates closely with government departments and key stakeholders both domestically and internationally.
Christian currently chairs the Safe Online Steering Committee and actively participates in international forums addressing child sexual abuse. Previously, he led the Public Protection Unit, focusing on policies to combat violence against women and girls. With a two-decade career in public service, he remains dedicated to protecting vulnerable communities and strengthening safeguarding measures.

Iain Drennan

Executive Director, WeProtect Global Alliance
“Being safe online means having the confidence and reassurance to fully engage with the digital world’s opportunities exploring identity, connecting with communities, learning, and playing without fear of harm.”
Iain has served as the Executive Director of WeProtect Global Alliance since its launch as an independent international institution in April 2020. Previously, he led the UK Home Office’s international response to child sexual abuse and held roles in national security, foreign policy, and counterterrorism within the UK civil and diplomatic services.
Iain has served as the Executive Director of WeProtect Global Alliance since its launch as an independent international institution in April 2020. Previously, he led the UK Home Office’s international response to child sexual abuse and held roles in national security, foreign policy, and counterterrorism within the UK civil and diplomatic services.

Nazim Khizar

Deputy Director of the Division of Financial and Administrative Management, UNICEF
“Safe Online has an important role to create a digital world where children can freely explore, learn, and grow without the risk of harm. It's about protecting childhood online by fostering innovation and collaboration to create a safer and more empowering online environment for all children and young people.”
Nazim Khizar, Deputy Director of the Division of Financial and Administrative Management at UNICEF, has over 20 years of experience in management, finance, and oversight within the UN system and the private sector. He previously served as Head of Finance and Management Services at UNCDF (2015–2021) and held finance and operations roles at UNDP, including in crisis prevention, audits, and program resources.
Before joining the UN, he worked internationally at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Khizar is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting. He holds a Master’s in International Management from the University of Liverpool.
LinkedIn

Sheema Sen Gupta

Director, Child Protection and Migration, UNICEF
Being safe online means children can explore and thrive in the digital world without fear. Safe Online invests in building a safer digital future by strengthening systems, supporting evidence-based solutions, and promoting technology that protects children's rights amid rapid tech change.
Sheema, UNICEF’s Director of Child Protection and Migration, has extensive experience in both development and humanitarian contexts. She previously served as UNICEF Representative in Iraq and Afghanistan and as Deputy Representative in Afghanistan and Bangladesh. She also held leadership roles in child protection in Somalia and Ghana.
With a strong background in advocating for child rights in complex emergencies, she has led programs focused on systemic change, policy development, and service delivery for children and women. A Malaysian national, she holds a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and began her career developing psychosocial support programs for emergency response. Over the past two decades, she has worked across South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
LinkedIn

Vicky Rateau

Programme officer, Oak Foundation
“Being safe online allows children to explore who they are, learn, and play within community platforms without being subjected to online harms. Safe Online can extend this impact across borders, addressing challenges that know no boundaries.”
Vicky Rateau is a Programme Officer at Oak Foundation, leading the Prevent Child Sexual Abuse programme. She oversees Oak’s portfolio on creating safer digital environments for children, working to ensure they can explore, learn, and connect online without exposure to harm
With over 20 years of experience in advocacy and campaigning, Vicky has dedicated her career to driving systemic change. Before joining Oak, she spent 15 years at Oxfam, managing high-profile public engagement campaigns on key global issues. She also founded and led a consultancy supporting organizations and philanthropic institutions committed to transformative social impact.
LinkedIn

Judith Amar

Director of Finance and Operations at Human Dignity Foundation
Safe Online is the only global investment vehicle dedicated to keeping children safe in the digital world. We strengthen systems and catalyse innovative solutions to make the internet a safe place for children to explore, learn and develop.
LinkedIn

Background

Since 2016, Safe Online has been at the forefront of tackling online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) by investing in innovative solutions, cutting-edge technologies, and evidence-based programs. As the only global funding platform dedicated to keeping children safe in the digital world, Safe Online works across sectors to drive collective action and advocacy. 

In October 2023, the Safe Online Steering Committee was established as the new governing body, overseeing Safe Online’s strategy, investments, and impact. The Steering Committee operates independently, bringing together experts committed to creating a safer digital future for children. 

The Steering Committee plays a critical role in setting Safe Online’s strategic direction, ensuring that investments align with key priorities, and maintaining transparency and accountability in grant-making. It approves operational and financial decisions, monitors progress, and evaluates the performance of the Safe Online Secretariat. Additionally, the Committee champions child online safety by advocating for increased resources, mobilizing funding for Safe Online, as the only global funding vehicle in this space, as well as for the overall field, and strengthening global collaboration to address digital harms. 

With representatives from donor governments, foundations, civil society, and independent experts, and representatives from UNICEF, the Steering Committee is dedicated to ensuring that every child can navigate the digital world safely and with confidence. 

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Our purpose in detail

We are here to ensure every child and young person grows in to the digital world feeling safe, and is protected from harm.

We support, champion, and invest in innovative partners from the public, private, and third sectors working towards the same objective.

We believe in equipping guardians and young people with the skills to understand and see danger themselves once accessing digital experiences without supervision.

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