About

The Team

Our team is made up of so many people who volunteer their time, skills and effort to support our cause. We would like to acknowledge all the wonderful volunteers whose support, guidance, time and voice have contributed in so many ways to our cause. We are forever grateful. Here we acknowledge our PROJECT FUTURES Management Team and Board Members.

PROJECT FUTURES Management Team

Stephanie Lorenzo

When she is not being compared to the energizer bunny*, Stephanie Lorenzo is the "founder-creator" of PROJECT FUTURES. She is truly inspired by her generation and is driven by the resilience and strength of the AFESIP survivors she met in 2009, whilst on the first ever PROJECT FUTURES cycle challenge.

Steph has a background in Marketing & Communications and can talk a leg off a chair. If her Beyonce dancing skills have anything to show for it this foundation will be truly successful in their objectives to end sex trafficking. She is currently recruiting to add to her minion tally - in some countries this can be classified as a small army.

* Stephanie Lorenzo does not require batteries, all energy is naturally procured.

Tom Watson

Tom 'Rocco' Watson has been involved in PROJECT FUTURES since mid-2009, a time in antiquity far before the ipad2 and the rise of Gotye. Tom was one of the riders on the FUTURES 10' Cycle Challenge and has stayed involved in PF through work with the Salvo's, fundraising events and the December 10' and 11' Cambodia trips which included AFESIP on-ground experience.

Tom has a real passion for seeing PF go global via the unstoppable WMD which is Gen 'F'. Once Tom works out what 'Gen F' is, he looks forward to helping other young people continue to inspire, motivate, activate, regenerate and marinate in helping those less fortunate than themselves.

Tom is a Christian (favourite verse: all of them) whom attends church in Concord and Liverpool, works in financial services and enjoys playing the drums and battling his way through the occasional game of touch footy (shoulder injury permitting!).

From April 2012, Tom will be working voluntarily for PROJECT FUTURES in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in a partnership liaison role.

Claire Whyntie


Claire has known Steph forever (and yes, this is a technical measure of time) and has been with PROJECT FUTURES from the start. She has become nothing short of a pro at fielding 72 emails a day from the team (ahem, Steph). An actress in a previous life, Claire now earns a living working as Marketing Manager for one of Australia's leading public relations agencies. When she's not writing lists and playing grammar police, she can be found anywhere it's snowing. She believes the world would be a better place if everyone just skied a little more.

Claire lives her life by the values of love and peace, and believes it is our responsibility to be a voice for the voiceless. Freedom is not a privilege, it is a basic human right, and through PF's work, Claire hopes to see the abolition of human trafficking in our lifetime.

Mel Reynolds

Mel is the Melbourne link of the PROJECT FUTURES family. She comes from a background of extensive travel and her husband Dave is the director of RAW travel that runs the awesome FUTURES Cycle Trips in Australia and Asia. In her other world Mel is a mum and a nurse with a naturopathic background, (handy if you need her on a trip!!). Mel first became interested in human trafficking after reading about it in a then, sleepy bar in Cambodia's Siam Reap in 2001. But it wasn't until she read the story of Somaly Mam's life and recognised Steph's passion for this cause that she landed in the PROJECT FUTURES world and she couldn't be happier. Mel is motivated not only by Somaly and the wonderful work she does, but also revels in being a part of an amazing network that continues to inspire her with their commitment to making a difference.

In 2012 Mel became the official PROJECT FUTURES Melbourne volunteer co-ordinator. She has hosted visits by Somaly Mam to Melbourne and has been on a Futures trip each year since 2010. She has also been involved in planning our Australian and overseas itineraries and is super excited about what the future has to offer!

Andrew Haurissa

Andrew started his involvement with PROJECT FUTURES in August 2009 on their re-branding mission. Pleased with the outcome of his involvement, he decided to continue helping PF with other design materials. Another vital reason to why he kept on getting involved was because of the enthusiasm and passion amongst the PF team.

As a person, he has always wanted to help the helpless in every way he can. Not being one of the "accidental millionaires" of the modern world, the only way he could help was by using his skills and creativity.

When he is not occupied with volunteering for PF, Andrew freelances for various corporate entities as a graphic designer. When he discovers that he still has time on his hands, you'll see him whipping his camera out for some street photography.

Edward Copeman

Edward "The Cub" Copeman works in finance and loves surfing and music. When he's not engaged in one of the above, he can often be found LTPFD (Living The PROJECT FUTURES Dream). Ed became involved in PF in late 2009 when inspired to do the 2010 bike ride by his brother Stephen "Prime Ministerial Material" Copeman.

Despite a close encounter with a wild cougar and some digestive issues, Ed had a blast on the trip. He quickly developed a real passion for helping the victims of sex trafficking and, upon returning, cut his teeth in the world of fundraising events by organising the 'Raise Your Voice Against Slavery Concert' with Tim Freedman (who is still recovering after seeing Ed on stage in cycling lycra).

Ed seeks to help PF achieve their aims and help the victims of sex trafficking to be free to live happy, loving lives. These are not small feats. This industry is global and ingrained in many societies. This task can seem very daunting at times. However inspired by the words of Somaly Mam herself, Ed will not give up hope 'You have hope, girl have hope, we all have hope'.

Arsenio Solinap

Commercialisation Manager - Australia / New Zealand

This is Arsenio Solinap - more affectionately know as Butts. He is a flamboyant, polo-loving 26 year old with aspirations of one day winning the lotto. When he is not playing Brand Manager at Goodman Fielder he is helping the wonderful team at PROJECT FUTURES combat the trade of sex trafficking.

Butts has known PF from its infancy with those late night calls from Steph discussing ideas that have just popped into her head! He is a fun, life loving individual and never leaves a PF meeting without cracking a few funnies to keep everyone sane. He participated on the FUTURES 10' ride where he learnt first hand the ability of one individual having such an impact in helping the quality of life of another. He hopes that in the near future this evil trade of sex trafficking will be extinct!

Jennifer Davis

Otherwise known as Jd. Why, we probably don't hear you ask? Well, it's a little bit about 'Scrubs', a little bit a whisky and a fair bit more about initialism. But we're not here for the etymology of a name; we're here for Project Futures.

Jd's PF journey started well back with a small and simple idea had by our fearless founder Steph. "I just have to do more you know?" was all she said and the Project Futures baby was born. Since then she's watched it learn to sit, crawl, walk and now run - a fully-fledged world changing tween.

Years working as an EA and now an AD (there's more of that initialism) has equipped her with a love of schedules, logistics and all things organised. Whilst participating in the Futures '10 Challenge showed her firsthand the devastation the sex trafficking industry causes juxtaposed with the strength and resilience of its survivors. Returning home and forgetting was not an option.

What can PF achieve as a teenager? Along with the Management Team and her fellow Gen F's, Jd is pretty excited to grow with Project Futures through all the learning's adolescence can bring.

Tristan Velasco

Tristan loves to create. He creates things at work, as a multimedia designer for a university. He creates things in his spare time, as a designer for PROJECT FUTURES, and he creates opportunities on the court, as a point guard for a basketball team.

Tristan got involved with PF through a former workmate who asked for one favour which led to the urge to want to do more and more for this organisation that dealt with such a horrible issue. He loves working with other people in finding creative ways to get more people involved and aware.

There will be a day where sex trafficking will cease to exist, and we hope that day falls somewhere within our lifetime.

Erin Withers

Erin met Steph. Steph persuaded Erin to participate in the Futures '10 cycle challenge. Erin peddled her heart out with the 2010 riders. Erin has never looked back.

When she's not applying marketing spin to most things legal, you will find Erin cutting laps of Centennial Park on her bike or getting involved with the PF team to help rid the world of sex trafficking.

With the belief that no-one can do everything but everyone can do something, Erin is determined to help put a smile on every survivors face and give them hope of a better life through Project Futures and our aim to End Sex Trafficking.

Stephen Copeman

Stephen's story is one of rags to riches. Starting life as Steph's personal assistant, in one year he was promoted through the ranks to Board Member, although under constant threat of 'firing' from Steph.

Having worked in Australia's most loved professions, politics and banking, like a convict Stephen has been sent by Steph to colonise Hong Kong with Gen F members (while also attempting to complete studies).

Stephen has often been referred to as the 'brake' for Steph's 'accelerator'.

PROJECT FUTURES Board

  • Chandu Bhindi
  • Mark Edwards
  • Patricia Ruzzene
  • Nicholas Edwards
  • Stephanie Lorenzo
  • Stephen Copeman

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