In June 2018, Sr Imelda Poole, IBVM was made Member of the Order of the British Empire in The Queen’s Birthday Honours 2018, for her achievements and services to end modern slavery.

President of Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation (RENATE) and President of Mary Ward Loreto (Albanian Mission Against Human Trafficking), receives an MBE for services to combating modern slavery

Sister Imelda Poole is a British religious sister who for nearly 10 years has led the RENATE (Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation) network fighting modern slavery across 27 countries in Europe. Through her outstanding leadership, the organisation has made a significant difference in improving religious sisters’ support to victims of human trafficking, and strengthened the religious orders’ cooperation with law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice. She has brought great credit to the UK, and made a significant contribution to the Prime Minister’s objective of eradicating modern slavery. This contribution is in addition to a lifetime of service in support of the most marginalised people in society including important work in many areas of the UK including Manchester, Glasgow and Middlesbrough.

On learning of her award Sister Imelda Poole said “ This is an honour which I accept on behalf of the Female Religious and co workers who are contributing, through the mission of many international networks such as RENATE, to combating modern day slavery and on behalf of the dedicated staff of Mary Ward Loreto in Albania who are passionate in this same cause. May this award expose even further the terrible crime of human trafficking which, as Pope Francis has declared, is a crime against humanity itself. ”.

On the announcement of the award, the British Ambassador to the Holy See, Sally Axworthy, said:

“I am delighted to learn that Sr. Imelda Poole has been awarded this honour by Her Majesty The Queen.

It is well-deserved recognition of Sr. Imelda’s outstanding service in combatting human trafficking and modern slavery, through the European religious sisters’ anti-trafficking network RENATE which she leads, and through Talitha Kum, the religious sisters’ worldwide anti-trafficking network.

Sister Imelda is a key ally in Her Majesty’s Government’s campaign to eradicate modern slavery. It is wonderful to see such a distinguished friend of this Embassy honoured in this way.”