Representatives of Ulster Bank, Bank of Ireland, Kerr Henderson, Danske Bank and Santander were among those attending the event, which heard of IJM’s work around the world to eliminate the slave trade.

Benson Shamala, the deputy field officer director of IJM Kenya, delivered a presentation on his work with the charity fight police brutality in Kenya. He previously played a key role in establishing an IJM field office in Ghana to combat child trafficking.

John McKee is working hands-on with IJM to advocate for and support the charity to help raise much needed funds and awareness of the work it carries out.

Managing partner Chris Ross recently completed a Half Ironman to raise funds for IJM, and the firm also entered two relay teams in the 2019 Belfast Marathon earlier this month, raising almost £4,000 for the charity in total.

Mr Ross said: “We are proud to be working with International Justice Mission as our charity partner. Each year we encourage our team members to put forward suggestions of charities they would like us to support and this year our colleague Avril McCammon passionately presented the fantastic work IJM carries out globally to combat global slavery and trafficking, which she saw for herself first-hand when she was out in Cambodia with the organisation last year.”

Ruth Cooke from International Justice Mission said: “We are thrilled to have been appointed as the charity partner for John McKee. Already the firm has helped us raise much needed funds through its managing partner, Chris Ross, taking part in a challenging Half Ironman together with the fantastic efforts of the ten John McKee runners who took part in the recent Belfast Marathon relay.”

Ms Cooke added that the “valued support from businesses like John McKee … makes it possible for us to carry out our vital work across the world”.