Bishop Alastair Redfern has had a long involvement with seeking to reach out to vulnerable people and encourage churches and other community actors to make appropriate responses. In Oxford, he was involved in setting up a hostel for the homeless, which raised the issue of vulnerability that was largely hidden. In Bristol, he was involved in responding to the often-brutal exploitation of young people in the sex trade. In Lincoln, he discovered that seasonal workers were often being oppressed and abused. In the Diocese of Derby, he began to develop forums for exploring issues around modern slavery and making appropriate responses. As a member of the House of Lords, he was involved in helping craft the Modern Slavery Act and national responses to this terrible crime.

These projects led to the foundation of The Clewer Initiative when he was approached by the trustees of the Clewer sisters with a view to continuing the work they had been founded to undertake in the 19th century in a more contemporary way. He serves as the chair of The Clewer Initiative and works internationally in the fight against modern slavery through the Global Sustainability Network and the Anglican Alliance.

He has degrees from the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Bristol – and has taught in each of these institutions. He has received Honorary Doctorates from the  Universities of Derby and Nottingham. He is a recipient of the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award .