Code Compliance
Committee Members
About the Code Compliance Committee
The Code Compliance Committee is an independent body established under the Online Dating Code of Conduct. Comprising three independent members with expertise in law, public policy or online safety, and large-scale technology platforms, the Committee is responsible for resolving complaints regarding alleged breaches of the Code by industry participants. Where necessary, it also revises the self-assessed compliance ratings of dating services, ensuring that these ratings reflect adherence to the Code’s standards. The Committee operates under terms of reference and guidelines, meeting to review complaints, and, where appropriate, impose sanctions on non-compliant signatories. The Committee plays an important role in maintaining transparency and accountability within the industry by ensuring relevant outcomes and sanctions are communicated.
Zoe Jay Hawkins is Co-Founder and Deputy Executive Director of the Tech Policy Design Institute; Australia’s first independent think tank dedicated to tech policy, with the mission of shaping technology for the benefit of humanity.
Zoe is an online safety policy expert, with experience shaping major policy initiatives from government, industry, and civil society perspectives. As Adviser to Australia’s Minister for Communications, Zoe oversaw the development of the Online Safety Act 2021. Her time working on tech diplomacy at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade involved articulating, and advocating internationally for, the Australian Government’s perspective on human rights online and technology for development.
In industry, Zoe previously led Amazon’s digital policy in Australia and New Zealand. In this role, Zoe made a significant contribution to the drafting of Australia’s Online Safety Industry Codes and represented the company in global online safety organisations, including the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism and the Tech Coalition. Today, Zoe also advises the international development not-for-profit organisation, IREX, on their ‘National Models for Women’s Safety Online Program’, which is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to address threats to women’s engagement and leadership in digital spaces across Kenya and the Philippines.
A Research Associate at the University of Oxford, Zoe also specialises in the intersection of technology and geopolitics. Her research on the role of big tech companies in US-China tech competition has been commissioned by the OECD, and featured in TIME Magazine, The Economist, and Politico. Recognised in the Australian Financial Review’s 2025 Women to Watch list, Zoe is passionate about helping elevate the next generation of women leaders by role modelling confident female leadership and mentoring young women across responsible tech policy and geopolitics in Australia and around the world.
Kaaren Koomen AM is an experienced executive leader with more than 30 years’ experience driving policy, regulatory, and business outcomes across the private, government, and not-for-profit sectors. She is widely recognised for her expertise in technology, communications, and services policy, with a strong track record in strategic leadership, industry code development, and international engagement across forums including APEC, the Asia Pacific Services Coalition, the European Commission, and UNESCO.
She was Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs at IBM Australia/New Zealand for over two decades, responsible for technology and public policy issues across a wide range of areas including artificial intelligence, privacy, cybersecurity, e-safety, cloud computing, and critical infrastructure. Kaaren was a Director of IBM Australia Pty Limited from 2014-2026 and was a longstanding member of IBM’s global leadership team. Prior to joining IBM, Kaaren held executive positions with Optus, the Australian Government, Charles Sturt University and was a solicitor with Baker & McKenzie.
Kaaren has extensive governance experience, with over 25 years serving on boards as Chair, Deputy Chair, Director and Secretary across a wide range of organisations. Her current roles include Council Member of the Australian Press Council and Chair of its AI Committee, Member of the Standards Australia AI Committee and Secretary of the Australian Services Roundtable. Previous roles include Director of IBM Australia Pty Limited, Deputy Chair and Director of the NSW Telecommunications Authority, Chair of the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka, President of the Australian Services Roundtable, Director of Netalert Online Safety Advisory Council and Director of the Australian Information Industry Association.
In recognition of her contributions, Kaaren was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2016 and has received multiple awards for leadership and client excellence. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws (University of Sydney), Master of Laws (UNSW), is a Graduate of the AICD and is a qualified mediator with AMDRAS.
Robert is a senior technology and regulatory lawyer with many years’ experience advising on legal issues arising within the digital economy. He has been a partner and practice leader with a number of major Australian law firms and has also spent time working within industry and with the Australian Competition and Consumer Authority. Robert’s areas of expertise include the provision of digital services; cybersecurity; privacy; and technology-based infrastructure projects. He also advises on competition and consumer related issues.
Robert is recognised as a leading lawyer in various industry directories including Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific; Doyle’s Guide, Legal 500 Asia-Pacific and The Best Lawyers Australia. He has a BA and law degree from the University of Sydney and a Master of Laws from the University of NSW. He recently completed the Oxford Blockchain Strategy Programme with the Saïd Business School at Oxford University.
Robert is a member of the Digital Commerce Committee of the Law Council of Australia and has been actively involved in preparing submissions and commenting on legal developments in the digital commerce sector./
Sanctions
The Code requires the Code Compliance Committee to publish the following information in connection with sanctions imposed on signatories:
- The name of an industry participant who is subject to an ongoing remediation order (other than an interim remediation order)
- The name of an industry participant who has been suspended from the Code and the suspension remains current
- The name of an industry participant who has been removed as a signatory to the Code and the date they re-joined as a signatory of the Code (if applicable)
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