Speakers

Keynote

Dr Doug Gilmer is the 2024 recipient of the William Wilberforce Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts in countering human trafficking around the world. A 35+ year law enforcement veteran, Doug most recently served as the Senior Law Enforcement Advisor at the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) in Washington, D.C. In this appointment, Doug was responsible for external engagement, stakeholder development, and strategy implementation. Prior to this position, he served as the Resident Special Agent in Charge and Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Birmingham, Alabama; Chief of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit, and in many other leadership and investigative assignments throughout his federal law enforcement career. In 2021, Doug earned his PhD at Columbia International University in South Carolina where he completed groundbreaking research and his dissertation on the outcomes of collaborative, multidisciplinary teams in countering human trafficking. Although retired as of August 2024, Doug's dedication to efforts surrounding anti-trafficking/exploitation has not stopped. He is the Founder & President of Resolved Strategies, LLC, a global justice solutions group which helps connect organizations with relationships, resources, technology, and training they need; while also helping build collaborative, multidisciplinary teams to effectively address the various forms of human exploitation around the world. A well published author and passionate communicator, Doug strives to connect people and organizations with mission and purpose to drive change in their communities and around the world.

Presentations

Angela Robinson, PhD, is a full-time researcher at the University of California, Irvine. Through academic research and work in nonprofit management, Angela has dedicated her career to using research and program evaluation to maximize the impact of community-based work. Her research interests include the fight against human trafficking, maternal health, discrimination, and participatory co-creation of knowledge. Her past research included topics ranging from the prevention of domestic violence to understanding the impact that more equitable political representation has on women and BIPOC. Angela completed a BA at the University of Illinois; an MS in Cross-Cultural Psychology at Victoria University of Wellington; and a PhD in Social Psychology at the University of California, Irvine.

Kelsey Morgan is EverFree’s co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. Over 15 years in the anti-trafficking sector, she has worked to build innovative programs, strengthen evaluation standards, and collaborate in service of strengthening the movement. Kelsey founded Willow International in 2010 and merged with 10 Thousand Windows in 2021 to create the global nonprofit, EverFree, which provides direct services and scales survivor-led solutions to accelerate the end of trafficking. As part of her PhD program at the University of California, Irvine, she led the creation of Freedom Lifemap to amplify survivor voices in case management and identify effective interventions. She is a researcher and a coalition-builder, and loves spending time with her daughter, her husband, and their golden retriever.

Jill DeWitt is a Financial Crime Compliance Practice Lead for Moody’s Analytics in the KYC Solutioning division. Before joining Moody’s, she was with JPMorgan Chase for 11 years and held various positions in branch banking, alternative investments, and KYC/AML operations. In her last role at JPMorgan, she managed a global KYC operations team of 40 people, focused on beneficial ownership requirements and the FinCEN CDD Rule. Jill is passionate about Texas A&M and all things college football.

Valerie Cho has 20 years of experience in product development and management, with a focus on forced labor risk assessment solutions in the last three years at Moody's Analytics. Her current work includes AI-driven data collection and supply chain risk management. She holds an MS in Information Systems from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Laura Hackney is a human rights advocate and full-stack software engineer from Atlanta, GA. She is the CEO and Cofounder of AnnieCannons, a national organization dedicated to training, preparing, and connecting individuals who have experienced human trafficking to sustainable careers in tech. Laura helped to build AnnieCannons’ Coding Training Program and develop AC’s internal portfolio of software products. Prior to AnnieCannons, Laura managed the Program on Human Rights at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute. She also worked as the Senior Research Associate for Stanford’s Anti-Trafficking Project in the Mekong Sub-Region and was a Program Associate for the Freeman Spogli Institute’s International Policy Implementation Lab. Laura is passionate about the intersections of human rights, technology, and education. She is based in Brooklyn, NY.

Marc Mace serves as International Justice Mission’s Director of Data Science. He is responsible for leading global data science initiatives and building a data culture within IJM. Prior to joining IJM, Marc spent nearly 8 years working in the U.S. intelligence community as a developer, data scientist, and technical director.

Kristen Hubbell is the CEO and Founder of Prevention Now, a nonprofit organization that leverages data and technology to uncover why human trafficking occurs and who is most at-risk, then drives resolutions with partners to stop trafficking before it starts. Kristen has rich experience, ranging from investigative analytical work at the FBI, to strategic portfolio management at the anti-human trafficking non-profit International Justice Mission. After building a career reacting to crime, she’s passionate about pursuing innovative, data-driven solutions to stop human trafficking before it starts.

Dr. Jennifer O’Brien is an associate professor and practitioner in the field of social work, with a specialized focus on the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). She holds a Ph.D. in Social Work and has extensive experience working with vulnerable populations, particularly children and adolescents who have been affected by exploitation and trafficking. Her research primarily investigates the systemic and individual factors contributing to CSEC, including the impacts on mental health, the efficacy of intervention strategies, and the development of support systems for survivors. Dr. O’Brien’s work is crucial in shaping policies and practices aimed at preventing exploitation and providing comprehensive care for victims. Dr. O’Brien is also known for her commitment to community outreach and advocacy, working closely with organizations and policymakers to improve child protection services and promote social justice. Her contributions extend to teaching and mentoring the next generation of social workers, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to address complex issues related to child exploitation. She has published numerous articles and papers in peer-reviewed journals and is frequently invited to speak at conferences and workshops on topics related to child welfare, exploitation, and human trafficking. In addition to her research and teaching roles, Dr. O’Brien is an active member of several professional organizations dedicated to social work and child advocacy. Her dedication to these causes reflects her deep commitment to creating safer and more supportive environments for children and families affected by exploitation.

Dr. Kathleen Preble realized her passion for human rights and working with marginalized communities while serving in the U.S. Peace Corps. When she returned stateside, she earned her master's in social work pursuing a career centered in social justice. She was introduced to human trafficking, a form of human rights and gender-based violence, while resettling refugees in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. After a few years of working with survivors, a local police department hired Kathleen to assist in a special investigation unit devoted to identifying trafficking survivors and holding the traffickers accountable. This experience helped Kathleen see a gap in knowledge concerning evidenced-based practices and human trafficking response. She returned to school to pursue her doctorate in Social Work so that she could help fill this gap. Kathleen is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at her alma mater, the University of Texas at Arlington.

Michael Shively is an applied researcher whose core objective throughout a 35-year career has been to provide practitioners, policymakers, and advocates with information and tools to support their efforts to prevent and respond to the victimization of vulnerable populations. Between 2002 and 2023 he received a continuous series of nine federal grants to lead research on the perpetration, victimization, and system responses to both survivors and offenders in human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. His research on the consumer-level demand that drives all sex trafficking markets includes a rigorous evaluation of a program designed to deter sex buyers. He founded and directs Demand Forum, a website documenting prevention tactics that have been used in more than 3,885 cities and counties throughout the U.S. His prior research includes developing a method for producing valid estimates of human trafficking prevalence; examining the traits and motivations of convicted human traffickers; and conducting a national survey on police responses to human trafficking. He has presented on these and other issues at legislative hearings, training programs, expert workgroups, and at conferences convened by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; U.S. Department of State; U.S. Department of Health and Social Services; U.S. Department of Justice; National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Center for Disease Control and Prevention; International Association of Chiefs of Police; International Association of Human Trafficking Investigators; National Association of Attorneys General; Massachusetts Bar Association; American Public Health Association; Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences; and the American Society of Criminology. He has served as a Senior Advisor to the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and Street Grace; as a Senior Associate at Abt Associates; as an Assistant Professor at the College of Criminal Justice, Northeastern University; and as Deputy Director of Research for the Massachusetts Department of Correction.

Maria Barquin Sommers has been with the BCFS Health and Human Services Common Thread program since 2017, where she was honored to be the first advocate ever hired. In her role as an advocate for commercially sexually exploited youth (CSEY), Maria provided trauma-informed support, offering felt safety and meaningful connection to dozens of CSEY survivors. She played a vital role in coordinating a wide range of services, including emergency shelter placement, residential care, assisted living arrangements, and access to vocational training programs—helping survivors rebuild their lives with stability and dignity. In recognition of her impactful work in the field, Maria received the San Antonio Business Journal’s 2019 Nonprofit and Corporate Philanthropy Award. Since 2020, Maria has transitioned into a dedicated data role within Common Thread. Drawing on her deep experience working directly with survivors, she brings a unique perspective to data analysis, ensuring that the stories and needs of both survivors and advocates are accurately represented through numbers. Maria and her team of analysts are committed to using data not just as a tool for reporting, but as a continued form of advocacy—helping to shape more effective services, inform policy, and keep the voices of survivors at the center of the conversation.

Innovation Highlights

M. Elizabeth Bowman, PhD, LICSW, LCSW-C, is an Assistant Professor at Gallaudet University in the Department of Social Work. Dr. Bowman earned her doctoral degree from Catholic University in 2020 and her Master of Social Work Degree from Gallaudet University in 2009. She holds clinical social work licensure in 4 states and is fluent in American Sign Language. She is also a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) and utilizes expressive arts in a holistic approach to well-being and mental health. Dr. Bowman has a specialization in trauma-informed care and earned her Advanced Clinical Trauma Certification in 2021. She is a survivor of both CSEC and DMST, and founded a nonprofit in the Washington, D.C. area to support survivors of sex trafficking, the Restoring Ivy Collective.

Bianca Davis serves as Chief Executive Officer of New Friends New Life (NFNL), a leading nonprofit agency in Dallas, Texas that restores and empowers women and girls who have been trafficked or exploited. She describes herself as an optimistic servant leader who plants seeds and builds authentic relationships wherever she goes. “I tell stories that illuminate human connection, inspiring people to care for each other more deeply.” She has 23 years of experience in healthcare communications and social services. Prior to joining NFNL, she served as senior director of fund and community development for Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support, a local domestic violence recovery agency, after serving as communications manager for Medical City Dallas Hospital where she spent nine years leading community engagement, internal campaigns, and shaping the organizational culture. Bianca holds a bachelor's degree in public relations from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, and a master's degree in organizational communication from Dallas Baptist University. In 2021, she graduated from the Dallas FBI Citizens Academy.