Webinar Series 2017: New Technologies, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Tackling Human Trafficking
Today, a vast number of technologies play a significant role in the everyday lives of human beings. From technologies that enable communication, to technologies that permit the tracking of personal finances (e.g., online banking), these innovations are changing daily life, work, and community. With such a vast array of new technologies, it is necessary to assess how they are used to facilitate human trafficking as well as the fight against human trafficking. The Internet has also changed the scope of crime and, therefore, criminal investigations. At the same time, new technologies allow for the development of ground-breaking tools to combat human trafficking. Multi-national brands, such as Google and Microsoft, and also smaller digital innovation agencies, identified anti-trafficking research initiatives as areas of focus ‘to combine creative and digital expertise with non-profit grassroots knowledge and insight on the issue to create a technology innovation with major impact’.
Innovation and entrepreneurship are eternally linked. This webinar series will also address the need for innovation and entrepreneurship in the fight against human trafficking.
Entrepreneurial ventures can provide solutions and strategies for long-term societal impact both locally and globally. In training the next generation of entrepreneurs, it is critical that these global leaders know that they can be the catalyst for social change. A growing community of entrepreneurs are addressing human trafficking and transforming regions, industry, public policy and livelihoods. Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial training can also provide lasting economic stability for those who have been trafficked and those who are at-risk.
The aim of the webinar series is to look at the ways in which new technologies, innovation and entrepreneurship can tackle human trafficking and relate to the five P’s (Policy, Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Partnerships). The webinars will also highlight how these high-tech and innovative entrepreneurs can support and empower survivors of human trafficking and how survivors become entrepreneurs themselves. The series will include six webinars on a specific topic, approached from different angles which would then provide a holistic, deep dive into the nature of the problem, its manifestations, and effective solutions for the private sector to engage in the fight against human trafficking.
This webinar series is hosted by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime and Babson College’s Initiative on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery. Also supported by TraCCC, the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center at George Mason University, and Dentons LLP.
Disclaimer: The information and views expressed to the audience in the course of the webinars as the Materials of this Website are for information purposes only and do not reflect an official opinion of the Global Initiative, the Babson College’s Initiative on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery or IOM.
2017 Webinar Speakers
Samir Goswami LLC (moderator)
Senior Program Manager, Content Moderator and PhotoDNA Cloud Service, Microsoft
CEO, Mekong Club
Anna is a Director & Head of NetClean. She has worked with organisations and governments worldwide since 2009 to combat online child sexual exploitation through introducing and lobbying for the uptake of new and leading technical solutions, which work to save children from harm. Anna is also a member of the Safer Society Group management team, which develops and drives companies that specialise in technology with the aim of creating a better and safer society by tackling societal problems through IT-solutions. She has a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science and Economics, and has worked with innovative solutions within the Telco and IT industry for 20 years. She is also a former professional female football player and played on the national team. Anna is very involved in Tölö IF, the largest youth football club in western Sweden, where she is a member of the board. Taken on a specific responsibility to develop strategies to create a positive sporting environment where children between ages 8-15 can feel safe, enjoy themselves and develop.
(Webinar: Promising Practices of Innovative Entrepreneuships (start-ups) to Combat Human Trafficking)
James is a co-founder and global partner of Treblepartners, a data-driven sustainability practice, which is developing pioneering technology and policy protocols designed to eradicate modern slavery. He is an international lawyer, social entrepreneur and academic researcher based in London. In 2006 he co-founded FSI Worldwide, a UN award winning ethical employment company, which protects South Asian and East African workers from exploitation and abuse. FSI now operates in 10 countries and has protected many thousands of people across multiple geographies. In 2011, James stepped down from the board of FSI and founded Lincoln Associates, a highly successful legal advisory practice focusing on human rights matters in the Middle East. James holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from York University, a Graduate Diploma in Law and Bar Vocational Qualification from the University of Law and a first class Masters degree in International Relations from King’s College London.
(Webinar: Promising Practices of Innovative Entrepreneuships (start-ups) to Combat Human Trafficking)
Josiah is the CEO and Founder of Beza Threads Foundation. He has a degree in Accounting and Finance from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, USA where he resides with his wife and two daughters. Josiah is a CPA and works as a Manager of Finance for a renewable energy company. He first experienced modern slavery in 2008 during a college mission trip in the capital city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. American students were engaged with various NGOs around the city including Hope for Children Ethiopia (HCE). In 2010, along with his wife, Megan Carter, and Autumn Rupkey, Josiah founded Beza Threads Foundation. The organization has provided a sustainable future for nearly 120 beneficiaries formerly entrapped in slavery. 100% of their product sales go towards the rescue of the enslaved. Through a simple product such as a scarf, a world can be changed forever.
(Webinar: Promising Practices of Innovative Entrepreneuships (start-ups) to Combat Human Trafficking)
Professor, Boston University, School of Law
Founder, Liberty Asia
Joséphine is the CEO of Techfugees. She was nominated two times in a row by Forbes as one of the top 30 under 30 Social Entrepreneurs in 2016 and 2017. Joséphine is a hacktivist for migrants and refugees’ inclusion in Europe. As CEO of Techfugees, a non-profit coordinating the tech community‘s response to the refugee situation, she promotes the use of new technologies to empower the displaced and provide them access to information, healthcare, and education. Joséphine previously worked as tech evangelist for the web-based cross border recruitment platform, Yborder. She also worked as an informal expert on immigration for the EU commission and helped build a web-based AI for migrants to apply for visas to Europe for tech startup, Migreat.
(Webinar: Awareness Raising and Campaigning)
Yusuf is a Senior Social Reporter at CNN International. He is an award-winning senior social reporter based in CNN’s London bureau. Yusuf works within the global CNN Social team, with a special focus in mobile storytelling, including programming CNN’s Snapchat Discover channel. He spent five years covering the African continent as Mobile Journalism lead at eNews Channel Africa (eNCA) and reporting for the Independent Newspapers group in South Africa. Most recently, Yusuf was mobile editor at the Hindustan Times in India where he was tasked with building a mobile journalism team, training 750 reporters to tell stories using their mobile devices. He was awarded the world’s first Snapchat awards in 2016 – The Ghosties- for using social media for social good. Also named Mobile Journalist of the Year in 2016.
(Webinar: Awareness Raising and Campaigning)
Vanessa is an Associate Director of Integrated Content Strategy at Babson College. She oversees the creation and execution of integrated content strategy for Babson and its various business units, including overseeing the College’s social media strategy. Vanessa managed social media channels and content for eight years. She has spoken at a variety of higher education and marketing conferences, including eduWeb, CASE Social Media and Community, Higher Ed Experts, CASE District 1 Conference, HighEdWeb, and the Business Development Institute. Vanessa received a B.S. from Babson College and an M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communications from Emerson College.
(Webinar: Awareness Raising and Campaigning)
