Brian Adams, CEO, Quiver Management Solutions, South Africa

About Brian Adams
Mr. Brian Adams is the CEO of Quiver Management Solution, the company he founded in 1999. Today, it has become South Africa’s largest independently managed hotline disclosure service, widely acknowledged as the pioneer of these services in South Africa. Prior to that, Mr. Adams had a successful career as a professional soldier. He resigned from the South African Army as a Colonel, in 1992. He obtained his Economics degree as well as a number of post graduate qualifications, and is currently completing a Masters degree in Risk Management at the University of South Africa. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Risk Management of South Africa, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors of South Africa, and a Member of the Security Institute of South Africa.

About his initiative
In 2009, in the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Mr. Adams launched and sponsored a human trafficking 24-hour hotline, known as “08-000-RESCUE”. Established in partnership with the Salvation Army, the hotline aimed to assist potential victims of human trafficking. During the World Cup, the hotline received 21 calls related to human trafficking. The calls were followed up by relevant services. While established on the occasion of the World Cup, the hotline continues servicing potential victims of human trafficking until today, to reverse the scourge of human slavery in Southern Africa. Mr. Adams and his company remain committed to addressing social problems and to providing “a voice for those that need to be heard!”

Ali Agan, CEO, Azercell Telecom, Azerbaijan

About Ali Agan
Mr. Ali Agan is the CEO of Azercell Telecom, Azerbaijan. His work experience covers various professional activities in finance and telecommunications in different countries. Prior to Azercell, Mr. Agan served as the CEO and member of the Board of Directors of the MEP Group. From 1997 to 2000, he worked as the District Manager of the AEGON Group in the USA. Mr. Agan obtained his BS degree in Economics from Ankara University, Faculty of Political Science, following which he completed the Certificates Program of the University of Toronto, Canada, and received an MBA in Finance from the University of Baltimore, USA.

About his initiative
Azercell Telecom contributed to an awareness-raising campaign in Azerbaijan through the sponsorship of a concert by a popular singer Agayeva, who is committed to social and humanitarian causes. The company also sponsored the establishment of a shelter for homeless children in 1997. It partnered with UNICEF and the NGO Alliance on Children Rights in an initiative promoting children’s deinstitutionalization in Azerbaijan, including setting up integrated social services for vulnerable children and their families, since 2008.

Ronald Bedard, Principle, RnD Precision Imaging Inc., Canada

About Ronald Bedard
Mr. Ronald Bedard is the President of RnD Precision Imaging, a company specializing in 3D scanning for manufacturers, reverse engineering and historical object scanning. Previously, Mr. Bedard was a commercial pilot for over sixteen years working in various countries around the world. His passion is travel and he has had several travel articles published in newspapers and magazines. Mr. Bedard is also a certified professional photographer and specializes in travel photography and portraiture.

About his initiative
Mr. Ronald Bedard developed a personal safety rescue application for the iPhone. It is an iPhone Personal Locator Beacon that sends the phone’s GPS position to programmed personal contacts in the event of an emergency. The application automatically calls the pre-programmed emergency services number in over 200 countries, such as 911. Children with this application are able to send instant notification to emergency services and loved ones, when they are in situations of danger or distress. In June 2010, Mr. Bedard partnered with the Child Rescue Association of North America to enable this charitable organization to benefit from levering this tool to raise awareness and funds, while at the same time helping to save lives. Mr. Bedard and the Child Rescue Association are currently investigating opportunities to raise the profile of the iPhone application. The application was officially unveiled at the organization’s first annual Candlelight Serenade Concert held in Salt Lake City, USA, in August 2010. Since then, it continues to play a part in all fundraising activities.

Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Chairman, Carlson Companies, USA

About Marilyn Carlson Nelson
Ms. Marilyn Carlson Nelson is the Chairman and former CEO of Carlson Companies, operating in 150 countries under such brands as Radisson Hotels, Country Inn & Suites, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, and T.G.I. Friday’s.  Forbes magazine named her one of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.”  U.S. News and World Report called her one of “America’s Best Leaders.” Under her leadership, Carlson was the first major North American hospitality company to sign the international Code of Conduct to protect children from sexual exploitation in tourism. Ms. Carlson Nelson serves on the boards of ExxonMobil, The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, and chairs the Board of the Mayo Clinic.

About her initiative
Ms. Marilyn Carlson Nelson is a pioneer and leader campaigning for the protection of children from sexual exploitation and trafficking in the tourism sector, in the U.S. and globally. In 2004, under Ms. Carlson Nelson’s leadership, Carlson was the first major North American travel company to sign the Tourism Child Protection Code of Conduct. The Code requests the implementation of child-protection measures, such as developing ethical policies against child sex tourism, informing and engaging travellers, and educating and training staff. To implement the Code, Carlson produced training materials for employees and conducted training sessions worldwide. Today, “train the trainer” programme is being delivered in Carlson-branded hotels, and an innovation is underway to deliver training electronically to better monitor employee completion of the training. Ms. Carlson Nelson has tirelessly advocated against children’s exploitation and trafficking using such platforms as the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the World Travel and Tourism Council, the U.S. Travel Association, and UN General Assembly. Her encouragement for the signature of the Code in the tourist and travel sector contributed to its implementation by 950 companies involved in tourism and travel, in 37 countries.

Christopher Davis, International Campaigns Director, The Body Shop International, UK

About Christopher Davis
Mr. Christopher Davis is responsible for leading the development of social and environmental campaigns across The Body Shop’s 2,500 stores in 65 countries around the world. Since joining the company in 2004, he has overseen the award-winning “Stop Violence in the Home” campaign, and has led the creation of a three-year international partnership with MTV Networks International to raise awareness of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. In 2009, Mr. Davis led the development and launch of the Body Shop’s groundbreaking “Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People” campaign. Before joining The Body Shop, Mr. Davis was responsible for International Corporate Relations and Global Development at Save the Children International. Mr. Davis is also Chair and Co-Founder of the UK Corporate Alliance against Domestic Violence and a Director of the Staying Alive Foundation. He is a guest lecturer at the University of Sussex, and the University of Oxford, UK.

About his initiative
In 2009, the Body Shop and ECPAT (End Child Prostitution Child, Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) launched a three-year global campaign “Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People”, to inspire long-term changes and make a difference in stopping child sex trafficking. For the first time, an international network of local grassroots NGOs has worked in partnership with a major cosmetic company to raise awareness on child trafficking. The campaign has a three-year strategic approach with defined annual aims. Year one focuses on awareness and providing immediate relief to child victims with funds raised. As of the second year, the campaign focuses on creating long-term changes through awareness-raising and public engagement, and by lobbying decision-makers to strengthen concerted action against child trafficking for sexual purposes. Country Progress Cards to assess the progress of States’ action in 43 countries have been created and released along with national campaign petitions.

Tristan Foster, CEO, FSI Worldwide, UAE

About Tristan Foster
Mr. Tristan Foster is the Founder, CEO and major shareholder of FSI Worldwide. Founded in 2006, FSI is now recognized as a world leader in the field of ethical recruitment and management, recruiting and managing personnel for work principally in post conflict environments. This network has been responsible for helping over 1,000 people into ethically sourced, appropriately paid and supported employment where they would otherwise have been vulnerable to exploitation by recruitment companies. FSI has also a significant footprint in the UK, where it employs former Gurkha soldiers and their families for work in security, military training and facilities management sectors. Mr. Foster established the FSI Foundation, which provides funding for education and training projects in Nepal, reaching over US$100,000 to date. Prior to that, Mr. Foster served as an Officer in the British Army for 12 years, retiring with the rank of Major.

About his initiative
Mr. Tristan Foster established FSI Worldwide to help eradicate illegal recruitment practices by offering ethical recruitment solutions to international companies that hire workers from Nepal and India. FSI shows its employers that a well-recruited and well-managed workforce is significantly more efficient and effective than one made up of bonded, demoralized and exploited workers. FSI invested in creating a recruitment infrastructure in Nepal and India to be in control of the whole recruitment process. Every recruit is interviewed by a bilingual senior person without paying a recruitment fee. The recruits, who may be suitable but whose technical skills are not up to required standards, may be offered skills training within an Academy in Nepal sponsored by the FSI Foundation. According to FSI, the vast majority of 1,000 people employed via the FSI system would otherwise have been at the mercy of “traditional” recruitment agents and at risk of exploitation.

Ludy Green, Founder and President, Second Chance Employment Services, USA

About Ludy Green
Dr. Ludy Green is the President and Founder of Second Chance Employment Services (SCES), an organization which provides meaningful employment for battered and abused women. She draws on her 15 years’ experience in the human resources field to find employment for her clients. Dr. Green was appointed by the U.S. State Department as a Cultural Ambassador of the United States and is currently a U.S. delegate to Jordan and Syria on gender and violence. She recently served as a U.S. delegate to Chile in 2009, and as U.S. delegate to the 2008 Global Summit of Women in Vietnam. An advocate for women and children for over 20 year, in 2006, Dr. Green was appointed by the U.S. Attorney General to be on the Advisory Council of Domestic Violence against Women. She also served as the Vice-Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees for the Family and Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia.

About her initiative
Second Chance Employment Services (Second Chance) is an employment agency specializing in assisting women victims of domestic violence and trafficking. The purpose of Second Chance is to find meaningful, career-track employment for women at risk, including victims of human trafficking who have been brought into the United States (or sometimes trafficked internally, within the United States). Second Chance has provided shelter, legal support, psychological counselling and rehabilitation. It prepares women for entering into the legitimate workforce, through job training, and a complete professional make-over, including business wardrobes, professional hair and cosmetics, as well as social and interview skills. Dr. Ludy Green has been the architect of the Second Chance Employment based on her strong belief that without a meaningful career, no woman can escape violence or human trafficking.

James A. Levine, Professor and Doctor, Mayo Clinic, USA

About James A. Levine
Dr. James A. Levine is Professor and Doctor in the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA. His interests include anorexia nervosa, congenital leanness and obesity. He is a graduate from the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. In 2008, Dr. Levine published the novel, “The Blue Notebook” about a child prostitute he worked with in Mumbai, India, donating proceeds to the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.  Thereafter, his work in child sexual slavery expanded. He has worked in 17 countries, lecturing and deploying scalable evidence-based programmes to free children from prostitution and break childhood trafficking.  He consults (gratis) to communities and companies to deploy exit and reclamation programmes with trained social workers and psychologists. Dr. Levine has lectured to governments in China, USA, South America, Canada, Europe, across Africa and at the United Nations, and has authored 150 articles in scientific journals and The Times of London. 

About his initiative
Dr. James Levine has worked to help end child trafficking and prostitution for two decades.  He first worked in the United Kingdom in inner-city London to rescue street children trapped in child prostitution. He then went to the Côte d’Ivoire with FAO, to address the issue of child labour, with particular emphasis on gender. Thereafter, he worked in Mumbai to deploy scalable solutions to release children from prostitution where two educational institutions were launched.  The Mumbai-based centre has a 100% success rate for children leaving prostitution and successfully entering school.  He replicated similar programmes in Calcutta.  Dr. Levine currently runs programmes in Kenya, Jamaica, China, Kinshasa (with MSF) and the U.S., in Native American and Inner City Communities. Dr. Levine’s current endeavour is to build scalable Child Escape refuges in Cleveland that can be duplicated across the U.S.  He is an invitee of The President’s Panel and is convinced that through international collaboration, sexual slavery will stop.

Pamela S. Passman, Corporate VP and Deputy General Counsel, Global Corporate Affairs, Microsoft, USA

About Pamela S. Passman
Ms. Pamela Passman is Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Global Corporate and Regulatory Affairs.  She leads teams responsible for five main missions: providing regulatory counsel to business groups; developing Microsoft’s positions on public policy issues; developing and orchestrating Microsoft’s global corporate affairs agenda; leading Microsoft’s community and philanthropic investments and outreach; and providing legal support to Microsoft Research and a range of emerging and incubation businesses. Ms. Passman has leadership responsibilities for Microsoft’s cross-company global corporate citizenship efforts and Microsoft Unlimited Potential, which has contributed to the technology training of more than 280 million people in 110 countries to enhance educational opportunities, workforce skills and employability. 

About her initiative
In line with its commitment to Internet safety and helping underserved communities realize their full potential through the transformative power of technology, Microsoft joins the fight against human trafficking through programmes which aim to address the primary cause of vulnerability to human trafficking – poverty and the lack of economic opportunity. It also helps to stop the criminal use of the Internet for child exploitation and enables law enforcement officials to use technology against paedophiles and traffickers. In addition, Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential Community grant programme supports IT skills training for underserved communities. More than 30,000 Community Technology Centers (CTCs) in over 100 countries have received technology and financial grants to provide IT skills training. In Asia, UP-CTS programme grants totalling more than US$1.7 million have been awarded to NGOs who work with those vulnerable to, or victims of human trafficking, or in communities which are considered trafficking “hot spots”. As most victims of trafficking are lured by the promise of jobs, the UP-CTS grants empower participants from vulnerable groups with employment-oriented IT skills, life skills training, and job placement.

Gilles Pélisson, Chairman & CEO, Accor, France

About Gilles Pélisson
Mr. Gilles Pélisson graduated from the ESSEC Business School and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. He started his career in the Accor Group in 1983. After six years in the United States as Marketing Director of Seafood Broiler restaurants, then as Senior Vice President of Accor for the Asia-Pacific region, he was appointed, in 1988, as Chief Executive of Courtepaille restaurants; then as Co-Chairman of the Novotel hotel chain, in 1993. In 1995, Mr. Pélisson was appointed CEO of Euro Disney, then Chairman and CEO in 1997. In 2000, Mr. Pélisson joined the SUEZ group to head the Suez-Telefonica ST3G consortium. In September 2001, he joined Bouygues Telecom as CEO and was appointed Chairman and CEO in February 2004. In January 2006, Mr. Pélisson became the CEO of Accor.

About his initiative
In early 2002, the Accor Group had already targeted child sex tourism as a major theme of its struggle and commitment. In 2006, shortly after Mr. Pélisson’s arrival as CEO, Accor’s sustainable development programme was launched. The fight against child-sex tourism became one of Accor’s priorities. Accor made its commitment official through the signing and implementing of the ECPAT/UNWTO "Tourism Child Protection Code" on a country-by-country basis.  Accor has also been a member of The Code’s Executive Committee since 2008, and has divided its commitment into three core actions: training staff on how to prevent this risk; raising customers’ awareness; and supporting its suppliers in the same action. Since 2006, more than 10,000 employees have been trained annually, in partnership with local and specialized NGOs of the ECPAT network. Child-protection campaigns were also displayed in the hotels in the countries committed to fighting this crime. Accor’s teams working on this issue realized it takes time and permanent efforts to make progress in this field.

Miranda Kenmore Penner, Manager, The Body Shop, Canada

About Miranda Kenmore Penner
Ms. Miranda Kenmore Penner is currently the General Manager for The Body Shop West Edmonton Mall, Canada.  This is one of the largest locations of The Body Shop in North America.  She is responsible for the day to day operations, training, and customer service within her four walls.  In the past 10 years, Ms. Kenmore Penner has managed several of The Body Shop locations in Canada.  She has also served voluntarily for several non-profit organizations including: City Wide Youth Network (CWYN) Medicine Hat, as a Youth Pastoral Advisor, The Tabernacle- Medicine Hat, Alive 99.5fm, and most currently, as a member of the Action Coalition on Human Trafficking.

About her initiative
Ms. Miranda Kenmore Penner immediately joined fight against human trafficking following the international directive from her company to support the awareness-raising initiative. She acknowledged the importance of responding to human trafficking at a local level, and sought to use her position as a business leader to raise awareness of trafficking as it occurs in Canada. In 2009, Ms. Kenmore Penner formed a partnership between The Body Shop and ACT Alberta – the Action Coalition on Human Trafficking – a charity that is focused on raising awareness of human trafficking in Alberta and providing solutions and services to victims. This partnership grew to all 20 locations of The Body Shop across the Province. Ms. Kenmore Penner created educational opportunities for her staff to learn about, and champion, counter-trafficking initiatives. She committed fundraising activities from 20 stores to financially support local counter-trafficking work. She encouraged the creation and distribution of educational materials on human trafficking to thousands of Albertans, and created a programme to directly support trafficked women through the donation of services and products. In order to rebuild victims´ self esteem, Ms. Kenmore Penner has offered no-cost opportunities to help trafficked women heal through the products and services at The Body Shop. Ms. Kenmore Penner, with The Body Shop behind her, is sending a message of hope to Albertans: that human trafficking can be stopped in our communities.

Robert Rigby-Hall, Senior Vice President, LexisNexis Inc., USA

About Robert Rigby-Hall
Mr. Robert Rigby-Hall is Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer for the LexisNexis Group. He is responsible for all Human Resources, Corporate Responsibility and Communications activities across LexisNexis’s US$4billion business that spans over 100 countries and employs 16,000 people. Prior to LexisNexis, Mr. Rigby-Hall was Reed Exhibitions’ Global Human Resources Director before becoming the CEO of Reed Exhibitions North America. He holds a variety of not-for-profit Board seats, including Boys Town of New York (Chair), Somaly Mam Foundation (Chair), RedLight Children, and is an Advisory Board Member to Kiddy & Partners – a leading global firm of business psychologists specializing in assessment and talent management. 

About his initiative
In 2008, LexisNexis partnered with the U.S. National Human Trafficking Resource Center to develop a national database of social service provider for the Center’s hotline. In Southeast Asia, LexisNexis collaborated with a leading anti-trafficking NGO and taught technical skills to the shelter staff. The company also created an online resource centre for attorneys who work with human trafficking victims. It collaborated with the American Bar Association to support a training institute on civil remedies for victims of human trafficking, which trained lawyers from six countries and across the United States. In addition, the Association and LexisNexis worked together to engage all U.S. states to have uniform, strong laws on human trafficking. As a result, in July 2010, the Executive Committee for the Uniform Law Commission agreed to work on a model law. LexisNexis has also forged partnerships to raise awareness on human trafficking by supporting the wide dissemination of the film “Holy” and documentary “Redlight” in the U.S., Europe and Asia. As a part of its commitment to fight labour-related human trafficking, LexisNexis developed the Code of Conduct to spread best practices through its own supply chain. In 2009, 53 percent of suppliers have signed the Code and numerous independent audits were conducted. LexisNexis has also engaged its own employees in anti-trafficking work by offering them to volunteer a certain number of days for pro bono legal work in anti-trafficking activities.

Peter Rothwell, CEO, Kuoni Travel Holding Ltd., Switzerland

About Peter Rothwell
Mr. Peter Rothwell became CEO of the Kuoni Group on 1 January 2009. Prior to that, he was appointed COO and Member of the Board of TUI AG Tourism in 2006, from where he moved to become Deputy Chief Executive of TUI Travel PLC, London. Mr. Rothwell holds various executive positions in Marketing, Product Management, Purchasing and Sales in travel companies, including Thomson Travel Group, TUI, Airtours Holidays and Airtours UK Leisure Group. He studied languages at Oxford University, UK.

About his initiative
Kuoni adopted the Code of Conduct that lays down binding guidelines on ethical behaviour for all its employees. The Code has been distributed to its employees throughout the world and has been supported by training sessions in the individual subsidiary companies. In addition, Kuoni adopted the Supplier Code of Conduct requesting business partners to protect children, including an obligation not to tolerate or allow child prostitution in the supplier’s premises or report any suspicious behaviour to the local authorities. The Code is part of Kuoni´s contractual agreements with hotels, suppliers and service providers. Any violation results in a termination of the contractual agreement by Kuoni. Since 2006, Kuoni has provided training and organized workshops on child sex tourism, for more than 500 hotels. Through the Travelife sustainability system, Kuoni monitors its supply chain to ensure respect of the ethical standards, including child protection. Kuoni is also supporting several local projects, such as “Children at Risk” in Kenya, to expand the knowledge and range of options available to people in local villages, thereby ensuring that children in the region are better protected against sexual exploitation.

Natasha Rufus Isaacs & Lavinia Brennan, Beulah London Ltd., UK

About Natasha Rufus Isaacs and Lavinia Brennan
Ms. Natasha Rufus Isaacs is Co-Founder of Beulah London. From 1994 to 2001, she attended the Westonbirt School, UK, as a boarder. From 2002 to 2005, she studied History of Art at Oxford Brookes University. Following this, she went on to work in House Sales at Sotheby's, the Art Auction House in Bond Street, for two years. Ms. Rufus then went on to work at a large church and charity, Holy Trinity Brompton, where she worked on social ventures such as the Homeless Project.  

Ms. Lavinia Brennan is Co-Founder of Beulah London. From 1998 to 2005, she attended the Woldingham School, UK, as a boarder. In 2006, she went on to study Combined Arts at Durham University. Following this, Ms. Brennan gained valuable work experience at the prestigious fashion PR agency in London, ‘Purple’, going on to gain additional experience at Quintessentially Communications.

About their initiative
In October 2009, Ms. Lavinia Brennan and Ms. Natasha Rufus Isaacs travelled to India, working in an aftercare home for girls who had come out of the sex trade and abusive situations. This prompted a social action venture, and thus Beulah London was born. Beulah aims to provide employment to victims of sex trafficking by involving them in part of the production of garments. The company’s long-term aim is to contribute financially to training schemes through a proportion of its profits, and eventually involve the girls in the full production process a few years later. This is intended to provide financial support to a project which successfully rescues victims and provides them with an alternative and sustainable livelihood.

Samih Sawiris, Chairman & CEO, Orascom Development Holding AG, Egypt

About Samih Sawiris
Mr. Samih Sawiris is Chairman & CEO of Orascom Development Holding AG (ODH). He is a developer who, through his company, constructs and manages fully-integrated self-sustaining touristic towns. With the development of El Gouna, Hurghada, on the Red Sea in 1989, Mr. Sawiris began expanding internationally. ODH develops and runs resorts in several countries, including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Switzerland.

About his initiative
Orascom Development Holding provided sustainable living facilities to poor communities affected by a tragic rockslide incident in Egypt. These included decent healthy homes, employment opportunities and the promotion of small-scale businesses. The company offered free training sessions in an embroidery workshop for women, and local primary school attendance for their children. It also built a new modern school with healthy classrooms, equipped labs and attractive playgrounds. Within the Egyptian context and culture, ODH’s initiative proved successful in both the prevention of human trafficking and rehabilitation among this vulnerable community, including the elimination of child labour, early marriages and crime. Mr. Sawiris has also developed another successful low-income housing project, “Haram City”, in the 6th of October City, Egypt, which has begun to expand both regionally and internationally.

Shahinoor M. Visram, Managing Trustee, Sun n Sand Beach Resort, Kenya

About Shahinoor M. Visram
Ms. Shahinoor Visram is Managing Trustee of Sun n Sand Trust, mandated to oversee Sun n Sand Beach Resort’s CSR Projects. These include a nursery school, a primary health care centre, a place of worship, and the provision of water for the community. The resort was the first in Kenya to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with UNICEF towards the Protection of Children. Sun n Sand Beach resort was appointed a Member of the Steering Committee of the Code of Conduct against Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism, and is now a Director of the Board, represented by Ms. Visram. Ms Visram has also served as a member of Kenya’s National Council for Children’s Services and Kenya’s Street Families’ Rehabilitation Trust.

About her initiative
Sun n Sand Beach resort was the first in Kenya to sign the Code of Conduct against Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism with UNICEF. Since then, it has been leading the way in sensitizing and training the residents of Kikambala Village, as well as students and teachers of the Kikambala Primary School. Stickers and posters informing all guests that such practices will not be tolerated are displayed not only in all public areas and rooms of the resort, vehicles, bicycles and motorbikes, but also in the primary school to inform children about the potential dangers of trafficking. The workshops were held with the resort’s staff, the community stakeholders and teachers of the primary school to raise their awareness and encourage the team to work jointly against this scourge.