I am an experienced manager with five years of experience leading international development programs and social enterprises. I am committed to serving those who survive extreme cases of abuse and exploitation through my work in social business. My work has taken me to Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Afghanistan. I am particularly passionate about PEPY Tours, Hagar International, and Joma International, three organizations/social businesses with which I had the privilege to work. Since 2008 I have led Hagar Social Enterprise Group and a number of their social business investments, including Joma Bakery Cafe (Vietnam).

Women and children face extreme human rights abuse around the world. Developing countries, particularly those that are wartorn or emerging from decades of conflict, have an extremely limited ability to serve these clients on their path toward full recovery. Due to stigma, psychological trauma, and many other factors, many women are unable to find gainful employment and live independently as they recover from their trauma.

Hagar restores to wholeness the lives of women and children in Afghanistan, Cambodia and Vietnam that have been torn apart by human rights abuse. Walking the whole journey of protection, recovery, empowerment and integration with each individual is the whole reason for Hagar.

Every woman and child who comes to Hagar knows terror, isolation and despair. They know the physical agony of rape and violence and the heartache of rejection and humiliation. Because of the deep wounding of severe abuse, Hagar provides long-term, individualized services for women and children, including residential and transitional care, medical support, legal aid, counselling, education, family services and employment.

Although each individual’s journey is different, each woman and child walks through four critical steps: protection, recovery, economic empowerment, and integration. This process takes time – sometimes years.