Ontario has named Jennifer Richardson as the Director of the new Provincial Anti-Human Trafficking Coordination Office.
Ms. Richardson will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of Ontario's Strategy to End Human Trafficking, working across ministries and in collaboration with the law enforcement, justice, social services, health, education, and child welfare sectors.
Ms. Richardson has spent over 22 years combating human trafficking, and was most recently the senior manager of Manitoba's Sexual Exploitation Unit and Tracia's Trust: Manitoba's Sexual Exploitation Strategy. Throughout her career, she has developed specialized training for people all across Canada and the United States on how to work with sex trafficked and sexually exploited children and youth. In addition, she has been recognized for her research and analysis of human trafficking trends, and the advice, guidance and leadership that she has provided to government, law enforcement, Indigenous organizations, child welfare agencies, community groups and non-governmental organizations. Ms. Richardson has lived experience as a survivor of human trafficking.