Ruth Dearnley OBE

Ruth was born in Birkenhead UK, studied for a law degree at Newcastle University and moved to London to work as a teacher in Tower Hamlets. She co-founded STOP THE TRAFFIK in 2005 and was appointed founding Chief Executive Officer when it was incorporated as a UK charity in 2008. Her vision to create a world where people are not bought and sold through the prevention and disruption of modern slavery and human trafficking. Her leadership has catalysed the design of trust-based global networks that can challenge organised crime, systemic exploitation, and economic injustice. Over the last two decades STOP THE TRAFFIK has delivered a series of firsts: the first global petition of 1.5M signatures to stop trafficking delivered to the United Nations in 2007, launched the first federated active data platform (Traffik Analysis Hub) in 2019, launched the first anonymous reporting app (The STOP App) in 2016 which is now in 23 languages and the first geo targeted prevention programme in 2016 going on to deliver 50 programmes targeting global trafficking routes and hotspots reaching nearly 30 million people vulnerable to exploitation. STOP THE TRAFFIK was the first voice to establish the criminal proceeds of crime as a primary lever to disrupt human trafficking creating the first ‘go to market’ range of intelligence products, compiled using big data/AI powered analysis rooted in expert lived experience. The UK Government Cabinet Office awarded her an OBE in the 2014 British New Year Honours for her leadership in the prevention of human trafficking.