Ben Peterson is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of jhr (Journalists for Human Rights), Canada's largest international media development organization.  jhr's goal is to make every person on earth fully aware of their rights.  By mobilizing the media to spark human rights dialogue, jhr informs people about rights, empowering marginalized communities to stand up, speak out and protect themselves.

Since its founding in 2002, jhr has harnessed the power of the media in 15 different countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including major operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Liberia and Sierra Leone. jhr has also established a presence in universities and high schools across North America, empowering students to spread rights awareness in their communities.

Previous to jhr, Ben worked in Ghana's Ministry of Justice, leading Ghana's efforts to write reports to the United Nations on various international human rights treaties. Ben has also worked for the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy, and in the offices of David Bonior, the former Democratic Whip in the United States House of Representatives.

Ben has a BA in Economics and a BAH in Political Studies from Queen's University, and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics (LSE).

Ben has received many national and international awards for his work, including Canada's Top 40 under 40 Award, the Action Canada Fellowship and the Queen's University Alumni Humanitarian Award. A published author and accomplished public speaker, Ben and the work of jhr have been featured in the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, and on the CBC among others media outlets.

Vists Ben's blog at www.benpeterson.ca.

Aileen has an honours Political Science degree from the University of Ottawa, focusing on international development and has also taken various journalism courses from Ryerson University. Prior to becoming full time staff Aileen was an international programs intern with jhr. Her international experience includes extensive work and travel throughout Europe and Northern Africa. While completing her degree Aileen spent a year studying at the Institut diEtudes Politiques in Aix-en Provence, France in addition to working as a language assistant for the French Ministry of Education in Marseille.

Jonathan is an award-winning creative professional, combining his love for media and a diverse skill set in creating innovative and meaningful brand experiences. Jonathan brings over twelve years experience and a diverse background in creative advertising, marketing and film, focused on taking the jhr's brand and outreach to the next level. Prior to joining the jhr team, he was an award-winning Associate Creative Director at Mindblossom/Aegis Media, working with brands such as Volvo, Mitsubishi, Virgin Mobile, Sirius Satellite Radio, Lavalife, msn/sympatico, just to name a few. Jonathan has also worked overseas for several years in Ghana as a small-business consultant for Geekcorps and in Thailand as a communications consultant for Human Rights Education organizations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Visit his blog and portfolio at www.jonnymedia.com.

Wes Normington is the Fundraising Coordinator and Grant Writer for jhr. Wes is the former Manager of Development and Emergency Programs for the international disaster relief organization GlobalMedic. Wes has led relief missions in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Mexico, China and Burma (Myanmar). Previous to GlobalMedic Wes was an English language instructor in Tokyo, Japan.

Wes has a degree in Honours Political Science from the University of Western Ontario.

Linda He has a Masters degree in Construction Management from Chongqing University in China and an Accounting diploma from Centennial College. She is working towards her CGA designation. Previous to jhr, Linda worked for the City supporting its annually budget preparation, for Petro-Canada Inc as a Services Control Analyst, and in China as an Auditor for a non-profit organization. Before graduating from Centennial, Linda spent a year organizing the Centennial English Club which focused on helping new Canadians improve their English language speaking skills.

Carissa received her Masters in Education from the University of Western Ontario, focusing on International and Comparative Education. Prior to starting her Masters, Carissa completed a B.A in Environmental Studies, a B.A (Hon) in Geography, as well as a Bachelors of Education. As an Ontario certified teacher and a graduate student, Carissa has taught, conducted research and interned in a variety of Asian and African countries. Carissa is also a Board Member for the Canadian Sudanese Volunteers for Development. Through her academic and work experiences, Carissa has come to believe in the role of education and training to empower and build the capacity of communities around the world.

Carolyn grew up in Europe, the Middle East, South Asia and North America. Before joining jhr as an intern, and eventually as International Programs Coordinator, Carolyn worked at the Canadian embassies in Moscow, Russia and Amman, Jordan. Carolyn has a B.A. (Honours) in Spanish and English from Queen's University, and currently volunteers as a translator for the micro-lending website Kiva.org.

Based in Accra, Ghana, Jenny Vaughan acts as jhr's eyes and ears on the ground in Africa. She is responsible for coordinating our internship program in Ghana and Malawi while keeping in touch with our journalism trainers in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Jenny gained her first experience with African media in 2009 when she worked as a reporter for a national newspaper in Uganda. Her time in Uganda proved to her the power the press has to educate and empower communities in developing democracies, especially when it comes to human rights. Jenny also has an undergraduate degree in African Studies from McGill University in Montreal and a Masters degree in Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto. She has finally found her footing working for jhr in Ghana.

Click here to follow Jenny's travels on her jhr blog, Jenny's Dispatches.

Ken Zolotar is the Youth Engagement Coordinator for jhr (journalists for human rights). Ken directed the student NGO Queen's Project on International Development, managing over 100 volunteers and a $100 000 budget by facilitating development internships in 4 countries and conducting workshops for local secondary school students. Furthermore, Ken worked with an indigenous Guyanese community focusing on cultural preservation and with an Afro-Colombian on organizational sustainability. Most recently Ken was employed by Katimavik, Canada's leading youth volunteer program as a project leader in Hamilton.

Ken completed a BAH in Global Development Studies at Queen's University.

Kathryn received her Master of Arts in Diplomacy from University of Nottingham, focusing on public diplomacy and the legitimacy of celebrity involvement within the diplomatic sphere. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Joint Honours History and Political Science, with a minor in French from University of New Brunswick. Prior to becoming International Programs Assistant, Kathryn first joined the jhr team as an Intern to the Executive Director. She has also held positions as Volunteer Advisor with the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum, Youth Services Officer with Service Canada Centres for Youth in both Ontario and New Brunswick, and Research Assistant for the UNB Department of History/Labour History in New Brunswick project.

Stephen Douglas is an award-winning, Canadian journalist, photographer and author. He’s written about and photographed the famous and not-so-famous... the newsworthy and the noteworthy...

For almost twenty-five years, Stephen has devoted his attention to enlivening debate and increasing attention on domestic and world events. Stephen has authored six non-fiction books, countless feature articles and provided photographs to most of Canada's national magazines. He has edited magazines, newsletters and books. In addition, Stephen continues to create imaginative and revealing reportage documentaries throughout Canada and abroad.

Stephen is also an accomplished professor and public speaker. His travels and media expertise has served as educational fodder for thousands of learners from adults to young children. He is currently the Acting Country Director for jhr – Journalists for Human Rights, based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Africa.

K. Abdullai Kamara, Coordinator of jhr Programs in Liberia, has worked in the Liberian media and related areas for the better part of the last decade. With qualifications in Mass Communications and research interests in Internet Governance, Liberian history and culture, Abdullai has worked with government, newspapers, news agency, media development, and as a communication officer with an international development organization.

Abdullai has been an influential member of the Press Union of Liberia and its outgrowth, the Liberian Media Law and Policy reform Working Group.

In line with his belief in the new world information order, Abdullai has been active in the WSIS process, having participated in the run up to the Geneva Summit in 2003 and the Tunis Summit in 2005.

Generally, he feels at home in a journalism environment, and has been quite loud in freedom of expression advocacy

Adelard Mambuya ObulOkwess, or Obul to most, is a 36 year old Congolese journalist with 11 years experience in the DRC's Radio, TV and Print Media. A graduate of journalism, Obul is currently working towards his Masters degree, which he will receive in January 2008. He is also a lecturer at the Kinshasa School of Journalism (IFASIC). Well traveled throughout the great lakes region and his own country, Obul has also visited France, Belgium and South Africa. Obul is the proud father of three children with his wife, who is also an accomplished journalist. Fluent in French, jhr's Country Director for the DRC is happy to be employed in a position where he can use and develop his English skills.

She has a BA in International Studies from Vassar College, New York, and an MSc in Human Rights from the London School of Economics. Prior to founding jhr with Ben Peterson, Alexandra worked as a consultant in the Department of Human Rights of Côte d'Ivoire's Ministry of Justice. Since 2005, Alexandra has worked for Article 19 and as a radio producer for the United Nations' radio station in Sudan. In 2006 she was awarded a Global Youth Fellowship from the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, under which she is currently directing and producing a documentary film on Canadian gold mining interests and human rights in Ghana. She is also currently a radio producer with the BBC World Service (French Africa) in London, UK.

Gordon N. Fisher Fellow, Nigerian Print Journalist of the Year, 2001

Dean of Ghana's Parliamentary Press Corps and Senior News Editor at Radio Ghana

Former Professor at Acadia University and President of Conley International Education Consultants

Author and columnist at The Toronto Star

Director of the International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law

TVO host of 'The Agenda with Steve Paikin'

Executive Director of the Atkinson Foundation

Professor of Journalism at Ryerson University, and former columnist and Editor of Foreign Affairs at the Globe and Mail

Freelance journalist and human rights advocate

Contributes a column on innovation to the New York Times, teaches journalism at Stanford University and writes often about African affairs.