Board of Directors

Robert is a Managing Director at Ankura Consulting with over 20 years of experience in the financial service industry as a senior C-suite executive, BSA/AML Officer, and operations, compliance, MIS risk, and trading professional. He has established regulatory effectiveness groups at global and regional banks and led over 100 anti-money laundering (AML) regulatory examinations with US federal, state, and global regulators.

Jesse currently works at Sikich as a Senior Internal Auditor Consultant. In this role, Jesse works to improve client's, of various industries, daily processes by decreasing risk and increasing operational efficiencies. Outside of his career, he enjoys giving back to the community as is the Assistant Cross Country Coach at Waubonsee Community College and currently serves as the Board Treasurer to The Gardenwork Project.

Alexandra “Alex” is an attorney whose practice concentrates on payments, money transmission, financial products, regulatory relations, exams, and anti-money laundering matters. Over the past fifteen years, Alex has been a part of several student organizations focused on raising awareness of human trafficking through education. She is committed to using her legal background and activist experiences to make a meaningful impact at Traffick Free.

Leah McGrath, MPH, serves as a presenter and board member with Traffick Free. With a strong background in public health and education, Mrs. McGrath began her career as a Drug Researcher at the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland.  Mrs. McGrath later served as Coordinator for Alcohol and Drug Programs at the University of Maryland Health Center, where she led health education initiatives, trained peer educators, counseled students and staff on a variety of health issues, and coordinated health presentations. Mrs. McGrath has also organized school-wide events on STEM, homelessness awareness, and math enrichment.

Laura is a subject matter expert in human trafficking. She served as the founding executive director of Traffick Free for ten years and continues this work in the intersections of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Laura is thrilled to be back to serve as a board member.

In addition to her work as the Marketing Chair for Traffick Free, Becky is the Senior Manager of PR & Communications at North, a FinTech leader in the payments space. She's also a former freelance journalist, recognized 10 times by the National Federation of Press Women. Becky lives in the West Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago with her beloved dog, RuPaul. 

Sanna is a Danish legal professional with an LL.M. from Copenhagen University as well as from Fordham University, specializing in international law and justice, and international business and trade. 

With a focus on human rights, Sanna has worked with the Danish Refugee Council and Danish Red Cross at Kongelunden Asylum Center in Denmark, which housed particularly vulnerable women and children. Sanna brings a global perspective to legal advocacy and addresses the nexus between financial vulnerability and human trafficking, always focused on dismantling systems that leave individuals exposed to exploitation.