On May 9, 2012 at The Metropolitan Club in Chicago, Womenetics will host representatives from leading companies, world policy experts and Chicago-based thought leaders to discuss programs and laws to reduce human trafficking, increase transparency and end commercial sexual exploitation. Companies increasingly recognize the link between ethical business practices, healthy communities and long-term market success. While organized crime is largely responsible for spreading international human trafficking, entrenched attitudes that devalue women combined with greed, corruption and a lack of knowledge make it possible for sex trafficking to proliferate and flourish everywhere. The engagement of the business community is crucial to combating trafficking in persons and key to the United States’ approach to the problem. Local, state and global efforts to confront the issues and mitigate the business risks in the public and private sectors will be discussed.

Womenetics believes the challenge of human trafficking and exploitation falls within the larger context of the most critical economic imperative of the 21st century - to advance women worldwide. Girls and women are most often ensnared and trafficked into a segment of the commercial sex industry such as prostitution, domestic slavery and other forms of sexual exploitation. This half-day conference featuring legal, corporate, academic and non-profit experts working in the space will draw multi-stakeholder connections between solving these problems, uplifting women and the benefits to business and societies.

As a catalyst for inspiration and empowerment for women, Womenetics believes that women’s business leadership and involvement can bring light and action to these conditions and speed solutions. Solutions will enhance the ability to produce success in today’s global business environment and to operate with integrity and purpose.

Keynote Speaker Anita Alvarez Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez made history when she was chosen by voters in 2008 to serve as the Cook County State’s Attorney. Not only did Alvarez become the first female and the first Hispanic State’s Attorney, she also became the first career prosecutor ever elected to this important public safety position. As State’s Attorney of the second largest prosecutor’s office in the nation, Alvarez has continued to make great strides for the residents of Cook County. She has worked to stem the tide of gang and gun violence and has formed specialized units within the State’s Attorney’s Office to enhance the prosecution of cases involving crimes such as mortgage fraud, consumer fraud, public corruption and human trafficking. Alvarez also authored the Illinois Safe Children Act, a sweeping new law that enhances protections for juveniles caught up in the sex trade and provides new legal tools for police and prosecutors to target those who prostitute children.

A Chicago native, Alvarez was born and raised in Chicago’s Pilsen community. She is a graduate of Maria High School, Loyola University and Chicago-Kent College of Law.

David Arkless, Panelist, President of Corporate & Government Affairs, Manpower Group Arkless is a world renowned expert on labor market trends with widespread experience helping countries develop labor market strategies. He is responsible for Government and International Affairs, regular advisor to the US Department of State and VP of the China International Council for the Promotion of Multinational Corporations. Arkless manages Manpower Group’s strategic relationships with high-profile organizations such as the World Economic Forum and is a founding member of the WEF’s Global Agenda Council on the Skills Gap. Arkless has been a highly influential campaigner in the fight to end human trafficking and serves as President of the Board of End Human Trafficking Now!

Dawn Conway, Moderator, Senior Vice President, Global Licensing, Cision Dawn is a founding member of the Business Coalition Against Human Trafficking. She is the recipient of the 2011 Nomi Network Corporate Social Responsibility Award and a frequent speaker on the role of business in combating human trafficking. She is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, National Association of Women Lawyers and a member of the American Bar Association Anti Human Trafficking Task Force.

Katherine Kaufka Walts, J.D., Panelist, Director Center for Human Rights of Children Loyola University As Director for the Center, Kaufka coordinates and stimulates efforts of the Loyola University community to understand and protect the human rights of children. She provides training and consultation to numerous government agencies, including law enforcement and members of congress, as well as media in the U.S. and internationally, on the subject of human trafficking. She has extensive background locally and abroad advancing the rights of children and working with the National Immigrant Justice Center where she led multi-disciplinary teams representing dozens of Human Trafficking victims.

Diane Osgood, Panelist,Senior Advisor, Clinton Global Initiative and Business for Social Responsibility Diane Osgood is a recognized global expert in sustainable business who enables clients to create value by integrating sustainability into their core activities. For the past two decades her work has focused on driving value creation that enables companies to profit and deliver goods and services that benefit their customers and the planet. Her focus includes sustainable innovation, food and agriculture, and human rights issues in supply chains. She is a board member of ASSET, the Alliance to Stop Slavery and End Trafficking and an active member of the Women and Girls Action Network of the CGI. In collaboration with El Karama, a women’s rights organization based in Cairo, she is establishing The Global Dignity Fund as an immediate, concrete and lasting response to the Arab Spring to empower women so that they play an equal role in the newly forming democracies in the Middle East.