Rachel Witkin

Rachel Witkin serves as an Honorary Research Fellow at the Bakhita Centre for Research on Slavery, Exploitation and Abuse, St Mary's University, and directs the MSCOS Community of Practice at Kings College London. With 25 years of frontline experience, she has dedicated her career to supporting survivors of trafficking through roles in teaching, law, advocacy, and specialized long-term safety programs.

Her primary research interests include:

• Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
• National Referral Mechanisms (NRMs)
• Trauma-Informed Care for Survivors
• Counter-Trafficking Programmes
• Professional Codes of Conduct in Survivor Support

She has led the development of key resources such as the ODIHR international NRM Handbook and the Trauma Informed Code of Conduct, which guide practitioners globally.

Award Highlights:

• 2015 Marsh Trust national award for Outstanding Contribution to the Fight Against Modern Slavery (presented by Teresa May)

Throughout her career, Rachel Witkin has held leadership positions including Director of the Helen Bamber Foundation's Counter-Trafficking Programme. She has also contributed to organizations such as Amnesty International, the British Refugee Council, and Winstanley Burgess law firm. Currently, she trains professionals internationally and collaborates with academic and practitioner networks to advance survivor-centered approaches.