Leadership

Maha Jweied

CEO

  • Maha Jweied is the CEO of the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice. She is an international expert on the role of the private sector in advancing justice and has dedicated her career to furthering legal and policy reform to improve systems of justice. 

    Prior to joining RBIJ, Ms. Jweied worked with several organizations that partner with the business community to advance access to justice policy and practice in the United States, Europe, and across the globe. She also spent nearly a dozen years in the federal Executive Branch and led the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Access to Justice where she also served as the Executive Director of the White House Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable and the U.S. Government’s expert on Sustainable Development Goal 16.  

    She was selected as a 2026 Woman of Influence by The CEO Magazine Global. She is a member of the Forbes Business Council, Council for Inclusive Capitalism, the Council on Criminal Justice, The American Law Institute, the International Experts Panel of the Open Government Partnership’s Independent Reporting Mechanism, and the Leadership Council of Frontline Justice. She is also Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of New Perimeter (the nonprofit affiliate of the law firm of DLA Piper). 

Lena Patel

Deputy CEO

  • Lena Patel is the Deputy CEO of the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice where she oversees RBIJ's strategic engagement with the business community across the globe. She also manages RBIJ's activity in the United Kingdom.

    With over 25 years experience in stakeholder engagement and management, in both the public and corporate sectors, Lena’s varied work experience includes the Greater London Authority, where she led the Mayor’s Private Sector Team; Nesta, where she managed corporate affairs; and more recently, as Head of Public Affairs for German-owned myLotto24, part of the Zeal Group, where she led on international public affairs and corporate social responsibility for the group. Lena has a BA (Hons) Law and Business and an LLM International and Commercial Law from the University of Sheffield. She is a mentor with One Million Mentors and was a Trustee at UpRising and an Assessor with the College of Policing.

Celia Ouellette

Founder

  • Celia Ouellette is the Founder of the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice. Celia has dedicated her career to representing and fighting for those most disadvantaged by broken criminal justice systems.

    In 2015 she founded The Powell Project, an organization designed to empower and equip trial teams in capital cases, and prior to this was a Staff Attorney at UK human rights charity Reprieve. She practiced as a death penalty defence lawyer before founding RBIJ and her experience, deep commitment for change and expert knowledge of justice systems has led her to be a regular speaker at major international conferences and events. Celia frequently advises foreign governments on US criminal justice policy and practice. She is an established media commentator across major outlets and publications — including The Economist, Financial Times, Associated Press, and Bloomberg News.

Caroline Forster

Chief Operating Officer — UK

  • Caroline has over 25 years experience at senior management level. She joined RBIJ in February 2021 and combines her role as Chief Operating Officer — UK for RBIJ with a part-time role as Head of Operations at ATLEU, an anti trafficking and labour exploitation charity. Caroline's previous work history includes being Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Operations at the Social Investment Business (SIB). where she led SIB’s investment activity and all operational areas of the business including people, finance, governance and business systems. Caroline is a board member for London Emergency Trust, and the Committee of the Metropolitan Migration Foundation which was established to help migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers. Caroline has also worked on NESTA’s investment programme, in European funding in higher education, for a London based community organisation and in local government economic development and regeneration.

Stephan P. Matthews

Chief Operating Officer — US

  • Stephan P. Matthews is the Chief Operating Officer-US of the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ), where he oversees the organization's internal operations, including governance and compliance, human resources, information technology, facilities management, and finance systems.

    Prior to RBIJ, Stephan spent 14 years working in the Federal government in several operations and administration roles with increasing levels of responsibility at the U.S. Department of Justice in the Office of the Attorney General and the Office for Access to Justice, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Office of the Secretary, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in the Office of the Director.

    He holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland University College and a M.S. in Law from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

Maggie O’Donnell

Chief Programs Officer

  • Maggie is the Chief Programs Officer at RBIJ. In this role, she leads the planning and implementation of RBIJ’s programmatic teams (Policy & Advocacy and Inclusive Hiring), facilitating collaboration across departments as they engage with the organization’s business network. Her previous role was as RBIJ’s Director of Policy & Advocacy, where she worked with national, federal, state, and city partners — spearheading successful legislative and outreach strategies across a broad portfolio of criminal justice issues.

    Prior to RBIJ, Maggie provided technical assistance to criminal justice practitioners and advocates in the U.S. and internationally at the National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC). As a Field Advisor, Maggie oversaw the implementation of a leading violence reduction strategy and managed partnerships with elected officials, senior law enforcement, policymakers, and community leaders across the U.S. She also led the organization’s strategic response to COVID-19. Maggie holds a B.A. in Peace Studies from Goucher College where she graduated cum laude.

Nicole Banister

Director, Policy & Advocacy

  • Nicole serves as the Director of Policy and Advocacy at RBIJ. She leads criminal justice reform campaigns at the state and federal levels and provides legal analysis on proposed policy reforms. Nicole previously served as Senior Counsel with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Policy as well as Counsel to the House Judiciary Committee.

    Prior to her time in the federal government, Nicole provided technical assistance to states on criminal justice and public safety policy issues while at the National Governors Association. Nicole holds a J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies from Taylor University.

Katlyn Toelle

Director, Communications

  • Katlyn leads RBIJ's strategic communications, which advance the narrative that businesses are committed to driving criminal justice reform and creating equitable opportunities for those impacted by the justice system.

    With nearly a decade of experience managing marketing and communications for mission-driven organizations, Katlyn most recently served as the Director of Communications at Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN), a national organization empowering the U.S. Catholic community to end the death penalty and advance justice solutions grounded in human dignity and healing. At CMN, Katlyn implemented campaigns, developed strategic messaging frameworks, and led a comprehensive rebranding effort. Prior to this role, Katlyn managed marketing and communications for the Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation, which raises funds for a vital maternity hospital located in the West Bank. Katlyn holds a BS in Applied Economic Management from Virginia Tech.

Caz Walcott

Director, Inclusive Hiring

  • Caz leads RBIJ’s Inclusive Hiring team and her responsibilities include collaborating with employers, community-based organizations, advocacy leaders, and social services providers. Previously, Caz worked at various nonprofits, including as the program manager at the Vera Institute of Justice’s Redefining Public Safety team, the Director of Employment Services for Westhab’s NYC and Westchester County shelter and community-based employment programs, and as Director of Fathers Count Family Services of Westchester’s federally-funded Responsible Fatherhood Program. She received a Citation from Mayor Mike Spano for her contribution to Westchester County and the City of Yonkers and a Certificate of Recognition from the Senate of the State of New York for Exemplary Service to the community. While in the UK, Caz worked as a probation officer for HM Prison & Probation Service and as a youth social worker with Camden Children & Family Services.

Staff

Melina Calarco

Associate,
Communications

  • Melina supports all communications and narrative goals within the organization, including managing RBIJ’s owned and social media portfolios to align with RBIJ’s strategic and communications priorities. She also supports RBIJ’s external media relationships, including pitching and liaising with both local and national press contacts.

    She is passionate about utilizing communications skills to connect with various stakeholders and impact positive change.

    Melina received her BA in Foreign Language and Communication Media from American University with concentrations in Spanish and Public Relations. Her experience includes working at the SOC3 Agency at American University and internships with marcablanca press in Madrid, Spain and Climate Reality in Washington, D.C.

Dylan Garcia

Senior Manager, Communications

  • Dylan manages communications for a portfolio of issue- and state-based advocacy campaigns to advance RBIJ’s collective fight for criminal justice reform in the U.S. and the U.K.

    Dylan has over seven years of diverse experience in strategic communications, specializing in new and traditional media, digital strategy, and advocacy. With a passion for social justice and a proven record supporting mission-driven organizations, Dylan joins RBIJ with a strong understanding of the ever-changing media ecosystem and a deep commitment to serving marginalized communities.

    In his prior role, Dylan worked as the Associate Director of Communications at the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), a leading nonprofit organization committed to advancing the health of Latino communities and increasing Hispanic representation in the field of healthcare. He worked with a broad coalition of partners to successfully execute grant-funded public health campaigns and workforce diversity initiatives that center cultural competency and promote equity.

    Dylan holds a BA in Media Studies from the University of Virginia, where he participated in newsroom diversity research and was actively involved in digital political advocacy.

Heather Guglietti

Associate,
Policy & Advocacy

  • Heather supports RBIJ’s Policy & Advocacy work, managing multiple state campaigns across the U.S., collaborating with state and national partners to recruit businesses. She has previously worked on both the Inclusive Hiring and Strategic Business Engagement teams, leading in the development and implementation of RBIJ’s key projects and global activity, including the Workforce & Justice Summit, Business Leaders Against the Death Penalty campaign, Workforce & Justice Alliance, and Rewriting Justice series. 

    She has previously worked in corporate social responsibility at John Hancock as a member of their Global Community Investment team and in the Charities Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and led a student advocacy group focused on criminal justice reform at Northeastern University. 

Victoria Harris

Events Coordinator,
Strategic Business Engagement

  • Victoria supports RBIJ’s projects and special events to strategically engage businesses in our work, including working closely with Lena to lead on RBIJ’s annual Workforce & Justice Summit.

    Prior to joining RBIJ, Victoria was an Event and Sponsorship consultant; project managing many flagship events and overseeing IMF World Bank Meetings in Washington and Singapore.

Kimia Khatib-Shahidi

Research Fellow

  • Kimia is a Research Fellow with RBIJ, focusing on foreign direct investment and divestment strategies within RBIJ's death penalty work. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy at Sciences Po in Paris, where she focuses on social policy and inclusive economic development.


    Prior to graduate school, Kimia served as a Policy & Advocacy Manager with the RBIJ, where she managed a range of state-level policy campaigns. In this role, she developed legislative and outreach strategies, conducted policy research, and cultivated partnerships with business leaders and advocates to advance justice reform initiatives.


    Before joining RBIJ, Kimia worked in impact-focused strategy and outreach roles across the private sector, leading initiatives related to education, community engagement, and social impact. She holds a B.A. in Politics and French from New York University, where she graduated magna cum laude.

Khaya Laidley

Special Assistant to the CEO

  • Khaya supports RBIJ's CEO across a number of areas, including data analysis and funder engagement. Previously, Khaya was an associate on the Inclusive Hiring Team where she supported first and second chance hiring programs, fostered meaningful relationships with businesses, and collaborated with community-based organizations. 

    Prior to joining RBIJ, Khaya dedicated her efforts to empowering justice-impacted youth at The Red Hook Community Justice Center and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Her experiences in these roles equipped her with invaluable insights into the challenges faced by individuals within the criminal justice system. 

    Khaya holds a Master’s in Criminology & Justice from St. John’s University, where she immersed herself in studying the complex dynamics within the criminal justice system. This educational foundation, combined with her hands-on experience, positions Khaya as a knowledgeable and empathetic advocate for reform. She brings a unique blend of academic understanding and real-world insight to her work, striving to reshape narratives and create a more equitable and compassionate society. 

Andrew Nell

Intern, Policy & Advocacy

  • Andrew is a Policy & Advocacy intern at RBIJ. He is originally from Northern Virginia, and is currently a rising senior at American University in Washington, D.C., where he studies Political Science. Andrew is interested in the intersection of law, public policy, and criminal justice reform, and looks forward to contributing to RBIJ’s work this summer.

Rian Russell

Intern,
Policy & Advocacy

  • Rian is an intern with the Policy & Advocacy team at RBIJ. Originally from Maryland, he is a junior studying Data Sciences for Justice, Law, & Criminology at American University in Washington, D.C. His commitment to criminal justice reform stems from his experiences researching with RIPPLE (Research & Innovation on Pretrial Processes & Legal Experiences) and volunteering with the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice.

David Williams

Associate,
Operations

  • David Williams is the Operations Associate of the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice. In his role, he supports the CEO and the wider team around a number of areas, such as office administration and finance and human resources.

    David is a recent graduate of the Georgetown University Pivot Program, a professional development program for career-oriented individuals who have previously been impacted by the justice system. Following his graduation at Georgetown, he was an intern at Accenture working in Public Service Sales. He is passionate about helping to reform the justice system to be more fair and equitable.