Our Team.

Leadership.

Maha Jweied

CEO

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

    Prior to joining RBIJ, Maha 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, including the National Legal Aid & Defender Association, Kids in Need of Defense, and the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies. 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 and served as the Executive Director of the White House Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable. Maha also served as the U.S. Government’s Subject-Matter Expert for UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 indicator identification and development.

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 Operations Director 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

Director, Policy & Advocacy

  • Maggie leads RBIJ’s Policy & Advocacy team. In collaboration with national, federal, state, and city partners, she develops legislative and outreach strategies for advancing change across a broad portfolio of criminal justice issues, including Clean Slate, ending debt-based driver’s license suspensions, occupational licensing reform, bail reform, ending Juvenile Life Without Parole, and death penalty abolition.

    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.

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 first and second chance hiring programs, including Unlock Potential (UP). In addition to leading the Inclusive Hiring team her responsibilities also include collaborating with 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 recently 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,
Strategic Business Engagement

  • Heather supports RBIJ’s strategic business engagement work. She has previously worked on both the Inclusive Hiring and Policy & Advocacy teams, giving her a deep understanding of how businesses engage across RBIJ’s work. In her role, she assists in the development and implementation of RBIJ’s key projects and global activity, including the annual American Workforce & Justice Summit, Business Leaders Against the Death Penalty campaign, and the American Workforce & Justice Alliance.

    Heather received her BA in International Affairs from Northeastern University where she led a student group focused on criminal justice reform and advocacy. 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.

Victoria Harris

Project & Events Manager,
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 American 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. She has worked at CEO and Managing Director level for the past 25 years forging credible and trusted relationships along the way.

Taja Hereford

Manager,
Inclusive Hiring

  • Taja Hereford is a Manager on the Inclusive Hiring team supporting RBIJ's first and second chance hiring programs and RBIJ’s relationships with businesses and community-based organizations. Prior to joining RBIJ, Taja worked in state government for Texas focusing on work related to substance use prevention through coalition efforts. In addition to government work, she has worked with various non-profit organizations that helped serve formerly incarcerated mothers and individuals helped get reintegrated into society. She has led workforce development opportunities at her previous work companies. Taja has a master’s degree in public health from the University of South Carolina.

Khaya Laidley

Associate,
Inclusive Hiring

  • Khaya supports RBIJ's first and second chance hiring programs, fostering meaningful relationships with businesses, and collaborating with community-based organizations.

    Prior to her current position, 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.

Kimia Khatib-Shahidi

Manager,
Policy & Advocacy

  • Kimia manages multiple state level campaigns around the U.S. across a portfolio of criminal justice issues such as death penalty abolition, Clean Slate, debt-based driver’s license suspensions, and occupational licensing reform. In collaboration with state and national partners, she develops and executes legislative and outreach strategies to help recruit businesses and advance critical change.

    Prior to joining RBIJ, Kimia worked as a marketing outreach specialist, creating and managing CSR programs including global education initiatives. She also has experience working with justice-impacted individuals through her ongoing work teaching students at Riker’s Island with the Justice in Education Initiative and with youths in New York City through Avenues for Justice, where she also serves on the Junior Board. Kimia holds a B.S. in Politics and French from New York University where she graduated magna cum laude.

Morgan Southers

Senior Manager,
Policy & Advocacy

  • Morgan works as the Policy & Advocacy Senior Manager at RBIJ. In her role, she manages multiple state level campaigns around the U.S., collaborating with state and national partners to recruit businesses and advance RBIJ's strategic policy priorities.

    Prior to joining RBIJ, Morgan spent five years working on political campaigns, polling, and in the U.S Senate. She also has experience with nonprofits serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness, where she helped implement Nashville’s HUD-required Coordinated Entry System through direct outreach to people experiencing homelessness to connect them to services. Morgan holds a B.S in Political Science & International Affairs from East Tennessee State University.

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.

Camieka Woodhouse-Willis

Senior Manager for Impact & Belonging,
Inclusive Hiring

  • Camieka the Senior Manager for Impact & Belonging on the Inclusive Hiring team supporting RBIJ's first and second chance hiring programs and RBIJ’s relationships with businesses and community-based organizations. She brings with her an extensive background in the Criminal Justice System, having served in various roles in both Canada and the United States. Camieka's unwavering commitment to championing equality within the justice system is demonstrated through her roles including her service to The Bail Project where she worked to disrupt the cash bail system. In her judicial administrative roles for the State of Georgia, Clayton County Superior Court, and the Youth justice Coordinator for Legal Aid Ontario, Camieka developed fruitful stakeholder relationships to create a bridge between the community and the courts to encourage access to information empowering community members to become their own advocates. Camieka's proven ability to nurture relationships underscores her continuous mission to normalize equal access across all systems to positively impact the lives of individuals facing social exclusion.