John,

We have incredible news for Polaris and the anti-trafficking movement — Megan Lundstrom has been named our new CEO!

In many ways, this is a natural step for Polaris. Since 2023, Megan has been the inaugural director of the Polaris Resilience Fund, developing an impactful, survivor-centered program and building trust with the community.

At the same time, her appointment marks a major milestone: Polaris’s first CEO with lived experience. To our knowledge, it’s also the first time that a publicly visible survivor has taken over the role at a major allied organization, an important step for the anti-trafficking field as well.

For years, we have worked to center survivors in this movement — and it is time for that value to be reflected in our top leadership position.

We are extremely grateful for all of Megan’s experience in the anti-trafficking field. She is a national speaker and trainer, an internationally published researcher, and author of The Survivor’s Guide to Money, a financial wellness curriculum for survivors of exploitation and trafficking.

She has helped survivors understand the financial abuse they endured, identify obstacles, and set goals on their journeys to financial wellness — not only exemplifying what it means to listen to survivors but also deepening the field’s understanding of what survivors need to make empowered choices as they reclaim their freedom.

Please join the Polaris team in celebrating Megan and supporting her in this new role. We are so grateful for your partnership in the fight against human trafficking, and we’re excited to continue walking together into this new chapter.