OUR TEAM

Youth Underground’s team is made up of a skilled, close-knit group with expertise in business, law, human rights, public relations, and communications. We pride ourselves on being flexible, effective, and transparent, keeping a clear record of all Youth Underground’s work in the U.S. and around the world.

We’re also lucky to have a dynamic group of young people on our team, who play a key role in researching, generating fresh and innovative ideas—and editing our material (on and offline) to make sure the messaging is accessible and easy to understand. Their creativity, dedication, and drive continually inspire us!

OUR BOARD

RASHA HAMMAD

Board President

Rasha Hammad is the Founder of Youth Underground and serves as Board President. A seasoned leader in advocacy and communications, she has spent her career fighting human trafficking and amplifying youth voices.

Previously, Rasha led advocacy efforts at End Human Trafficking Now, where she grew its youth network more than fourfold in just one year. She has also worked as a speechwriter and policy adviser at the United Nations (UNAIDS) in Geneva, and later held senior communications roles in global nonprofits and consulting.

Rasha’s work includes serving on the board of Switzerland’s first anti-trafficking helpline, publishing in respected outlets like the Harvard Series on Population and International Health, and receiving honors such as the Together for Peace Award in Rome.

With degrees in International Studies, Business Management, and Mass Communication, Rasha brings both academic rigor and real-world impact to her mission. She is recognized internationally for her leadership, but she is most inspired when engaging directly with young people—empowering them to speak up and create change.

To guide the youth is to protect their present and future, but to hear their voices is to learn how to shape ours. This is the essence of Youth Underground.

RAYANNE IRVING

Board Secretary

Rayanne Irving joins the Youth Underground Board with over two decades of professional and personal dedication to dismantling the cycles of human trafficking. A proud Indigenous woman and frontline Primary Care Paramedic with the British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) in Metro Vancouver, Rayanne brings a high-acuity perspective to the intersections of emergency medicine and survivor advocacy.

Specializing in the practical application of epigenetics and the “biology of trauma,” Rayanne is a prolific writer and researcher currently developing proprietary clinical education frameworks for healthcare professionals. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between vulnerable youth populations and institutional allies, ensuring that advocacy is rooted in authentic belonging rather than systemic pity.

Outside of her clinical and board work, Rayanne manages a working horse farm and is a lifelong student of neuroenergetics. She embodies the resilience she teaches, proving that the “ripple effect” of youth voices is the most powerful tool for global change.

Something I really appreciate about Youth Underground is that I’ve experienced it as youth-led, not adult-driven. The youth it reaches are invited to explore, to question, to create around truth—not a fixed concept of what human trafficking is or how it continues to persist today. There’s a lot of trauma marketing in the anti-trafficking industry, and Youth Underground
simply doesn’t partake in that.

ANDREW TOWLE

Board Treasurer

Andrew Towle serves as the Board Treasurer. He has built his career leading some of the world’s most recognized consumer brands. After starting at Procter & Gamble, he held senior executive roles at HJ Heinz, Georgia Pacific, and Kellogg’s, before serving as CEO of Urnex Brands, a global leader in coffee care products. Following its successful sale in 2017, Andrew co-founded NextGen Nutrition Investment Partners, backing early-stage companies with innovative, nutrition-focused technologies.

In addition to his business ventures, Andrew is Board Chair of WaterAid America and Deputy Chair of WaterAid International, helping communities worldwide gain access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Outside of work, Andrew enjoys cooking, wine, and playing piano. An avid rower, cyclist, and skier, he also finds joy in family life with his wife and four children—and never misses a chance to cheer for Boston’s sports teams.

Youth Underground is an enormously important organization, focused on a societal problem that is hugely overlooked. Youth Underground works to stop trafficking before it starts. As famously said by Ben Franklin “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

JESSE MITCHELL

Board Member

Jesse Mitchell is passionate about teaching children through creativity, play, and connection. For him, real learning goes beyond academics—it’s about guiding kids to develop wisdom, resilience, and life skills that help them navigate challenges like bullying, peer pressure, and everyday struggles, while also cultivating joy and contentment.

A devoted husband and father of two, Jesse defines success not by wealth, but by the love and respect of his family. His work with children focuses on creating lasting impact by attaching emotion and meaning to each lesson, ensuring the values stick well beyond the classroom.

I’m proud to be part of the Youth Underground community, which I deeply admire for its authenticity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to empowering young people. It’s never about us—it’s about the kids we serve.

HEIDI OSTERTAG

Board Member

Heidi Ostertag brings over four decades of operations management and executive producing experience to Worldwide Documentaries, an Academy Award–nominated nonprofit film company dedicated to social justice and human rights. She has played a key role in producing powerful films such as A Closer Walk (on the global HIV/AIDS pandemic), Not My Life (on human trafficking), and Oh Mercy and Running To Stand Still (on the humanitarian crisis at the U.S.–Mexico border).

Known for her ability to build lasting relationships across the filmmaking process, Heidi combines professional excellence with deep personal commitment to each project.

Outside of work, Heidi and her husband—Worldwide’s President and Director, Robert Bilheimer—share life with their two Golden Retrievers, Eli and Mia. She also finds peace and renewal in New York’s Adirondack Mountains whenever she can escape to the outdoors.

It has been an inspiration to work with Rasha and Youth Underground for many years. Their dedication to human trafficking awareness and prevention has touched countless young lives all over the world. Human trafficking continues to exist in every corner of the world, and the work of Youth Underground is needed now more than ever.

ANDY PATTISON

Board Member

Andy Pattison has spent over 25 years leading digital innovation across both the private and public sectors. He has held senior roles at organizations including the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF International), Credit Suisse Private Banking, and UEFA, where he helped shape global online strategies.

At the World Health Organization (WHO), Andy works to expand the reach of vital public health messages. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led the Tech Task Force, bringing together more than 40 companies to combat misinformation, elevate trusted content, and create new digital channels for global health.

One voice can spark awareness, inspire action, and change lives. When young people speak out and stand together, they have the power to transform the world.