Dr. (h.c.) Charlene Doak-Gebauer is an internationally recognized expert in digital child and family protection. She is the award-winning Producer/Director of the documentary, Vulnerable Innocence, Founder and Chair of the Canadian federal charity Internet Sense First, and creator of the AICET Council (International Anti-Internet Child Exploitation Team). Her pioneering Theory of Digital Supervision sets a vital standard for proactive online child protection.

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A sought-after keynote speaker, Charlene has presented across Canada, the U.S., Iceland, Europe, Nigeria, Australia, India, and multiple countries virtually worldwide. She is frequently invited to present at conferences for Crime Stoppers, schools, teacher associations, police organizations, and corporate events.

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Charlene serves on international committees dedicated to child protection, parenting, and combating human and sex trafficking. She has authored three influential books: Digital Sexual Victims: True Cases (nominated for an international award by the Delta Kappa Gamma society of educators), The Internet: Are Children In Charge?, and her 2025 release (soon to be published), Digital Guardianship: The Holistic Digital Child. Her latest work introduces groundbreaking theories on Digital Sex Trafficking, Social Media Gangs, and CSAM Gangs.

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With 37 international awards recognizing her work as a researcher, educator, advocate, registered holistic nutritionist, and filmmaker, Charlene is committed to ensuring all children are safe online, regardless of country borders, race, ethnicity, or religion.

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A licensed secondary school educator specializing in Computer Science, Charlene has also worked as a Computer Network Administrator in various secondary schools. Her direct interactions with students, parents, administrators, and technology staff have provided invaluable insights that continue to shape her leading work in online child protection.

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Additionally, Charlene is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and maintained a holistic nutrition practice for five years.  Her nutrition practice and education, combined with her interactions with children, parents, and families, have strengthened her dedication to child health and well-being.

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Why did Charlene begin her research and goals toward online child protection?  Her family experienced the trauma of having a child used for child sexual abuse material at the age of four.  The same family member was killed by a drunk driver at the age of 22.  Charlene herself experienced sexual assault at the age of 15 by a high school teacher.  Two family members, two different cities, two different times, too many times.

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More information about Charlene:

 

AWARDS: ​​​

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2025   Iconic Woman Creating A Better World For all, Women's Army, India

2025   Nominee, Attorney General Award

2023   Distinguished Londoner Award, London, Canada

2022   Honorary Doctor of Philosophy, Rai Technology University, India in 

           acknowledgement of research and work in global online child protection.

2022   Inaugural Phoenix Award, B.E. A S.H.E.R.O. Foundation, Las Vegas, for her efforts               in anti-human trafficking

2022   Best Producer and Best Director for her documentary "Vulnerable Innocence"

2022   25 international awards for the film "Vulnerable Innocence"

2018   The International Women of Excellence Award

2012   Award of Excellence - Registered Holistic Nutritionist

2006   The Bishop Townshend Award of Teaching Excellence

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Awards for her film "Vulnerable Innocence" 27 awards including semi-finalist:

• Best Canadian Documentary (Toronto Film Festival Cift)

• Best Documentary Feature (Atlanta Georgia, USA)

• Best Documentary Feature (Chicago Indie Film Festival)

• Best Documentary Feature (Calgary Independent Film Festival)

• Best Documentary Feature (Airflix Film Festival)

• Best International Documentary (Hollywood Golden Age Film Festival)

• Best International Documentary, (Austin International Art Festival, Austin, Texas)

• Best Educational Feature (Las Vegas Independent Film Festival)

• Best Educational Feature, (The Independent Awards, Liverpool England)

• Best Film (Redwood Film Festival)

• Best Film Poster, (Hollywood Golden Age Film Festival)

• Best Producer - Charlene Doak-Gebauer, (Multidemensional Independent Film Festival, 

• the U.K. (Nice, Milan, Madrid)

• Best Female Directors, Charlene Doak-Gebauer, Nancy Lynch (DMOFF)

• Best Trailer (Redwood Film Festival)

• Silver Award - Feature Documentary (Hollywood Independent Filmmaker Award)

• Bronze Award - United States Presidential Service Center International Film Festival

• Award of Recognition - Contemporary Issues/Awareness Raising (IndieFest California) 

• Award of Recognition: Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery 

• (Accolade Film Festival California)

• Finalist - Award of Excellence - (Multidemensional Independent Film Festival, the U.K.)

• Finalist - Best Narrative Documentary (Delta International Film Festival, California)

• Finalist - Best Feature Documentary - FilmFest International (U.K., Madrid, Nice, Milan)

• Semi Finalist - Berlin Film Festival (Berlin Germany)

• Semi Finalist - Paris Women's Festival (Canada)

• Semi Finalist - Hamburg Indiefest Festival  (Hamburg, Germany)

• Semi Finalist – New Filmmakers, (New Orleans, USA)

• Semi Finalist - St. Louis Film Festival (St. Louis, Missouri, USA)

• Nominee - Best Human Rights Film, New York True Venture Film Festival 

• Nominee - Best Documentary - Golden Eye Festival

• Nominee - Best Documentary - Toronto Hollywood North Film Festival

 

Education includes:  four universities--University of New Brunswick, University of Western Ontario, University of Toronto and University of California Santa Barbara. She has also attended the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition and is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist.

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Contact us at

Phone: 01-519-854-1249

Email: vulnerable.innocence@bell.net.