About Dr. Charlene Doak-Gebauer:
Regularly featured on radio and TV, Charlene Doak-Gebauer is a globally renowned expert on all aspects of digital child and family protection in the modern world. She’s the award-winning Producer/Director of the documentary "Vulnerable Innocence,” the Founder and Chair of the federal Canadian charity “Internet Sense First”; and of the AICET Council (International Anti Internet Child Exploitation Team). Her Theory of Digital Supervision for proactive online child protection is an important standard. In high demand as a keynote speaker, she has taken the stage in the United States, Iceland, Europe, Nigeria, Australia, and India, and is often called on by organizations like Crime Stoppers, schools, teacher conferences, police organizations and other corporate conferences around the world. She has presented on Parliament Hill in Canada and is the Ambassador for Canada, for the The United States Presidential Service Center. Tireless in her advocacy, Doak-Gebauer also serves as a Member of the Advisory Board – B.E. A S.H.E.R.O. Foundation, Las Vegas, USA; Global Chair, Childcare and Protection, G100 Organization; Member and speaker – Canadian Peace Research Association; Member International Internet Society; Member Business and Professional Women. In addition to all of this, Charlene is also the author of two impactful books – "Digital Sexual Victims: True Cases" (nominated for an international award by the Delta Kappa Gamma society of educators), and her newest : "The Internet: Are Children In Charge?".
In addition to educating adults, Charlene was also instrumental in creating the children’s program : Angel ExpressNet – Children learn how to express themselves safely online! All done in an entertaining show which is fun for children and families. She has joined with an unbelievable ventriloquist, Yvette, for entertainment with positive outcomes.
Charlene is often asked how she became involved in this quest. Her answer? She knows too well the life-long effects of these horrendous types of violations. Charlene herself was traumatized by the sexual assault by a teacher while on a field trip in high school when she was just fifteen years old, but it was something that happened to young family members that pushed her to action. Her family was affected by the crime of child pornography twice. “Two different family members, two different times, in two different cities,” and too many times, as Charlene has said. Her family member was only four years old when neighbors used her for inappropriate activities, pictures, and videos. That young family member “lived her life to the beat of her own drum,” – but ultimately was killed by a drunk driver at the age of 22. Charlene began her charity in memory of her family member and in support of all victims globally.
More information about Charlene:
AWARDS:
2023 Distinguished Londoner Award, London, Canada
2022 Honorary Doctorate, Rai Technology University, India
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 24 international awards for the film "Vulnerable Innocence"
2018 The International Women of Excellence Award, 2018
2006 The Bishop Townshend Award of Teaching Excellence;
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.
Charlene is a licensed secondary school educator, specializing in Computer Science. In addition, she has been the Computer Network Administrator in different secondary schools.
Charlene speaks at conferences and other types of gatherings. She will also prepare workshops for organizations, tailored to the needs of the organization.
What inspires you to write?
Since my family members was used for child sexual abuse material by neighbours at the age of four, and then only to be killed by a drunk driver at the age of 22, I have dedicated my life to the protection of all children, particularly online. I write about my Theory of Digital Supervision and online child protection.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
John Grisham and Dan Brown. I enjoy mystery books. I also read some nonfiction related to my interests
Tell us about your writing process.
I am an outliner AND seat of the pants writer! As a non-fiction author, along with my education and experience, I find it very useful to work with an outline of topics. I write the content and rearrange as necessary. This is the most effective way for me to be creative related to digital, non-fiction topics. My software is Microsoft Word. As a Computer Science specialist, I am able to manipulate different software environments to my advantage for text, graphics, and video, for writing, marketing, and graphics in content.
What advice would you give other writers?
JUST DO IT!! You will create far more than you realize when sitting at a computer and writing. Be organized! It is important to ensure your thoughts are flowing in an organized fashion. Any author will tell you, it is important to be secluded in an area without too much interruption to keep the ideas flowing and in sequence.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I decided to go the self publish route with a publisher that specialized in self publishing. It was a great experience. At some point, I can have my book taken on by a traditional publisher, but mine provided great royalties from sales. Cost, royalties and design are key to making a decision.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think readers like to hold a book and flip pages. There are others who prefer a digital copy. I believe the digital copy may take over, but holding a book while reading, with cover visible every time a book is opened, is preferred by many. Hard to say!! Personal preference.
What genres do you write?: Nonfiction
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Dr. Charlene Doak-Gebauer Home Page Link
Link to Author Page on Thrift Books
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
