Ioana Bauer

Ioana Bauer is a Romanian scholar, leader, and entrepreneur dedicated to systemic change.

She leads eLiberare, a social movement against human trafficking in Romania, focusing on addressing root causes and healing traumas. Growing up in post-communist Romania, Ioana developed a strong sense of justice and independence, challenging bullying and sexism from a young age.

She pursued international affairs and politics in Romania and later earned a Master’s in Communications in the U.S.

Her professional journey began in healthcare, where she also supported various social causes. Learning about Romania’s human trafficking issues inspired her to return and fully commit to combating this problem. Under her leadership, eLiberare has reached over 600,000 students with a trafficking awareness curriculum and transformed the approach of more than 1,500 first responders. Ioana’s work has engaged nearly 730,000 people through online advocacy.

As a parent, she encourages her daughter to have a strong voice and set her own boundaries. Ioana continues to empower young women in Romania to speak out against exploitation and live with dignity.