About Us

Founded and led by Tiana Sharifi, the Center for Exploitation Education is a nonprofit that has become Canada's leading voice in preventing child and youth sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and online harm, internationally.

Every year, we reach thousands of students, parents, educators, and professionals across the country. Our programs are trusted in schools, respected by experts, and grounded in lived experience, psychology, and trauma-informed practice.

We believe every child deserves to grow up free from exploitation online and offline

Our Founder

Tiana Sharifi Taylor
More About Tiana

Tiana Sharifi is an internationally recognized Canadian expert in anti-sexual exploitation and human trafficking. With over a decade of experience leading prevention initiatives across both digital and in-person contexts, her reach spans millions of students, parents, educators, and professionals worldwide.

Drawing on her background in Psychology and Counselling, Tiana brings trauma-informed and practical strategies to complex issues such as consent, vulnerability, and online harm. She has positioned the Center as a leading force in the field—sought after for policy development, curriculum design, keynote presentations, international conferences, nationwide law enforcement training, and nonprofit consulting.

  • List of Organizations Tiana has trained:

    • Sources BC

    • Metro Vancouver Transit Police

    • Indigenous Perspectives Society

    • Encompass Support Services

    • Nesquai Wellness Centre

    • BC Ministry of Education

    • Ally Global Foundation

    • Anika Youth Services

    • Fraser Valley Aboriginal children and family services

    • North Shore Community Youth Services

    • Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

    • Public Safety Canada

    • Amelia Rising

    • Mamawai

    • Pegius Child and Family Services

    • State of Colorado Safe School Coordinators

    • RCMP Canada

    • Canadian School Board Association

    • Canadian Sexual Exploitation Summit

    • Safer Schools Together Gangs and Gun Symposium

    • CSDSIP District Leaders

    • CASS Annual Learning Conference

    • Anti Human Trafficking Youth Symposium (2023-2025)

    • International Social Justice and Human Trafficking Conference

    • Human Trafficking Through an Indigenous Lens

    • RESET: Sexual Exploitation Training and Awareness Conference

    • F.R.E.E.: World Summit to End Human Trafficking

    • CSDSIP Pro D District Principals

    • Canadian School Board Association Manitoba

    • TikTok Canada:
      Panel Speaker

    • International CyberCrime Research Centre:
      Researchco-authorship- The presence of human trafficking on escort websites

    • Statistics Canada: Engagement on the Missing Persons Data Standards

    • United Nations: Roundtable on human trafficking

    • Members of Parliament: Speaking to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women from trafficking

    • The Prevention Project: Developed and scripted research-backed materials for a national prevention initiative, reaching 81 countries

    • Indigenous Perspectives Society:
      Customized training manual

    • BC Civil Liberties Association:
      Round table discussion regulating online sexual exploitation

    • Empowermen:
      Consulting to build sexual exploitation prevention programs

We aim to tackle not just the symptoms but the very root of human trafficking and exploitation.

Our Story

After delivering hundreds of school presentations across the country, and reprocessing her own experiences through this work, Tiana saw the urgent need for tools that were trauma-informed, effective, and actually resonated with youth and families.

Tiana recognized that exploitation doesn’t begin with a crime. It begins with the normalization of objectification, with the way society ties self-worth to appearance, and with a widespread lack of understanding around consent, power, and boundaries. These cultural messages, especially in digital spaces, were shaping young people’s lives long before any “red flag” appeared.

In 2019, Sexual Exploitation Education (SEE) was created to provide prevention education in schools and community spaces in a way that prioritized consent, boundaries, self-worth, and digital safety. 

As the organization’s reach expanded, so did its mission. 

By 2023, SEE had evolved into Exploitation Education Institute (ExEd), with SEE remaining as the name of its educational programming. The rebrand reflected a broader commitment: to not only prevent sexual exploitation, but to address all forms of exploitation, including those rooted in gender inequality, toxic masculinity, online grooming, and digital coercion.

Finally, in 2025, we made the decision to become the Center for Exploitation Education.

At the heart of our work is a dedication to prevention with depth. This means moving beyond surface-level messaging and equipping youth with the tools, language, and critical thinking they need to navigate a world that too often devalues their worth. It also means empowering adults- parents, educators, service providers, and decision-makers- with strategies that are actionable, emotionally informed, and culturally relevant.

What People Are Saying

“I have never seen a group of teenagers less on their phones than this group of 500 because they were into the presentation!”

— Teacher

“My colleagues in the district had told me ExEd presentations were great, but I was not prepared for HOW great!”

— District Principal

“Amazing content, energy, expertise and ability to make very, very difficult content fun and engaging! Thank you!”

— Private School Principal

“ExEd’s curriculum has been a game changer for us. The lessons are well thought out, engaging, and appropriate.”

— Indigenous School Teacher