June 23 / 2025 / Reading Time: 2 minutes
Childlight appoints Director of European Hub
Childlight are delighted to welcome Professor Elena Martellozzo to the team.
Professor Martellozzo has been appointed Director of Childlight’s European Hub and Professor of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA) Research.
A world-leading expert in cybercrime, Professor Martellozzo’s, work has focused primarily on online harms and online safety.
She has previously supported the development of a national child internet safety policy framework in Bahrain, delivered police training across Europe on CSEA, as well as serving as an expert advisor for the European Institute for Gender Equality on Cyber Violence Against Women and Girls.
Commenting on her appointment Professor Martellozzo, said: “Child sexual exploitation and abuse is one of the most pressing global public health challenges of our time. Protecting children is not just a job, it is a duty and I am proud to join this dedicated and impressive international team to contribute to Childlight’s mission.
“My focus will be on providing data leadership to grow and sustain a world-class institute that delivers robust, high-quality evidence on the prevalence and nature of CSEA. I aim to support the team in producing and using data that informs meaningful, sustainable action, helping to prevent and respond to CSEA worldwide."
Professor Martellozzo joins Childlight from Middlesex University where she was Co-Director of the Centre for Abuse, Trauma and Suicide Studies. She is a former expert advisor on online harms for the Online Safety Data Initiative and has contributed extensively to policy debates at the intersection of technology and human behaviour.
Commenting on Professor Martellozzo’s appointment, Professor Deborah Fry, Childlight’s Global Director of Data, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Elena to the Childlight team. Elena has more than two decades of expertise in child sexual abuse and exploitation research, and is a world-leading expert in her field. She brings a wealth of academic and applied experience to her role as Director of Childlight’s European Hub.
“Her leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our research partnerships and advancing innovative, data-driven solutions to protect children. Elena’s appointment marks a key step in expanding Childlight’s global reach and impact.”