As Executive Director of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, Elizabeth Silkes guides the growth and direction of a thriving network of over 300 museums, historic sites and memory initiatives in 65 countries. Prior to this, Elizabeth Silkes served as CEO of Cinereach and Executive Director of FilmAid International, two organizations that address social justice issues through film. She also led the major gifts program at Amnesty International USA.

Her extensive experience with community-based media projects gives her a unique perspective on the power of the personal story to engage audiences in connecting the past to the present. As a featured speaker around the world, Elizabeth Silkes has addressed issues ranging from psycho-social relief initiatives in displaced communities to the role of memory in building civic engagement in emerging democracies and post-conflict settings. She has served on the board of ICOM-US, the U.S. National Committee of the International Council of Museums; as a member of the Law Advisory Council for the Fetzer Institute; and an advisor to UNESCO, among other organizations.