Ken Oliver

Member, RBIJ Advisory Council

Before stepping into his role of Chief Innovation Officer at The Just Trust, Ken's journey has been anything but ordinary. After having spent almost 24 years in the California prison system, including nearly a decade in solitary confinement for reading politically themed Black literature, Ken began to see with clear eyes the extreme injustices committed in the name of justice.

After his release from prison in 2019, Ken became a leader in the movement to transform the justice system. Starting as a paralegal at a public interest law firm and later to a state policy director, he channeled his lived experience and commitment to social justice into advocacy.

His professional journey also includes serving as vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility at Checkr Inc., and executive director of their corporate foundation Checkr.org. Ken's leadership is informed by his proximity to issues and a deep commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). He has leveraged his background to influence and reshape the narrative around criminal justice reform through public policy, program design, workforce development, and advocacy.