photo of Tim Ballard

Tim Ballard

Founder & CEO
Operation Underground Railroad

Tim Ballard is the Founder and CEO of Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), which rescues and rehabilitates children who have been kidnapped and trafficked throughout the world. He is also the CEO of The Nazarene Fund, which works to liberate child victims and refugees in the Middle East from ISIS and other extremist groups. Ballard began his career at the CIA. He then spent over a decade working as a Special Agent for the Department of Homeland Security where he was assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and deployed as an undercover operative in the fight against child sex trafficking. He has worked every type of case imaginable in the fight to dismantle child trafficking rings. Ballard has testified before the United States Congress and recently visited the White House to brief President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristen Nielsen on border security as it relates to child trafficking.

Ballard has been featured on many national news outlets. He was featured in a story by ESPN with Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach, Mike Tomlin. He has appeared on Fox & Friends, Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, The Meredith Vieira Show, CBS Nightly News, ABC Nightline, and CNN Headline News.

Ballard is the principal subject of two full-length documentaries: The Abolitionists, by Academy Award-winning producer, Gerald Molen, and Operation Toussaint, by Emmy Award-winning director, Nick Nanton. His life story is also depicted in the upcoming feature film, The Sound of Freedom, where he is portrayed by actor Jim Caviezel and his wife, Katherine, is portrayed by Academy Award Winner, Mira Sorvino.

Ballard is the best-selling author of six books including Slave Stealers: True Accounts of Slave Rescues-Then and Now. His other titles include The Lincoln Hypothesis, The Washington Hypothesis, and The American Covenant series. He resides in Utah with his wife Katherine and their 9 children.

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

Events featuring Tim Ballard
Events featuring Tim Ballard