Resolver Trust & Safety, a global leader in intelligence and advisory services to the online safety community, is proud to partner with Dr Sören Henrich and Dr Rachel Worthington at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).
Leveraging 20 years experience on the frontlines of Trust and Safety, Resolver will for the first time enable our approach to behavioural risk analysis to be studied by leading experts in forensic psychology. In doing so, we endeavor to ensure best practice approaches to risk mitigation can be codified and shared, whilst ensuring that we can factor a robust forensic psychology approach into our critical daily operations.
In line with our mission to foster a safer digital environment for all, this strategic academic partnership aims to address some of the most pressing challenges facing online trust and safety, combining academic research with industry expertise to deliver innovative, evidence-based solutions to combat online harm.
Dr. Sören Henrich and Dr. Rachel Worthington: Expertise That Transforms
Dr Sören Henrich has a PhD in Forensic Psychology and a decade of experience working in secure psychiatric services with clients presenting with complex mental health issues in Germany and the UK. His research informs risk and threat assessment practice, guiding assessors to understand the function of behavioural components linked to extremist violence and explores the intersection of self- and group identity to explore online behaviour, digital safety, and group-based violence. He also co-leads the MMU’s Early Career Research Network and contributes to the Institute of Children’s Future, focusing on young people’s engagement with online risk.
Dr Rachel Worthington is a Forensic Psychologist with over 25 years’ experience of working with clients who have been victims or perpetrators of offending both in person and the online space. She has clinical expertise in the risk assessment and treatment of both adults and young people who have who have engaged in a range of offending including: harmful sexual behaviour; aggression/violence; stalking; and online harm. In addition, she has also specialized in working with vulnerable populations including people with ADHD, autism and people at risk of suicide/self-harm. As a Senior Lecturer, her research in this field has been presented both nationally and internationally including how to protect young people in digital spaces. She has also been commissioned to undertake specific research projects on vulnerability to violent extremism and neurodiversity to inform clinical practice in the field.
Together, their practical and academic expertise make them invaluable partners in advancing Resolver’s mission to advancing trust and safety practices and creating safer online communities.
Evolving our understanding of Trust & Safety
The collaboration will centre around a comprehensive study that will bring together the latest research by international experts into best practices associated with behavioural intelligence analysis to identify and address the most egregious challenges and complex harms across the trust and safety space.
By fostering a consensus on the key challenges in the field, the project will refine and update methodologies, develop new taxonomies for categorizing emerging harms, targeted interventions, and provide actionable insights. By uniting academic rigor with our practical expertise in safeguarding online communities, this partnership will enhance the effectiveness of both sectors in responding to emerging threats in digital spaces.
Uniting Academia and Industry for Greater Impact
This partnership is built on a shared commitment to advancing trust and safety research and improving the protection of vulnerable online populations. Resolver and MMU will collaborate to advance research, enhance data-driven strategies, and improve protective measures for vulnerable online communities.
Through this collaboration, both organisations aim to stay one step ahead of threat actors exploiting social platforms to engage in harmful and illegal activities and shape the future of online safety by exploring new technologies, innovative frameworks, and cross-disciplinary approaches to detecting, categorizing and combatting complex harms across the digital platform landscape.
Fostering the trust and safety experts of tomorrow
In addition to the research, our cross-disciplinary team of subject matter experts (SME) will engage with students at MMU through guest lectures and industry-focused seminars. These sessions will provide students with unparalleled insights into real-world applications of trust and safety principles and offer a unique opportunity to learn from leaders in the field.
This initiative will help nurture the next generation of trust and safety professionals, creating a robust pipeline of future talent equipped with the latest technologies and methodologies designed to tackle the challenges of this critical field.
A Shared Vision for a Safer Digital Future
“Collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing the evolving challenges of online harm,” said Gary Curnow, Director of Human Capability at Resolver. “Partnering with Dr Sören Henrich and Dr Rachel Worthington allows us to combine leading academic research with our industry expertise to develop impactful solutions, refine our methodologies, and ultimately create safer online environments for everyone.”
Dr Sören Henrich, Lecturer in Forensic Psychology & Unit Lead ‘Extended Project in Forensic Psychology’ at MMU added, “I am incredibly honoured to be at the forefront of new research with Resolver. The continuous and rich exchange between us allows Dr Rachel Worthington and myself to anticipate how our research will matter. Finding an industry partner who has longevity and transparency in mind is a gift to our work that aims to improve the lives of many by offering tangible solutions to rapidly developing security challenges.”
Looking Ahead
This partnership represents a bold step forward in the effort in tackling the complexities of online harm with a unified, global response. Resolver and our academic partners are excited to be working together to drive innovation, advance research, and create a safer digital future for all.
