Matthew Fairfax is Co-Founder and Chair of the Justice and Soul Foundation, a Seattle-based nonprofit that fights human trafficking by training survivors and other at-risk youth in cosmetology, giving them a trade and a path to independence. He built the organization on lessons learned running James Alan Salon & Spa, where he serves as President/CEO, and it now includes the Kate Korpi Salon and Academy, a working salon and training school in Cambodia.

Matthew’s path to this work runs through three decades in Human Resources and business development. He previously served as Director of Human Resources for Washington Dental Service (now Delta Dental of Washington), a leading dental benefits provider in Washington state, where he managed compensation, benefits administration, organizational development, labor relations, Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS), group facilitation, and training.

A graduate of the University of Washington’s Executive Development Program and the UCLA Executive Salon Management Program, Matthew combined his Human Resources expertise with his business acumen and applied both to the salon industry, eventually founding Northern Torch Consulting.

Matthew provides public speaking, consulting and training in Human Resources, small business and team development, emotional intelligence and leadership skills. He has also trained and facilitated in communication styles, team culture development, financial planning/management, conflict resolution, and interest-based bargaining.