Elisabeth Olds is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at the DC Coalition to End Sexual Violence (DCCESV). She brings over two decades of experience in gender-based violence prevention, victim services, and public policy.  

Elisabeth co-founded Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment (DC SAFE), Inc. in 2007 and served as its Executive Director until 2013. Under her leadership, SAFE launched innovative advocacy and shelter models that partnered closely with law enforcement and the judicial system, expanding low-barrier emergency services for survivors and doubling the organization’s staff and budget. 

From 2015 to 2024, Elisabeth served as the District of Columbia’s Independent Expert Consultant, evaluating sexual assault investigations and auditing evidence kit processing. She also coordinated DC SAFE’s High Risk Domestic Violence Initiative and provided interim executive leadership to organizations undergoing significant transitions to strengthen services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. 

Throughout her career, Elisabeth has trained thousands of public safety professionals—including patrol officers, new recruits, and emergency dispatchers—on responding to domestic violence, sexual assault, and trauma. She is deeply committed to advancing policy solutions that improve institutional responses and expand protections for survivors across the District. 

In addition to her professional work, Elisabeth volunteers and serves on several boards, contributing her expertise to local and national efforts to end gender-based violence. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from American University in Washington, DC.