Page 31 - WBG July 2025

Friday, 5th September 2025

Seminar: Janel Klein - Journalist and Correspondent

Janel Klein is a journalist, correspondent and on air talent contributing to a range of national media
outlets, including NBC, ABC, FOX Sports, The Weather Channel, NFL Network, ESPN, and NBA
Entertainment. A seasoned live speaker and interviewer, Janel has hosted major events such as the NCAA
Frozen Four Tournament, the College Football Championships and the Kentucky Derby. Janel is a former
newspaper editor who began her television career as an anchor and news reporter for the ABC affiliate in
Grand Forks, North Dakota. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Janel Klein will discuss some of her most high profile stories that made national headlines over the past few years, where in
most situations, private investigators were used by the families involved, the prosecution, or the defense. She will also discuss
private investigators working with the media on high profile cases.

Seminar: Sara Merchant - Seeking Justice For My Mother; A Journey of Betrayal and Danger

Sara Merchant is a London-based solicitor and has been practicing as a civil litigator for over 25 years.
Her specialty is catastrophic injuries. Alongside her day job, she also writes as the Secret Solicitor.

Following the suspicious death of her mother in 2014, she began her own inquiry after being shunned by
the UK police. She hired private investigators to assist her. This took Sara on a ten-year journey through
betrayal and danger to uncover the truth. During the investigation, Sara journaled her experience, which
led to her writing a book on the difficulties encountered by the family and the extraordinary challenges they faced.

Sara also provides support and guidance to victims of crime who face jurisdictional issues. Sara continues writing on issues
that intertwine her work as a solicitor and other life challenges, alongside the suspicious deaths of other Britons in Pakistan.
Born in London and of Pakistani heritage, she lives with her husband, their two children, and a cat.

Seminar: Buddy Jericho - How the rise of generative AI is transforming the landscape
of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT).

The rise of generative AI is transforming the landscape of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), offering
new tools and techniques that can significantly enhance the work of private investigators. As AI continues
to evolve, it’s becoming faster and more efficient at analyzing vast amounts of publicly available data,
uncovering patterns, and generating actionable insights.

However, with these advancements come new challenges, including verifying the credibility of
AI-generated information and navigating ethical considerations. This session will explore how private investigators can
harness the power of generative AI and prompt engineering to improve their investigative processes while maintaining the
critical thinking and discernment that the profession demands

Seminar: International Investigations Panel

Join us for an interactive panel on International Investigations moderated by Mike LaCorte of Conflict International with
panelists Paolo Bourelly, Tony Imossi and Kelly Riddle.

Mike LaCorte Paolo Bourelly Kelly Riddle Matthias Sylvester Okere Abhijit
Willenbrink Ahluwalia

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