OUR PEOPLE
Kris Debref: Founder and Executive Director Enjojo Foundation
Kris is the founder and Executive Director of Enjojo Foundation and is a passionate conservationist. Her work with animals has been a lifelong pursuit, with extensive experience being specifically focused in leading & implementing governance, peace building & community projects in non-governmental organizations across multiple African countries, nine of which were spent in South Sudan. She has lived, worked and travelled in over 30 African countries, but settled in Uganda, where she established Enjojo Lodge, an eco-lodge in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Collins Apuoyo: Director Enjojo Foundation Belgium and Board Member EF South Sudan and Uganda
Collins is an international development specialist with a focus on agriculture and environmental conservation. He is a social entrepreneur and an Ashoka Fellow. He is an advocate for environmental conservation and has won many awards in his efforts to protect the living environment. Collins is currently involved in managing some large development projects in Uganda. He brings to the Board a unique approach to development programming that ensure sustainability for activities of the Foundation.
Vincent Opyene: Board Member Enjojo Foundation Uganda and South Sudan
Vincent is an advocate of the High of Uganda. He started his career in conservation as an investigator, a specialized wildlife crime prosecutor and a legal manager with Uganda Wildlife Authority.He is a wildlife crime lawyer and anti-corruption activist, founder and CEO OF Natural Resource Conservation Network and Opyene & Company Advocates, and Chairperson of Rhino Fund Uganda. Vincent won two awards in the conservation of wildlife being the prestigious Tusk Award for conservation in Africa and Ministry of wildlife Tourism and Antiquities award for his contribution in the conservation of wildlife in Uganda.
Umar Turyakira: Board Member Enjojo Foundation Uganda
Umar Turyakira started his career as a Uganda Wildlife Authority Ranger in Bwindi National Park
He spent 7 years as a security advisor and logistics officer in an international NGO in South Sudan working with peacebuilding and capacity building for Local Councils. As Umar’s hometown is close to Ishasha, he has the best understanding of the local culture and how to overcome the challenges to create harmonious living between humans and animals.
Peter Otten: Director Enjojo Foundation Belgium
Peter is a communication expert with 30+ years of experience having worked for some of the largest Public Relations companies in the world. He started his career as a journalist for Belgium’s largest newspaper and is an accredited media trainer. Peter developed numerous communication strategies for national as well as pan European corporations, institutions and associations. As managing director, Peter ran branches of Ketchum, a renown global PR-agency, in Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany.
Rudi Veestraeten: Board Member Enjojo Foundation Belgium
Rudi is honorary (retired) ambassador who served in Niamey, Nairobi and Kampala among other places. He is a keen supporter of wildlife and won an award with his photos. Rudi strongly believes in conservation as a motor for community and economic development. He puts his network at the service of the foundation and its board members
