Our Team
Deneen Wiske
founder & executive director
Kairos was founded by Deneen Wiske—a nonprofit leader, community builder, communicator, and lifelong nature lover.
Trained as a research biologist, Deneen began her career at the world-renowned Virginia Institute of Marine Science. In 1999, she transitioned to the nonprofit sector, launching a career that blends science, an enduring love for the natural world, and a commitment to fostering human connection and belonging. She has held leadership roles at nonprofits focused on environmental conservation, human well-being, and storytelling. Additionally, she has advised more than a dozen nonprofits, from emerging start-ups to long-established institutions, helping them strengthen their work and teams, and build vibrant, mission-centered communities of support.
An engaging group facilitator and speaker, Deneen creates connection and community by bringing insight and energy to retreats, workshops, and events.
Raised in southeastern Virginia, Deneen was shaped by the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and the shores of the Outer Banks. She now calls Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula home, where she and her family explore the remarkable geology, forests, and shoreline of Lake Michigan.
Emily Bretl
program director
Kairos programs are designed by Emily Bretl, PhD—a sustainability educator, curriculum designer, and facilitator of ecological, place-based learning.
Dr. Emily Bretl is an experienced educator driven by a passion for sharing ecological knowledge and cultivating care for the earth and one another through hands-on, project-based, and place-based education. At Kairos, she leads program design, guides evaluation strategy, and helps build meaningful community partnerships.
Emily began her career as an environmental scientist and conservation technician but has focused on education in various capacities for over 15 years. Her work is at the intersection of place-based curriculum design, ecological education, educational research, and artistic expression. She’s been a middle school science and math teacher, school founder and teacher leader, science specialist, project-based curriculum designer, and environmental educator. She is the founder of Marram Collaborative, working with schools, organizations, and families to co-create learning experiences grounded in developing ecological literacy, scientific inquiry, artistic expression, and joyful exploration.
She is currently Managing Director of the University of Chicago’s Warren Woods Ecological Field Station, where she leads interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach programming.
Emily holds a Doctor of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Northern Colorado, a Masters degree in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England, and a Bachelors in Environmental Studies from Cornell College.
Emily has lived and taught across the country and around the world. Now based on the southern shores of Lake Michigan, she finds daily inspiration in this landscape and carries forward her belief that curiosity is a superpower.
Federico Pardo
creative and storytelling advisor
Federico is a biologist, photographer, and documentary filmmaker from Bogotá, Colombia. His work is rooted in storytelling that helps people see themselves as part of the natural world. Federico is helping to define Kairos strategy, goals and outcomes, and to shape our audio, film, and artistic projects.
Since 2019, Federico has been a National Geographic Explorer and received support from the Society for his project “Salvando Primates,” an immersive multimedia experience that follows the story of Colombia’s most endangered primates and bolsters tangible forest restoration efforts in key ecosystems.
Federico’s filmmaking and cinematography work specializes in environmental and human stories. He has received three Emmy Awards: one for Best Cinematography with National Geographic’s “Untamed Americas,” one for Outstanding Feature Story in Spanish with “La Amazonía: Un Paraíso a la Venta,” and one for Outstanding Documentary Series with “Super League: The War for Football.” His other works include “Ice Age Amazonians” for Nova/PBS, “Hostile Planet” for National Geographic, “The Birders” for ProColombia.
As a photographer, Federico has documented scientific expeditions in Colombia, Peru, Mozambique, and Antarctica, and his photo projects have been exhibited in galleries in Latin America, the United States, and Europe.
Federico is an engaging and effective communicator, storyteller, ambassador, and ecological educator. He’s led numerous photography and filmmaking workshops for National Geographic, including Photo Camps, Student Expeditions, and adult trips in Iceland, Namibia, Galápagos, Brazil, Botswana, Tanzania, Costa Rica, India, and more. Federico also managed “20 Fotógrafos,” an itinerant photo workshop in Latin America. As a speaker, he has presented at TEDx Bogotá (2013) and TEDx Amazonía (2023).
Federico earned a B.S. in biology from Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá and an MFA in science and natural history filmmaking from Montana State University. He is fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese.