The vision of Elephanatics Foundation was created by co-founders Fran Duthie, Dr Jake Wall, Christina Toms, and Dr Andrea Duthie.
Directors & Core Team
FRAN DUTHIE
President/Co-Founder – Fellow in The Royal Canadian Geographical Society
Fran co-founded the Vancouver-based elephant advocacy group Elephanatics out of a fervent desire to address the African elephant poaching crisis. She oversees the organization’s operations and champions the Fran Duthie African Elephant Scholarship, which funds Kenyan students committed to conservation leadership.
TESSA VANDERKOP
Vice President
Tessa is a lifelong animal advocate whose passion for elephants led her to join Elephanatics. She supports the organization by identifying strategic opportunities and fostering community collaborations that align with our mission. Tessa believes in the power of advocacy in action and remains committed to advancing the long-term welfare and protection of all sentient beings.
DR RENE BEYERS
Director African Elephant Specialist
Dr. Rene Beyers is a leading voice in conservation and an Associate Researcher in Zoology at UBC. With extensive field experience across Africa, Rene was instrumental in establishing the CITES-MIKE program to track illegal poaching. He contributes to global policy as a member of the IUCN CEM Rewilding Thematic Group and serves as a specialized editor for conservation literature. His academic foundation includes a PhD focused on elephant distribution in Central Africa.
DR JAKE WALL
Co-Founder, Director of African Elephant Conservation | FRGS
Dr. Jake Wall is a conservation scientist specializing in the intersection of field ecology and geospatial technology. A UBC PhD, Jake spent five years as Director of Research for the Mara Elephant Project and co-founded the EarthRanger platform. He currently leads the Ecoscope project for the Allen Institute for AI and serves as CEO of Wildlife Dynamics, providing the analytics and training needed to drive global conservation impact.
DR ANDREA DUTHIE
Director At Large/Co-Founder
Andrea is a companion animal emergency veterinarian committed to the wellbeing of all sentient beings. She volunteers her time to raise awareness about the threats facing elephants and supports wildlife conservation initiatives worldwide.
Advisors & Education
JETT BRITNELL
Consultant
Jett Britnell is a professional expedition photographer, explorer, and internationally published writer. A Governor and Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society—as well as a Fellow of the Explorers Club and the Royal Geographical Society in London—Jett uses his world-class imagery to advocate for the protection of endangered species. As a lifelong conservationist, his work is dedicated to inspiring a global commitment to preserving natural habitats.
MELANIE REDING
Curriculum Developer
Melanie is a high-performing and versatile educator. She has over 20 years of experience developing course materials. Time in Tanzania and Kenya made her extremely passionate about saving the elephant. She met Dr. Dame Daphne (David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust founder). She supports their work through adoptions and donations.
AMANDA SLATIN
Outreach Coordinator/ Educator
Amanda is a passionate Educator. She sparks curiosity in K-12 students. She holds a Master’s in Education. She has worked as a Curriculum Developer in four countries. A trip to Kenya made her love elephants. She believes in storytelling to inspire young minds. She fosters empathy, compassion, and community for conservation.
CAROL-ANN AND BRIAN KUMINOTO
Fundraiser SUPPORT
Carol-Ann and Brian are extraordinary fundraisers for Elephanatics. They were a force at bringing awareness and fundraising to both our Global March for Elephants and Rhinos, our Ride a Bike Not an Elephant and our Loita Forest campaigns. We are so fortunate to have their commitment and dedication and appreciate their value as part of our team.
Founding Members & Legacy Supporters
LYNN HOWARD
Founding Education Advisor
A retired science educator for the San Diego Unified School District, Lynn served as a vital bridge between Elephanatics and the academic community. Her expertise in biodiversity and ecosystems was instrumental in developing our educational outreach, connecting the organization with the resources and teaching networks necessary to bring elephant conservation awareness to students across North America.
CHRISTINA TOMS
Co-Founder
A graduate of UBC’s Creative Writing and Film Production MFA program, Christina’s vision for Elephanatics was born from a transformative journey to Kenya. After witnessing the beauty of wild elephants firsthand—and the devastating reality of the poaching crisis—she returned to Vancouver determined to take action. Her commitment to raising awareness about the ivory trade was a driving force behind the organization’s inception.
CHELSEY BOGACZEWICZ
Founding Merchandise Coordinator
With a background in Business Administration and professional experience in the logistics industry, Chelsey was the driving force behind the launch of our official merchandise line. Following a transformative week volunteering with elephants in Thailand, she applied her operational expertise to establish and manage our Teespring storefront, ensuring our supporters could represent the cause through high-quality apparel.
LEANNE FOGARTY
Former Director of Marketing & Communications
Leanne was a cornerstone of our early advocacy efforts, serving as the Director of Marketing and Communications. She played an instrumental role in the strategy and launch of our most successful historic initiatives, including #IvoryFreeCanada, #MakeItAMillion, and #RideABikeNotAnElephant. We remain deeply grateful for her leadership during these foundational campaigns.
MELISSA TORRES
Founding Graphic Designer
A multidisciplinary artist and designer, Melissa was instrumental in shaping the visual identity of Elephanatics during its formative years. She applied her creative expertise to translate the complexities of the elephant poaching crisis into compelling visual narratives, helping the organization build a professional and impactful brand presence. Her design work provided a vital “visual voice” that helped our early campaigns resonate with a global audience.