Our Team

We are storytellers on a mission—creating world-class films and educational content that reveal the urgent need for responsible environmental stewardship, where both wildlife and rural communities can survive and thrive together.
Founder & Filmmaker

Tom Opre

Tom Opre stands as a trailblazer in the convergence of wildlife conservation and human rights, leveraging his multifaceted expertise as a film director, cinematographer, television producer, best-selling author, and advocate. His seminal work, “Killing the Shepherd” (2021), not only garnered acclaim across over 40 film festivals globally but also sparked critical conversations around social justice, human rights, and conservation, underscoring the intertwined fate of rural communities and their natural habitats. This film’s journey from widespread festival recognition to screenings at pivotal political and environmental forums—including the US Capitol, Westminster, numerous state legislatures, and the Cop19 CITES conference—highlights its profound impact on policy and public awareness.

“The Last Keeper,” his latest documentary endeavor, delves into the complex socio-environmental dynamics of the Scottish Highlands, challenging the narratives around land management, conservation ethics, and the socio-economic battles faced by those living on the land. With its anticipated premiere in Scotland and subsequent U.K. tour, this work promises to be another pivotal contribution to environmental and social justice. 

Beyond the cinematic realm, Opre’s literary contribution, “Killing the Shepherd: Beyond the Film,” ascended to best-seller status, enriching the public discourse on these urgent issues. His commitment extends into practical advocacy and education through his roles in non-profit organizations like the African Children’s Schools and the Shepherds of Wildlife Society™, the latter of which he founded to bridge the gap between modern society and nature.

Residing in Montana’s scenic Flathead Valley, Tom, alongside his wife Olivia—a travel specialist and wildlife museum curator—embodies a life dedicated to preserving the delicate balance between human progress and environmental stewardship. Together, they stand at the forefront of a movement to safeguard the rights and resources of indigenous communities through education, conservation, and the powerful medium of storytelling.

INSTAGRAM: @TOMOPREOFFICIAL
Tom Opre standing next to a large camera on a tripod in a rural landscape
Photographer

Tony Bynum

Tony Bynum is a photographer and conservationist. Tony has produced images used on over 300 magazine and books covers. Hundreds of his images are seen annually in national advertisements, annual reports, books covers, art galleries, and dozens of outdoor publications. 

He has traveled the world shooting images for some of the biggest brands in the outdoor space. As a conservationist, Tony regularly works with nonprofit organizations, collaborates on documentaries and speaks around the country on conservation, photography and the business of photography. Tony is a past-president of the Professional Outdoor Median Association (POMA).

INSTAGRAM: @HUNTPHOTOS
Portrait of Tony Bynum
Photographer

Quinn Kloppers

Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1979, from an early age he was introduced to life in the outdoors. For the latter part of his youth, he spent growing up on a 60,000 acre cattle and game ranch in southeastern Zimbabwe, which cultivated a lifelong love and passion for wildlife and nature.

In 2000, Quinn started his guiding career in Zimbabwe’s various national parks and private reserves. He decided to pick up a camera to capture and share his interactions with the African wildlife, people and  surroundings he encounters every day. 

INSTAGRAM: @QUINN_KLOPPERS
Quinn Klopper posing with a camera
Photographer

Mike Fell

Mike Fell is a photographer specializing in African wildlife and conservation related issues. As a wildlife fanatic, safari guide, and conservationist with 21 years of experience in the field, Mike believes that photography and story telling are key components of conservation. With a deep respect and understanding for African wildlife, his work explores its diversity and emphasizes the impact of human activity on wildlife in his home continent of Africa.

​Mike's primary business is establishing safari operations in wildlife areas outside of national parks. He is involved in large-scale conservation and community initiatives in East, Central and West Africa. Mike is committed to supporting the Governments of these countries in their endeavors to protect the fauna and flora for future generations. His anti-poaching efforts throughout the year are extensive. These efforts include funding transport, providing fuel and manpower and training security teams for regular anti-poaching exercises over these huge desolate areas.

Mike's passion provides him incredible access to wildlife and often takes him to remote destinations. This regularly puts him in situations where he is up close and personal with wild animals and that is why his photos often arouse feelings of intimacy with the creatures he depicts.

Action is needed to preserve our natural world. Mike's hope is that his photographs will inspire people to join the cause to help stop senseless destruction of the environment and the animals that inhabit it. 

INSTAGRAM: @MIKEFELLSAFARIS
Mike Fell bio pic
Photographer

Denver Bryan

Denver Bryan is an internationally-published photographer whose work has won numerous national awards as well as appeared on the cover of over 400 magazines. Denver’s images have been published in seven single-photographer books to date as well as graced the pages of such magazines as National Geographic, Smithsonian, National Wildlife, Field & Stream, Time, Newsweek, Gray’s Sporting Journal, and many others. 

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Originally a wildlife biologist by training, Denver has photographed the wildlife of North America extensively from Alaska to Mexico. Africa is another of Denver’s favorite locations. Over the last decade he has made over a dozen trips to capture images in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Botswana.

FACEBOOK: DENVER BRIAN
Denver Bryan posing with camera and backpack sitting on rocks with a mountain goat in the background
Photographer

Matt Addington

Growing up with a camera in his hands in his home state of Minnesota has provided no shortage of inspiration for photographer Matt Addington. Matt has spent his career capturing images for the biggest brands in the outdoors lifestyle and agricultural space all around the world from above the Arctic Circle in Alaska to the rugged western Rocky Mountains to wild savannah of equatorial Africa to the wide open prairies of Middle America. After years of teaching and a master’s degree in art education, Matt continues to share his knowledge of conservation and the visual arts through speaking engagements and collaborating with non-profit organizations around the world. Though his work has been seen in publications and campaigns worldwide, distilled to it’s simplest form, Matt still hopes that each individual photo tells a story that makes the viewer truly FEEL something.

INSTAGRAM: @MATTADDINGTON
Matt Addington with a backpack and camera standing in a field at sunset
Photographer

Neil McIntyre

Neil McIntyre is a professional wildlife photographer based in the Highlands of Scotland. He comes from a family of gamekeepers and deer stalkers stretching back several generations. Early years spent out with his father nurtured his love and appreciation for wildlife in the Scottish Highlands and beyond. 

 Neil’s work has been internationally recognized and awarded in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards, notably the Eric Hoskins award in 1991 and 1992. Closer to home, he has had multiple in The British Wildlife Photography Awards. He has also published two books, The Red Squirrel – A Future in the Forest and, more recently, Chasing the Deer.

 Along with his passion for photography and the wildlife he photographs, Neil cares deeply for the country's way of life and the people he was raised with. It is now being threatened by unadvised government policies, particularly around the red deer and estate management, but also by dubious, ill-thought-out carbon capture schemes. 

 Neil is based in the Cairngorm National Park area, where he runs his photography tours and image library.

INSTAGRAM: @NEILMCINTYRE3151
Photo of Neil McIntyre posing by a tree. Image courtesy Julia Wainwright
Photographer

Lance Krueger

As a native Texan, Lance is an award winning, full-time professional photographer and writer who has traveled throughout North America the past 35+ years photographing game animals, and the sportsmen who pursue them. Of all the species Lance has photographed, his passion is photographing the most mature whitetail bucks and wild turkeys he can find. His mission through his photography is portraying both of these species in a beautiful light, and communicating their conservation success stories, which were financed by hunter's dollars, and hunting regulation by scientific methods.Lance attributes his success photographing whitetail deer and wild turkeys to his lifelong study of these secretive animals at close quarters. Much time is spent in blinds observing them going about their normal behavior, on their level, at the close range photography demands. Lance is able to share his experiences and observations of seldom seen behaviors of game animals with hunters and wildlife viewers, bringing his subjects to life through his photos and writings in the national hunting/conservation publications, and social media. 

Lance is a Contributing Photographer for both Field & Stream and Outdoor Life magazines, and his photos are a mainstay on the covers and inside the most prestigious hunting publications in the world. A partial list of other magazines his photos have been published in are Gamekeepers, Petersen's Bowhunting, Buckmasters, Bowhunter, Deer & Deer Hunting, Bowhunting World, Whitetail Journal, Petersen's Hunting, among many others.

INSTAGRAM: @LANCE_KRUEGER
Photo of Lance Krueger photographing with a camera

Board of DIrectors

Baker Gentry, Chief Stewardship Officer, Chairman of the Board

Baker Gentry is a conservationist with more than 30 years of experience in wildlife stewardship and land management. Raised in Mobile, Alabama, and now based in Fort Worth, Texas, he has spent his life working at the intersection of conservation, agriculture, and rural land use. He also lived in England for 8 years, broadening his perspective on conservation policy and practice. Gentry has spent decades working alongside some of the most effective, field-driven conservation efforts in North America—focused on habitat restoration, wildlife management, and long-term ecosystem health. His work is grounded in practical application, with an emphasis on measurable outcomes on the land. In parallel, he has worked at a senior level in global finance and asset management, with experience in capital allocation, investment strategy, and leadership across international markets—insights that shape his approach to conservation and land stewardship. In addition to his conservation work, he co-manages a large family cattle ranch, applying proven, results-driven approaches to land stewardship—improving soil health, conserving water, and maintaining productive wildlife habitat. Gentry’s work is grounded in a clear principle: conservation works when the people closest to the land are equipped to manage and benefit from it. His focus remains on aligning ecological health with human livelihood.

Michael Butler, Director, Secretary

Michael Butler is a native Tennessean. Greatly impacted by his experiences outdoors from an early age, Butler's passion for Tennessee’s wildlife and great outdoors led him to study wildlife and fisheries science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and then earn his masters of science in fish and wildlife management from Montana State University. Upon returning to Tennessee in 1996, he was recruited to join the Tennessee Conservation League, which later changed its name to Tennessee Wildlife Federation. In 2002, Butler was promoted to the chief executive officer, a position he holds presently. His work over the years with the Federation has allowed him to engage in and address several of Tennessee’s most significant wildlife and conservation needs. Butler has served on numerous conservation- and community-oriented boards, providing leadership on several initiatives. At a national level, Butler served as a member of the board of trustees for the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation from 2006 until 2012 as an appointee of President George W. Bush. He lives outside of Franklin with his wife Wallis, their three daughters—Wesley Anne, Campbell, and Ella—and their Labrador Retrievers.

Ted Miller, Director, Treasurer 

Ted Miller is a Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor, and Senior Portfolio Manager at UBS, with more than 30 years of experience advising families, entrepreneurs, and institutions on complex financial strategies—including portfolio management, succession planning, liquidity events, lending, and philanthropic structuring. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy with honors in mathematics and an MBA from Harvard Business School, Ted began his career in service to his country as a Naval Aviator. He flew combat missions in support of the Persian Gulf War and completed 424 aircraft carrier landings—an achievement that reflects precision, discipline, and leadership under pressure. Following his military service, Ted built a distinguished career in finance, including his time as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. At UBS, he is a member of the Pinnacle Club, recognizing the firm’s top advisors, and has been consistently named to Barron’s Top Advisor rankings. Ted is an Eagle Scout and remains committed to service through his role as board member and treasurer of Keaton’s Place, a nonprofit supporting recovery from opioid addiction. He also maintains a long-standing personal commitment to land stewardship and wildlife conservation, with hands-on involvement in habitat management and upland bird restoration efforts, as well as affiliations with organizations focused on sustainable use and conservation.

Tom Opre, Director

Tom Opre is a filmmaker, cinematographer, and conservationist dedicated to telling powerful stories at the intersection of wildlife, rural communities, and human rights. As founder of the Shepherds of Wildlife Society, he creates films that challenge mainstream narratives and advocate for sustainable use, local stewardship, and the dignity of people living with wildlife. A former president of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), Tom continues to lead efforts that unify communicators around modern conservation values. He also serves on several nonprofit boards, including African Children’s Schools, reflecting his global commitment to education and cultural empowerment.

Advisory Board

Pete Brownell

Pete Brownell is Chief Executive Officer of 2nd Adventure Group and Chairman of Brownells, a position he ascended to following a successful term as president and executive vice president of the company. He is a member of the leadership team since 1997. Mr. Brownell also serves leadership roles on several boards, most recently President of the National Rifle Association (NRA). Pete is a member of The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) .

Ingrid Poole

Raised in Southern California, Ingrid Poole developed a deep appreciation for the earth’s vast oceans and wild lands. This ever-growing passion for the outdoors took her around the world following her passion for preserving the wild animals who reside in these remote places. For nearly five decades, Ingrid has been involved in San Diego’s waterfront businesses of which include marine fuel docks, two large marinas, three sportfishing landings, seven long range sportfishing boats, and Poole Boat Company, famous for building grand yachts and large sport fishing boats. As a member of the National Advisory Board for Museum of the Rockies, Ingrid has greatly enjoyed bringing awareness to the importance of habitat conservation and wildlife preservation.

Mark Kehke

Mark Kehke was born in the wine country of Sonoma County and spent his formative years in Newport Beach, California. Now a long-time resident of the Gallatin Valley of southwest Montana, Mark has a long and abiding interest and affection for wild places. Mark has been instrumental in facilitating a number of landmark accords with many of the nation's major environmental advocates, resulting in the permanent preservation of hundreds of thousands of acres of open space. Mr. Kehke’s leadership proved invaluable on the unprecedented Tejon Ranch Conservation and Land Use Agreement, conserving 230,000 acres of critically important habitat in central California. The achievement was recognized with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award, California's highest and most prestigious environmental honor. Mark served for seven years on the Board of the Gallatin Valley Land Trust, three as its’ Chairman and currently serves as the Prior of the Mountains and Plains for the International Order of St Hubertus, the world’s oldest conservation organization.

Warren Sackman III

Warren A. Sackman, III was raised on Long Island, just 20 miles outside NY City. Warren’s love of wildlife comes from a lifetime spent with animals and in the outdoors. Warren’s father, Alan, who grew up on a farm in upstate New York, nurtured and instilled these qualities in Warren, and both of them are avid conservationists and outdoorsmen. Under his father’s tutelage, Warren learned from an early age the value of hard work, a deep appreciation for wildlife and their natural habitats, along with the challenges, opportunities, and abundance nature offers. Warren’s passion for conservation has only deepened throughout his lifetime. He is active in various positions where he can put his passion into action. Not only does he manage a family ranch in Colorado, he also serves on the boards of directors of two additional foundations dedicated to worldwide wildlife conservation, serving in leadership capacities. Warren is also an active member of several organizations committed to the preservation of our rich hunting heritage for future generations and the advancement of education about the critical role ethical hunting plays in conservation.

Ashton Smith

Ashton Smith has been a leading Hollywood voice-over actor for over thirty years, working to promote leading feature films like Top Gun: Maverick, Lord of the Rings, Triple X, Time Machine, Austin Powers: Goldmember, The Mummy Returns, Shrek, Jason and the Argonauts, Westwing, ER, Touched by an Angel, National Geographic's Seconds from Disaster, and PBS's Forces of the Wild. Smith has been an active wildlife and habitat conservationist, helping promote causes through fundraising and philanthropy. He currently resides in the greater Nashville, TN area promoting and managing emerging musical talent.

Jason Roussos

Jason Roussos was born and raised in Ethiopia where he was blessed to have been exposed to the country’s rich wildlife resources. He has a degree in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University. He works with his father and their company, Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris. In 1999, he co-founded The Murulle Foundation, a US-based 501(c) 3 non-profit that conducts community development, scientific research, and conservation efforts in Ethiopia. For the last 15 years he has sat on the board of the African Professional Hunters’ Association, an organization which represents some of Africa’s top and most ethical professional hunters.

Rory Kennedy

Rory Kennedy is a passionate outdoorsman based in Scotland, where he has had a career focused on conservation and rural land use. Rory spent four years running the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust in Scotland, focusing on harnessing productive farming and sporting land to be a vehicle for biodiversity management. Working in highly politicized environments, this approach relies heavily on engaging private landowners and rural communities in owning the wildlife outcomes. Prior to this role, he spent twenty years as a Chartered Accountant and business advisor, including within the Big 4, specializing in land use projects with a particular focus on rural tourism and mixed landed estates. Rory has held numerous board positions across land use and conservation including chair of the body representing Scottish hunting and fishing tourism. This was during the Covid crisis, representing the industry on government emergency taskforces and he was responsible for devising and delivering the Scottish Government’s dedicated relief fund for the sector. Rory was Associate Producer on Shepherds of Wildlife’s award-winning film, The Last Keeper.

Gray N. Thornton

Gray N. Thornton is a seasoned conservation leader and the President & CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation, where he has guided the organization to become a global force in wildlife conservation, focused on restoring and protecting wild sheep populations through science-based, sustainable use strategies. With over three decades of executive experience in the wildlife and conservation sector, Gray has held leadership roles in several major organizations, forging coalitions between scientists, policymakers, landowners, and sportsmen to achieve measurable, lasting impact for wildlife and those who share their habitats. A powerful advocate for modern conservation, Gray deeply believes that wildlife cannot thrive unless those closest to it are empowered, included, and supported. His approach aligns with the Shepherds of Wildlife Society’s mission: to educate the public, influence conservation policy, and champion the dignity of rural communities who act as frontline stewards of our planet’s last wild places. Gray is a passionate communicator, a respected keynote speaker, and a skilled fundraiser. His leadership has helped direct hundreds of millions of dollars toward habitat restoration, youth education, and species recovery efforts across North America and beyond. He resides in Manhattan, Montana, with his wife Renée and their beloved Vizsla, Sienna, embracing the outdoor lifestyle and conservation ethic they both work to uphold.

Congressman Jeff Duncan, Retired

The Honorable Jeff Duncan is a lifelong outdoorsman and national leader in conservation-focused public policy. He served 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing South Carolina’s 3rd District, following eight years in the South Carolina General Assembly. During his time in Congress, Duncan held key roles on the House Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and Energy & Commerce Committees—most recently chairing the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security. As Chairman of both the Congressional and State Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucuses, Duncan championed bipartisan efforts to protect America’s wildlife and hunting heritage. He advanced the North American Model of Conservation and prioritized Land and Water Conservation Fund investments in real habitat restoration. Off Capitol Hill, Duncan has long supported grassroots conservation—serving with Ducks Unlimited, NWTF, the South Carolina Waterfowl Association, and the Harry Hampton Wildlife Fund. As a professional auctioneer, he’s helped raise millions for conservation nationwide. Now a consultant with Covenant Government Affairs, Duncan remains committed to the principle that conservation succeeds when local communities are empowered to steward the land and its wildlife.

Susan Hayes

Living the volunteerism ideal, Susan has been involved in numerous charitable organizations lending her financial expertise and personal commitment to groups and concerns who have the high standards she maintains in her personal and business life. She has held many roles, from Director, Trustee and Officer of many high-profile entities. She is currently serving as a Vice President of Safari Club International and serves as a Director of the Safari Club International Foundation. With skill sets in Real Estate Finance and Business Management, combined with passions as a chef, winemaker and hunter, you can say Susan takes a well-rounded approach to life. After spending her life in Southern California, Susan recently freed herself from the Los Angeles grind and now splits her time at her Las Vegas and Colorado homes with her husband Bill.

Special Thanks to our Founding Board

The original board at the launch of The Shepherds of Wildlife Society.

Chairman: Stephen C. Duringer

Director: Thomas Barker

Director: Mark Hensley

Treasurer: Robert Gordon