In Conversation with Dennis Obel: International Development Specialist & Heritage Strategist

Acknowledgment of Country

I acknowledge that I live, work, and tell stories on the lands of the Arrernte people of Mparntwe (Alice Springs). As a visitor on this country, I pay my deepest respects to the Traditional Owners and their Elders, past, present, and emerging. I recognize their continuing connection to land, waters, and culture, and I thank them for hosting us.

Dennis Obel is an International Development Specialist, writer, and social entrepreneur whose life story spans from the streets of Kampala to the Red Centre of Australia. In this candid interview, he discusses his 20-year career, his journey from a street child to a Harvard-trained leader, and his commitment to serving marginalised communities.

Q: Dennis, you are currently based in Alice Springs, in the heart of Australia. How do you describe your work and your connection to this place?

A: I often introduce myself as a “Village Boy with a Global Spirit.” Professionally, I am an International Development Specialist.

Living here in Alice Springs is deeply meaningful to me. This is Aboriginal land, and I am conscious every day that I am a guest here. My work involves serving the local community and applying the skills I’ve learned globally to support local resilience and self-determination. Whether I am in a boardroom or out in a remote community, my goal is to walk respectfully, listen to the custodians of this land, and create sustainable opportunities for those who are often marginalised.

Q: Your career has taken you to over 30 countries. Can you share some of the highlights?

A: Travel has been my greatest teacher. I have worked on the ground in Zambia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and across Australia, and travelled several countries in Asia, Pacific, America and Africa.

Working with organisations like the Australian Red Cross, Plan International Uganda, VSO International, and Progressio (formerly CIIR) gave me a front-row seat to the resilience of the human spirit. I learned that a true International Development Specialist cannot just sit in an office; you have to listen to the people. The wisdom I gained in the beautiful beach city of Madang, PNG or the post-conflict zones of East Timor is the same wisdom I bring to my work here in the Northern Territory. I have spent more time in the field with clients than in the boardroom.

Q: You have a very powerful personal story. You were once a street child in Kampala. How does that shape your professional life?

A: Haha. Laughs. It is the foundation of everything. I left home at 16 and spent several years on the streets. When you are a street child, you are invisible. You learn survival, negotiation, and the value of dignity very quickly.

I remember one time my cousin passed me at the Old Taxi Park, and pretended he didn’t see me. I felt hurt but I forgave him. I was 17 and in bad state, a streeter. No one “sees” you in that state.

That experience is why I am so passionate about education and community work. I don’t just “sympathise” with the marginalised; I have been there. It drives me to succeed, but it also keeps me grounded.

When I eventually went on to study Political Science and Sociology at Makerere University, and later earned credentials from the Harvard Kennedy School and the Center for Creative Leadership, I never forgot where I came from. That blend of street resilience and elite education is my unique strength.

Q: You’ve transitioned into entrepreneurship with Afrofeast and OurRoots.Africa. How do these fit into your development background?

A: They are tools for connection. Afrofeast uses food to tell the stories of culture, promoting trade and understanding. OurRoots.Africa is a heritage preparation platform for the diaspora, the first of its kind in the world. We are building it to help our people reconnect with their lineage so that when they visit their homelands, they do so with knowledge and respect.

Q: What is your philosophy on life right now?

A: “Life is short. Live it now.” For me, that means living authentically. Nowadays, I focus on my spiritual transformation. That entails that I spend a significant time alone away from daily noise to craft the life I want to live.

It also means respecting the land I live on here in Alice Springs, honouring my own African heritage, and using my skills as an International Development Specialist to build bridges. I want to inspire others to own their stories—even the difficult chapters—and use them to serve others.

Fast Facts

• Role: International Development Specialist & Founder.

• Education: USQ (Masters in Project Management), Makerere University (BA), Harvard Kennedy School (Leadership), Centre for Creative Leadership (Leadership Development).

• Key Organizations: Red Cross (M&E Specialist), Plan International (Social Worker), VSO (HIV Technical Advisor / M&E Specialist), Progressio (Capacity Development Advisor / Technical Advisor HIV/AIDS, National Australia Bank (Project Analyst).

• Country experience: Australia, Uganda, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Zambia.

• Current Location: Alice Springs, NT (Arrernte Country).

Connect with Dennis

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dennisobel

• Projects: Afrofeast.travel | OurRoots.Africa

OurRoots.Africa: We Didn’t Just Join the Conversation. We Started a New One.