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Honoring the founders and their contribution
Markus Kreßler, Vincent Zimmer and Christoph Staudt established Kiron in 2015 with a clear mission: to open access to higher education for refugees and others facing systemic barriers. Together, they mobilized partners, built trust in new approaches to digital learning, and shaped Kiron into a globally recognized nonprofit supporting access for refugees and underserved learners.
Their leadership guided Kiron through its formative years, achieving early milestones such as a donation-based crowdfunding campaign that attracted more than half a million euros, building partnerships with leading universities, and receiving recognition across the humanitarian and education sectors. Markus and Vincent’s pioneering work in social impact was further acknowledged when they were named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in 2016. In their roles as shareholders, both contributed to guiding Kiron’s strategic direction over the past decade, particularly in developing our social business portfolio and advancing our labour-market integration focus.
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Our shareholder and management today
With this transition, Kiron’s shareholder group consists of:
Kiron’s management team is led by Wenke Christoph (CEO) and Anne Parsons (Deputy CEO), who together oversee the organization’s strategic and operational direction.
Continuing and expanding the mission
Kiron remains committed to its founding mission: ensuring that refugees and underserved communities have access to quality education and the opportunities it enables. Today, this mission includes a strong focus on labour market integration, equipping learners with the skills, networks, and pathways needed for meaningful employment. The organization extends its deep gratitude to Markus and Vincent for building the foundation that continues to guide Kiron’s work today.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
Ezinne Uzoije
Senior Digital Marketing Manager
ezinne.uzoije@kiron.ngo
About Kiron:
Kiron is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing accessible and innovative education for refugees and underserved communities worldwide. Since 2015, Kiron has supported more than 175,000 learners with skills essential for the labour market through its digital platform, Kiron Campus, and blended learning programs, fostering academic, professional, and personal growth. More information about our governance is available on our transparency page.
