Ms. Maura Ajak

Maura Ajak is a multi-award-winning freelance journalist with experience since 2014. She has worked as a reporter, presenter, producer, translator, photographer, videographer, and trainer for national and international outlets, including Al Jazeera English and BBC Africa Eye. Her reporting spans the revitalized peace process, security and human rights, environment and climate justice, youth, arts, and sports—themes that align closely with WOJE's work on gender justice, protection, and inclusive communities in South Sudan.

As Board Treasurer, Maura supports WOJE's financial governance alongside fellow directors and management: promoting transparency, ethical stewardship of donor and community resources, and clear communication with stakeholders. Her strength in documentation, verification, and public accountability reinforces WOJE's commitment to integrity as a community-rooted organization.

She holds a Diploma in Communication and Public Relations from the University of Juba (2021) and works in English, Arabic, and Juba Arabic. Her background with the Associated Press, Catholic Radio Network / Voice of Hope, and the DEFY-HATE-NOW initiative reflects a career built on fact-based reporting, peace-sensitive media, and countering hate speech—values that strengthen WOJE's partnerships and public trust.

Maura is an alumna of the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change (KDMECC, 2022) and the Africa Climate Summit in Kenya (2023). She has produced educational content on climate impacts in South Sudan and hosted the Hello Stranger podcast on peace, climate justice, arts, and media—extending WOJE's voice on environmental justice and young people's leadership.

Selected recognition includes: awardee at the inaugural Journalists for Human Rights / Africa Media Festival (2025); Climate Champion Human Rights Defender of the Year (2024, South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network); elected Chairperson, WAN-IFRA Women in News South Sudan Chapter (2023–present); IGAD Peace Ambassador for East Africa (2023); Earth Champion for the East Africa Region (2022, ICPAC); Human Rights Defender Award (2017, CEPO); and fellowships with the International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) and African Female Journalists (Pan Les African), among others. Her investigative work includes contributions to South Sudan's Poisoned Floods (BBC Africa Eye).