Committed to socially engaged Buddhism. Dene has helped establish a number of social enterprises working with people with learning disabilities, people with autism, and with refugees. He also offers the teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in prisons.
Dene has practiced and studied the Dharma since the mid nineties: Practicing with Thich Nhat Hanh's tradition since 2001, receiving lay ordination in 2007 and becoming a Lay Dharma teacher in 2016.