About Us
We harmonize expedition cruising with positive action to advance whale restoration and drive environment restoration science forward for the benefit of humanity and all life. Join Us! It's not only an expedition… It’s an Outdoor Wildlife Adventure, on a Mission to Help the Planet!
FOUNDERS
Jennifer Bonilla, Phd.
President
Jenn is the President and Co-Founder of Positive Polar. As an investor and research psychologist with more than 25 years of experience, she has built, scaled, and transformed global biotechnology businesses—including Roche, Merck, Gilead and Genentech—to achieve greater impact.
With a passion for cruising, whales and the polar regions, she brings extensive experience in building teams and translating science into commercial products within highly regulated industries. Jenn leads portfolio investment strategy, global product development, commercialization, business development, and operations across leading science companies and now hospitals, such as Moffitt Cancer Center. She previously co-founded a customer insights business.
Jenn holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University, a postdoctoral certificate from Stanford University and is a fellow of the Material Change Institute venture capital firm.
Hugo Hinrichsen, Capt.
CEO
Hugo is the CEO and Founder of Positive Polar. Leveraging his experience as a veteran frigate captain (R) and staff officer with more than 25 years of operational experience, including command, security, and logistics, as well as service as an executive officer for both naval units and air-naval divisions in Chile and NATO, he brings deep leadership expertise. He has a proven track record as a polar helicopter pilot and sailor, conducting rescue operations and working directly with scientists in extreme environments. He also has guest-facing experience in civilian expedition cruising.
Hugo’s Danish ancestors were whalers. Positive Polar’s mission to restore whale populations is deeply personal to him because of his family history, and he has witnessed firsthand the consequences of environmental change while living in Patagonia.
He is an entrepreneur with experience founding companies and holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Development and Business Administration from the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (UAI)
CONTRACTS - ADVISORS
Hans Lagerweij
Chief Commercial Officer
Originally from the Netherlands and now based in Miami, Hans holds a Master of Business Administration from Erasmus University Rotterdam, and a Master of Arts in Brand Management.
In the first ten years of his career, he worked for Packaged Consumer Goods companies Kimberly-Clark and Sara Lee in various Brand Activation, Brand Development, Sales, and Innovation Management roles.
In 2008, Hans combined his passion for adventure travel and his expertise in commercial management when he became Managing Director of Sawadee Reizen in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. In 2010, Hans moved to Toronto and became president and CEO of polar cruise company Quark Expeditions, a business that was shortly afterwards mentioned as “best in class” business case in David Meerman Scott’s book «The New Rules of Sales & Service, how to Use Agile Selling, Real-Time Customer Engagement, Big Data, Content, and Storytelling to Grow Your Business”.
In 2015 Hans took over responsibility for all adventure brands within TUI Travel, a business that was successfully sold in 2017. In 2018 Hans became CEO and President of boutique luxury cruise start-up Victory Cruise Lines, a business that was successfully sold in 2019. Recently Hans was the president of the international businesses of Albatros Travel, including Albatros Expeditions, Albatros Arctic Circle, Albatros Africa and Adventure Marathons, and a Senior Vice President at Four Seasons.
Having worked and lived in seven countries, his imagination knows no limits when it comes to building incredible customer experiences, from sailing a chartered nuclear icebreaker to the North Pole, to organizing marathons in some of the most unique locations in the world such as the Great Wall of China, sailing expedition cruises deep into the Peruvian Amazon, and camping excursions in Antarctica. Hans is also a trustee of the Safer Tourism Foundation in the United Kingdom and a Board Advisor for startup Lepdr/Lifepass (https://getleprd.com), a service platform to easily, reliable and affordable buy back time, by outsourcing your “to-do-list”.
Christopher Youngblood
Financial Operations
Chris is a financial professional with over 30 years of experience at all levels of accounting and finance. He holds a Masters in Accounting from the University of Florida and is also a Certified Public Accountant. In 2000, after 6 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, he joined a start-up travel company, Grand Expeditions, and has been heavily involved in the luxury travel industry ever since. Over the past 20 years he has held a number of positions including Finance Director at multiple organisations including First Choice Holidays, TUI Travel, Travelopia and Four Seasons. While at Travelopia, Chris was particularly involved in the expedition cruise industry, having worked with many of the leading expedition cruise companies including Quark Expeditions, International Expeditions and Zegrahm Expeditions. Chris has dedicated his career to assisting organisations with all areas of their financial operations including budgeting, financial and strategic planning, operational efficiency and internal controls and procedures.
Matthew Savoca
Science
Matthew Savoca is a research scientist at the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University and a Principal Investigator at the California Marine Science Foundation. After completing undergraduate at Cornell University, Matthew did his PhD at the University of California, Davis as a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow. His dissertation research focused on why marine animals mistake plastic debris for prey items. This work received international media attention and earned him a Science and SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists. As an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow, he quantified baleen whale prey consumption and nutrient recycling services these ocean giants provide to marine ecosystems. In fertilizing pelagic environments, whales enhance primary and secondary productivity and carbon storage. In addition to this work, he also currently studies the interactions of baleen whales with plastic debris and other contaminants. Matthew’s scientific work has been published in leading journals including Nature, Science, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. His popular articles have been published by venues including the Marine Biologist Magazine, Scientific American, and the Washington Post.
For more information, visit his website at: MatthewSavocaEcology.weebly.com
Tim Foresman
Lecture Programs
Professor Tim Foresman. Former Director of UN Environment Programme’s Early Warning and Assessment. Chief environmental scientist for United Nations under Kofi Annan, and expert in all-encompassing environmental issues. Please see www.earthparty.org for his latest speaking and book activities.
Tim Foresman’s science and engineering career as an environmental leader spans executive positions across national and international sectors including leading the United Nation’s environmental science program. Foresman’s deep understanding of environmental conditions and human-industrial pressures is expressed through his US and international schedule that includes writing and presentations on sustainable development, green growth challenges, and global successes and trends in the face of climate change
Tim Foresman’s visually stunning speaking performances encompass Earth monitoring from space, climate change, ocean protection and conservation, as he authoritatively explains how technology, social networks, and citizen scientists can prepare society for global warming and climate impacts.
He consults, gives keynote speeches, and conducts research on educational issues: www.icrsed.org.
A prolific author of scholarly and popular articles, he has launched a children’s book series beginning with The Last Little Polar Bear: A Global Change Adventure Story .
Specialties: LEED AP Engineer, Senior Ecologist, GIS Professional, International Digital Earth Society founder, Sustainable Development, Smart Growth, Global Environmental Outlook, Renewable Energy, Oceanography, Physical Geography, Historic Preservation, Beer Making, Climate Change, Surfing, Boating and Sailing.
Nikki Baxendale
Art & Boutique Programs
Nikki Baxendale, an award-winning Canadian artist and photographer based in Vancouver, has dedicated over three decades to her craft, driven by a profound commitment to environmental advocacy. Transitioning from a successful career as an Art Director for renowned brands in London, New York, and LA, Nikki redirected her focus to fine art.
With expertise spanning illustration, photography, marketing, and fashion journalism, Nikki’s artistic journey includes studies at the University for Creative Arts in London and The International Center for Photography in New York. As an Art Director, she led global design teams, collaborated with industry giants like Disney and MTV, and orchestrated groundbreaking presentations, winning numerous awards. Now, as a full-time artist, Nikki’s work combines painting and photography, capturing fleeting moments while raising awareness about environmental challenges.
Ines Zimmermann
Marketing Advisor
Ines has a strong foundation in business and a strategic marketing background. She is passionate about applying her marketing expertise to ocean management and sustainability. Leveraging her experience as a Head of Marketing, she focuses on elevating ocean literacy, environmental stewardship, and sustainable ecotourism through compelling, results-driven campaigns. Her work is fueled by a passion for protecting marine ecosystems and a dedication to connecting people with transformative, purpose-led solutions. She has a strong creative side and a problem-solving approach, and she loves using both in her day-to-day work. She is driven by curiosity, creativity, and respect for diversity, and always strives to learn new things and challenge herself. She loves the ocean and everything sea-related and advocates for the ocean, the planet’s largest and most important ecosystem.
Ines holds an M.Sc. in Ocean Science, Conservation, and Innovation from Université Côte d’Azur and a degree in Tourism Management from the University of Surrey.
Mette Carlsen
Whale Protector Program
Mette is a Marine Biologist and Dive Instructor with a strong background in ocean conservation, research, and education. She brings extensive hands-on experience working in diverse marine environments around the world, combining scientific expertise with a deep passion for the ocean.As a project manager at the Indo Ocean Project, Mette has led conservation and divemaster training programs for over 100 students, managed teams and partnerships, and conducted field research using advanced marine survey techniques, including biodiversity assessments, coral restoration, and BRUV systems. Her work bridges rigorous science with engaging education and field-based learning.
Mette has also contributed to marine mammal research through transect surveys in the North Atlantic and has delivered educational presentations on whale ecology and conservation to diverse audiences. As an educator and expedition guide, she has led international groups, creating meaningful connections between people and the ocean while promoting environmental stewardship.
Beyond her scientific work, Mette is passionate about freediving and mermaiding, using creativity and storytelling to inspire new generations to connect with and protect marine
Phil Hunter
Expedition Operations Advisor
Phil Hunter is a California native with a passion for the ocean. He began guiding kayak expedition trips before he finished high school and continued to do so in the Channel Islands National Park while finishing his degree in Aquatic Biology at the University of California Santa Barbara. He quickly jumped into expedition in the higher latitudes starting in 2012, at that time joining expedition cruises in Southeast Alaska, Antarctica, Chilean Fjords, Norway, Iceland, Svalbard, and Greenland. He has logged over 100 trips to the Antarctic and over 80 to the regions of the High Arctic. He has extensive experience in leading expedition teams in both areas.
Phil is now the Expedition Operations Advisor for Positive Polar where he is engaged in creating a premier polar expedition travel product for our guests.
Aria McKenna
Public Relations Coordinator
Aria McKenna is a multi-hyphenate filmmaker and Al Gore trained climate impact strategist who works to build bridges between climate scientists, policy makers, media and the public. Born in Miami – ground zero for sea level rise in the United States and her brand is «Saving Planet Us». Her mission is to use storytelling to break down the cultural barriers that keep us from restoring a safe climate.
With roots as a film producer/writer/director, voice-over artist, and award winning actress, Aria’s experience has run the gamut from appearing on screen at The Rhode Island International Film Festival, Warsaw International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, and more – to organizing a Scientific Advisory Panel for director/producer Adam McKay’s Hyperobject Industries, lobbying senators in and out of Washington DC with Citizens Climate Lobby, and helping to co-found the Healthy Planet Action Coalition with climate scientists and policy experts around the world to restore a safe climate through the holistic «climate triad». She’s also created both short and long form environmentally driven content through Global Cooling Productions and the Sierra Club, produced political ads for NY candidates through Quantum Surge Media, was part of the narrative division of the Healthy Climate Alliance, and on-camera host for GreenTV and Long Island International Film Expo. She’s also been keynote speaker for Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, helped produce American Renewable Energy Institute’s AREDay Summit hosting Tom Steyer, on the Climate and Energy Working Group for the ASBC, and the advisory board for Love the Wild Foundation. Having finished High School in Rome, Italy, Aria speaks fluent Italian and a smattering of French and Spanish.
Warmest Thanks For Everything You Do,
Aria McKenna
Brand: «Saving Planet Us»
Writer, Producer, Climate Communicator
Global Cooling Productions
www.GlobalCoolingProductions.com
Creator
Revolution Earth
(Romantic Cli-fi Thriller – w/ a touch of Action/Adventure/Futuristic Fantasy for TV in Development)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aria-mckenna
IMDB:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3994260/?ref_=ext_shr
Watch My ‘BECOMING THE CHANGE’ Roundtable at:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=C472MxNDzZM&si=pPYMnQW0YxCPaTUH
Learn more about the ‘Climate Triad’, a holistic approach to Climate Restoration at Healthy Planet Action Coalition:
www.HealthyPlanetAction.org
https://www.greentv.com/aboutus
Shannon Robison
Communications Manager
Shannon Robison is a dynamic communications professional with a passion for storytelling, media strategy, and brand elevation. With a strong foundation in public relations, she has helped companies across various industries find their voice, shape their narratives, and secure meaningful coverage. Whether leading a major product launch or crafting thought leadership from the ground up, Shannon brings creativity, precision, and heart to everything she does.
A natural connector and collaborator, Shannon thrives at the intersection of message and impact, helping teams communicate clearly and confidently in fast-paced environments. She holds a degree in Public Relations from Mount Saint Mary College and is known for her thoughtful approach, sharp instincts and ability to make even the most complex stories resonate.
