UC Team:
Rob Stewart:
Rob Stewart is an award-winning biologist, photographer and documentary filmmaker, and avid environment conservationists. Rob spent four years traveling the world as the chief photographer for the Canadian Wildlife Federation magazines and his work has appeared in media outlets worldwide. While on assignment to photograph hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos he discovered miles of illegal long lines. The fishermen fled, leaving hundreds of dead and dying sharks, which Rob tried to rescue. He believed that if people could see the beauty in sharks, and learn about the vital role they play in our ecosystem, people would want to fight to protect them. His debut film, Sharkwater, documents his unbelievable adventure of a beautiful underwater film that turns into real life drama with pirate boat rammings, gunboat chases, mafia espionage, corrupt court systems and attempted murder charges. Through it all, he discovered these magnificent creatures have gone from predator to prey, and how they could easily be wiped out due to human greed. Stewart’s remarkable journey of courage and determination exposed the shark finning industry to audiences and spawned conservation movements worldwide. He continues to promote ocean conservation and is currently working on his next film: a how-to guide to start the revolution necessary to save the planet, and ultimately, humanity.
Julie Andersen:
A lifelong entrepreneur, Julie has channelled over 14 years of experience in advertising and media into a new mission – saving the planet. Having built an agency with upwards of 40 employees and $7 million in yearly revenue in a few years time, she brings a unique perspective and deep experience to conservation causes. She has developed innovative media, marketing and interactive strategies for clients like Porsche, Citibank, AOL and Volkswagen, and now, applies that expertise to the business of saving the creatures and ecosystems that desperately need her help. Since a career change four years ago, Julie has created two thriving non-profits, Shark Savers and Shark Angels, and has consulted to many other NGOs, including Sea Shepherd, PEW, and WildAid, greatly improving their media, technology, marketing and outreach strategies. She is also a passionate and talented filmmaker, creating conservation content in the form of compelling films with a purpose and engaging social / interactive media.
Tristan Bayer:
Tristan Bayer is a dreamer and a doer who combines creativity and activism; to become what Tristan calls a “creactivist” -- someone who uses creative problem solving to make positive change. Born in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Tristan grew up traveling the world making nature documentaries, mentored by his father - wildlife filmmaker, Wolfgang Bayer. Tristan is an award winning filmmaker, and was nominated for an Emmy in Cinematography for the ten-part one-hour wildlife adventure series on Animal Planet where he was creator, host and director of photography. His work has aired in the US and internationally on Discovery, Animal Planet, Planet Green, National Geographic, BBC, FOX and TBS and MTV as a TV host, producer, writer, director, cinematographer, editor, and digital artist. A multi-faceted creative force, Tristan’s innovative thinking has brought his focus to assembling a collective of individuals and organizations that brings about a change in consciousness and solutions to global issues through the uniting of media, technology and conservation.
Emily Hunter:
Emily Hunter is an eco-warrior of a new generation. Over the past eight years, she has campaigned on global environmental issues, while attempting to ignite youth in a new kind of eco-revolution. She uses media and films as her tools for change, as she co-hosted IMPACT, a TV-documentary series on MTV News Canada, and author of the book The Next Eco-Warriors. No stranger to action, she has battled on the high seas of Antarctica to save whales with Sea Shepherd; coordinated climate “work party” events across Canada, as part of the350.org global day of action, and joined protests in the Borneo rainforest trying to end deforestation. Currently, she works as the Campaign Director with United Conservationists, combining her media and activism background to help kick-start the Revolution campaign.
Dave Hannan:
David Hannan is an Emmy Award-winning cinematographer based on North Stradbroke Island, in Queensland, Australia. Hannan built and owns one of the largest independent marine footage libraries in the world, amassing hundreds of hours of spectacular, high-definition sequences whose cinematography is featured in some of the world’s most successful natural history projects including “The Blue Planet,” National Geographic’s “The Shape of Life,” and “Great Migrations,” David Suzuki's “The Nature of Things,” his own programs including “Coral Sea Dreaming” as well as co-producing the documentary features “Sharkwater” and “Revolution” with Rob Stewart. As the co-founder and director of the Ocean Ark Alliance (OAA), a high-profile collective of scientists, filmmakers, and artists who are focused on both regional and global marine conservation initiatives and projects, he has teamed up with United Conservationists to bring a maximum exposure and awareness to the wonder, beauty and plight of our oceans.
Paul Wildman:
Paul is a world-class creative strategist and talented filmmaker, capable of not only envisioning but producing cutting-edge media efforts across any channel – on screen, on paper, and online. A classical artist turned digital savant, Paul utilizes cinematography, animation, graphic design, and photography as his canvas. With over 13 years of filmmaking, production, and new media, he has a wealth of experience from which to draw upon – for any type of media campaign. After earning a degree in advertising, Paul spent the first 8 years of his professional career designing and developing best-of-breed new media projects. With an incredible eye and a love for the medium, Paul honed his cinematography skills, developing skills in shooting, editing, production and animation - delivering commercial media for companies that include British Airways, Sony Music, and Nedbank. Unfulfilled, Paul left commercial productions behind in 2005 to start Lkwid, a production studio in Malaysia and recently, Built By Wildman, a fully integrated, new media studio in South Africa and in the United States. Paul leverages his commercial filmmaking background and interactive design capabilities to deliver boundary-less new media campaigns – for non-profits. In addition, his filming efforts have also been featured globally in several broadcast productions, including Animal Planet, Discovery, and National Geographic.
Dustin Titus:
Dustin is the founder of rGenta, a Digital Marketing organization with a foundation in facilitating the growth and development of communities online. rGenta has been an outlet for Dustin to express his passion for technology, connecting with others, and helping amazing people and organizations accomplish inspiring things (such as working with Rob Stewart and Sharkwater since 2009). Outside of the office, Dustin is intricately involved in downhill and water skiing communities across the Canada – previously as a coach and ski pro, and currently as a Director for the Ontario Place Waterski Show. His favorite places in the world? Backcountry British Columbia and Cottage Country, Muskoka, Ontario.
