- Robert Swan
2041 Founder 
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Robert Swan is a polar explorer, environmental leader and the first man ever to walk to both the North and South poles. He is an exceptionally gifted communicator and is regarded as one of the world’s top motivational speakers.
His contribution to education and the environment have been recognized through his appointment as UN Goodwill Ambassador for Youth, a Visiting Professorship of the School of Environment at Leeds University and in 1994 he became Special Envoy to the Director General of UNESCO. He was awarded the OBE in 1995.
In 2003 and 2004 Robert and his company 2041 delivered the first ever corporate Antarctic Expeditions on Teamwork and Leadership through positive participation and real missions.
- Marnee Benson
Project Manager 
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Marnee is Project Manager for the 2041 Voyage for Cleaner Energy, a climate change and renewable energy lecture series that will launch worldwide in April 2008. She’s an environmental journalist and unabashed tree-hugger from New Mexico who loves to climb up rocks and ski down mountains. Marnee is a math geek at heart, having received a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from San Diego State University before moving on to the University of Nevada where she recently earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and one in Environmental Policy. She organized the Tour de Nez bike race for three years and sailed with Greenpeace before turning her attention to Robert Swan’s efforts in the Antarctic and beyond.
- Melissa Ritti
University Lecture Series Coordinator 
In 2004 Melissa moved to Truckee, CA from West Chester, PA after graduating college. Prior to moving, she attended the University of Vermont and received a bachelor degree in Psychology and Art. She spent one semester living in Florence, Italy which allowed her to travel around Europe and study art with some amazing Italian professors. She enjoys painting, hiking and seeing live music. She began working for 2041 in July 2007 and absolutely loves it. Her main focus is planning the Voyage for Cleaner Energy, which she is truly looking forward to.
- Mark Kocina
Captain 
Mark has been a certifiable travel and adventure buff since childhood. For the past twenty seven years he has lived and worked in over a dozen countries as a white water rafting guide, naturalist, sailing instructor and charter captain. He has led scores of expeditions to some of the most remote and challenging river canyons in the world. In most of these places he found people living simply and harmoniously with their environment that set a clear example of a way of life that is both fulfilling and responsible.
Mark’s love of unpolluted, far away beautiful places and his desire to leave behind a planet that is as wonderful as the one he has been privlaged to play in for his daughter Sierra and all the children of the world are what inspired him to join 2041.
Mark has found himself in some wonderful and interesting positions through the years. He performed stunts and camera work for some major Hollywood films including “The River Wild” and “Dante’s Peak,” and he had an interesting time running rapids in a floating jeep for “Breakdown.” As an athlete Mark has been a member of the US national champion white water team which placed 2nd at the 1996 world championships. Other favorite activities include surfing, kite boarding, biking and playing with his family.
- Brent Taylor
‘2041’ First Mate 
Brent is the 1st Mate on board the ‘2041’ during the Voyage for Cleaner Energy. He is a well-traveled water baby and is known for his high-speed boat handling skills. He was born in Australia and grew up on Sydney’s northern waterways. Since leaving school he has spent over 10 years living on boats and working in many aspects of the marine industry including: recreational diving, search and recovery and pearl diving. His work has taken him all around Australia and to many regions of the world including the U.S., Caribbean, West Indies, New Zealand, and Middle East. Brent is a very outgoing, environmentally conscious person and has used his boating skills on numerous environmental and social projects.
- Hannah Huntley
‘2041’ Cook 
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Hannah graduated from Humboldt State University in the Redwood country of Northern California with a degree in Recreation Administration and a double minor in Business Administration and Peace and Conflict Resolution. She then lived in Malawi, Africa where she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer for 2 years. In Malawi, Hannah helped facilitate nutrition clinics with local health workers for women and their mal-nourished children. She also taught sign language to the deaf children and their teachers from the surrounding villages. A nature lover, she was fortunate to live at the base of beautiful Mt. Mulanje which she traversed and summited multiple times while in Malawi. Her dream is to spend her time on the water and the mountains promoting environmental awareness and sustainability through Ecotourism.
Hannah is currently working towards her Master’s degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies/Ecotourism in San Francisco, California, hopefully bringing her one step closer to accomplishing her dream. Being a crewmember on the Voyage for Cleaner Energy is an incredible opportunity for her. She gets to promote organic foods, farmers markets, bio-diesel, renewable energy and other sustainable methods of living all while sailing the seas!
- Maura Fallon-McKnight
‘2041′ Communications 
Maura is the Communications Coordinator for the 2041 Voyage for Cleaner Energy. She’s a business-minded conservationist who was raised in California and spent the last 3 years working in New York City as a salesperson for a technology corporation. Maura is an animal lover and spent the first 7 years of her career as a wildlife field biologist working in the mountains of California. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Conservation and Resource Studies from U.C. Berkeley, and is also working on a Master’s thesis at Humboldt State. Maura has worked as a biologist, an independent entrepreneur, and a technology salesperson. She is very excited, having finally returned home from NYC and a solo trip to Peru in February 2008. She loves California and is thrilled to be in San Francisco, directing all of her energy toward the 2041 Voyage. When she has spare time, you can usually find Maura traveling, juggling, snowboarding or dreaming up future business opportunities.
- Jake Barrett
‘2041′ Deck Hand 
Jake is the deck hand on board the ‘2041’ for the Voyage for Cleaner Energy. He was born in Sun Valley, Idaho and moved to Reno, Nevada where he has spent the last 20 years. He recently finished helping Robert Swan and the crew in Antarctica, disassembling different systems at the E-Base education station. Jake is currently working toward his education degree in science and history from the University of Nevada Reno. He really enjoys cycling and has worked in the bike industry for six years. He worked as a mechanic for the professional cycling team Kelly Benefits and has helped organize many bike races. Other hobbies and jobs include bike touring (from Reno to San Francisco and the California coast), kayaking, hiking, skiing, snowboarding and scuba diving. Jake worked a season with the Slide Mountain Hand Crew out of Incline Village, Nevada and obtained his EMT basic certification.
- Inigo Wijnen
‘2041’ Refit Captain 
Ini spearheaded the recent refit of the ‘2041’ and skippered the yacht during the 2004 Sydney to Hobart race as well as its 2005 voyage from Melbourne to San Diego. He has completed over 90,000 miles at sea, 28,000 of which were accomplished single-handedly. Ini studied mechanical engineering at university in the Netherlands and designed and built the 40-foot catamaran ‘Gaia” when he was only 21 years old. He has worked aboard numerous vessels including his own 55-foot Roberts sloop ‘Love of Gaia.’ Ini’s favorite sailing partner is his 9-year-old son J.J., an accomplished sailor in his own right.
- Diana Vanderburg
‘2041’ Yacht Refit Coordinator 
Diana’s most recent position with 2041 is Yacht Refit Coordinator for the Voyage for Cleaner Energy. She has been working with Robert Swan and 2041 for the past three years on Antarctic and sailing expeditions, and she has a love and energy for the Mission and 2041. Originally from San Francisco, her parents instilled in her a respect and concern for the environment at a young age along with a passion for travel which has brought her around the world as an Adventure Coordinator. She enjoys working and living in the Bay Area with her husband Delmar and dog Bosco. Diana is a member of Search and Rescue and likes to spend her free time out in the wilderness and traveling with her camera in hand.
