Meet Our Team of Passionate Experts
The heart of Zero Emission Phinisi is our team of over 40 Indonesian and international experts. Each is a leader in their field, united by a shared passion for sustainable luxury and preserving Indonesia’s 17,504 islands. Our leadership ensures every journey meets the highest standards, including SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) conventions, for unparalleled safety, service, and sustainability, as detailed in our methodology.
Arya Wijaya
Founder & CEO, Juara Holding Group
Credentials: M.Sc. in Sustainable Development from TU Delft (2001); 20+ years leading over 30 renewable energy and infrastructure projects across Southeast Asia, valued at more than $750 million.
Bio: Arya is the visionary behind the Juara Holding Group. With a deep-rooted belief that business can be a force for good, he founded Zero Emission Phinisi in 2022 to challenge industry conventions. His expertise was instrumental in securing the $12 million in green financing needed to bring the concept of a fully electric Phinisi to life. Arya ensures our operations align with rigorous ISO 14001 environmental standards, pushing the boundaries of eco-tourism.
Isabelle Dubois
Head of Operations & Guest Experience
Credentials: Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS) since 2005; Former General Manager at Amanwana (2012-2017) and Nihi Sumba, which was voted #1 Hotel in the World twice during her tenure; Member of ASITA (Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies).
Bio: Isabelle brings two decades of experience managing exclusive remote resorts. Her meticulous attention to detail ensures a seamless experience, maintaining a nearly 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio for personalized service. Isabelle oversees all operations, from our rigorous 8-week crew training program to supply chain management, where over 90% of our fresh provisions are sourced from local communities in Labuan Bajo and Sorong.
Dr. Banyu Wirasakti
Chief Sustainability Officer & Marine Biologist
Credentials: Ph.D. in Marine Biology from Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), 2011; Research Fellow with The Nature Conservancy Indonesia, contributing to the Bird’s Head Seascape initiative; PADI Divemaster with over 2,500 logged dives in the Coral Triangle.
Bio: Dr. Banyu is our scientific conscience. He leads our environmental initiatives, from developing our coral reef monitoring program across 15 permanent transects in Raja Ampat to establishing our ‘no-plastic’ supply chain, which has eliminated over 50,000 single-use plastic items annually. He vets all procedures to minimize impact, from anchoring protocols to waste management. Dr. Banyu often joins our charters, guiding guests in citizen science initiatives like manta ray identification for the Manta Trust database.
Captain Daeng Jamaluddin
Master Captain
Credentials: Ahli Nautika Tingkat I (ANT I) Master Mariner Certificate; STCW Certified; Over 25 years of experience navigating the Indonesian archipelago.
Bio: Captain Daeng hails from Bira, South Sulawesi, the cradle of Phinisi shipbuilding, and comes from a long line of Bugis seafarers. With over 30 years of experience, he combines generations of maritime knowledge with the highest international safety certifications, including a Yachtmaster Ocean 200GT license. His intimate understanding of the archipelago’s currents and hidden gems is second to none. Captain Daeng was instrumental during construction, ensuring our yacht’s performance honors its heritage while embracing its futuristic technology.
Siti Rahayu
Head of Community Partnerships
Credentials: B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Universitas Gadjah Mada; 10 years experience with community development NGOs in Eastern Indonesia.
Bio: Siti is our bridge to the local communities we visit. She is responsible for building authentic, respectful, and mutually beneficial relationships. Siti manages our local sourcing programs, ensuring we purchase goods and services from community-owned enterprises at fair prices. She also oversees the Juara Foundation’s projects, which are funded by a portion of our charter fees, focusing on education and environmental initiatives in villages across the Komodo and Raja Ampat regions. Her work ensures our presence is a positive and empowering one.
Marco Bianchi
Chief Engineer
Credentials: M.Eng. in Marine Engineering with specialization in Electric Propulsion Systems from University of Genoa; Certified by major marine battery and motor manufacturers.
Bio: Marco is the technical genius who keeps our revolutionary yacht running silently and efficiently. He oversaw the integration of the electric motors, battery banks, and solar arrays during construction and now leads the onboard engineering team. His expertise ensures optimal performance, safety, and energy efficiency, maximizing our time under silent electric power. Marco is passionate about training our local Indonesian engineers, transferring critical knowledge and building technical capacity within the country.
Continue exploring Zero Emission Phinisi:
Our Zero Emission Phinisi Service ·
Meet Our Team ·
Editorial Standards ·
Methodology ·
Sustainability ·
Safety & Compliance