Our Story
Our connection to the ocean started through sailing. When you spend long periods at sea, you begin to see the ocean not as a distant environmental issue but as something immediate. It shapes weather, food systems, trade, culture, and the stability of our planet. At the same time, you also see how disconnected most people have become from it. That realization is what led us to start this work.
What We Do
We use sailing as a platform to mobilize people, partnerships, and storytelling around ocean action.
Our work sits at the intersection of exploration, communication, and collaboration. We organize expeditions, campaigns, and partnerships that bring together scientists, industry, institutions, and communities to work on tangible ocean challenges.
Beyond individual projects, Sail for Impact is built as a global platform where different sectors can collaborate through the shared language of the ocean. Sailing becomes both the vehicle and the metaphor for that collaboration.
A Nonprofit Framework
Sail for Impact is initiated and activated by PVO Expeditions, a Denmark-based nonprofit sailing expedition organization, together with the IDG Global Ocean network.
This framework keeps the work mission-led while enabling credible long-term partnerships with institutions, foundations, and industry.
Our Team
Junhee Cho — Managing Director
Leads mission direction, partnerships, and overall execution.
Alex Björkman — Co-Initiator
Co-shapes the vision and supports movement growth and collaborations.
Mathew B. Mazhuvanchery — SFI Director
Leads partnership development and funding alignment for long-term collaborations.
Sarah Proctor — Strategic Partnerships Manager
Drives outreach, partner coordination, and long-term relationship management.
Christina Lau — Project Manager
Coordinates planning, delivery timelines, and execution across activations and partners.
Erik Kunze — Expedition/Technical Lead
Supports mission operations and on-the-water execution.
Hope for the Future
Our hope for the future of the ocean is pragmatic. We already have the science, the technology, and many of the solutions we need. What we often lack is alignment between sectors and the ability to mobilize resources at scale.
The future we’re working toward is one where the ocean agenda is no longer seen only as an environmental issue, but as a shared responsibility across industry, governments, finance, and civil society. If we can reconnect people to the ocean, build stronger partnerships, and turn awareness into coordinated action, we still have a real chance to restore and protect the system that supports all of us.
Credibility and Support
Our work is strengthened through collaborations, endorsements, and support from partner institutions and foundations, helping turn missions into real outcomes.