OUR STORYTELLERS

Jono Allen Smiling person with curly hair and casual shirt, seated in a relaxed pose against a textured background.

Jono Allen

Jono is an Australian underwater photographer and marine guide who spends much of his year in the water, including extended seasons working across the Indo-Pacific. His approach to wildlife encounters is guided by patience and observation, shaped by years spent alongside marine megafauna in Tonga, Indonesia, Kenya, the Maldives, Fiji and Australia.

Trained in environmental science and freediving, Jono has led expeditions, assisted researchers and collaborated with local communities on marine protection efforts. After helping free an entangled whale shark in the Maldives, he co-founded the Fuvahmulah Marine Foundation to support local responses to entanglement and plastic impact.

His imagery has been recognised internationally, but inside In the Wake of Giants it is his relationship to the ocean that anchors the story. Jono enters water spaces with a quiet, deliberate presence, allowing behaviour, body language and movement to guide him. The film follows this way of being: attentive, respectful and tuned into the rhythms of marine life rather than directing or accelerating them.

Jono Allen swimming in the stunning Swallows Cave, Vava'u, Tonga, captured by Jordan Robbins, showcasing the cave's breathtaking beauty.
Jono Allen, conservationist, swimming under the waves of the ocean with a camera to document marine life and whale migration.

Tom Cannon

Man sitting on the beach in the shallow water, holding a professional camera, with a rocky and green hillside in the background.

Tom is a photographer and ocean advocate who believes that people protect what they feel connected to. Much of his work has unfolded along the Nyinggulu coast in Western Australia, where time in the water with sharks and other marine life reshaped how he understood fear, proximity and care.

He founded Protect What You Love in response to the way sharks were being cast as villains in public conversation, despite his own encounters revealing something different. His images and underwater work have been featured by National Geographic and other documentary platforms, but for Tom recognition is secondary to helping people see animals without threat or spectacle.

His practice centres on calm exposure. He invites viewers to feel before they decide, and to recognise that conservation is not only science or policy. It begins with connection.

A man with long hair and a beard in water, wearing a wetsuit, examining a blue underwater camera during sunset.
A free diver in black wetsuit and snorkel gear swimming underwater with a large sea turtle.
Lisa Thomas, Director and Producer of In the Wake of Giants, dedicated to documenting whale migration and ocean conservation.

  • PRODUCER | DIRECTOR

    Lisa is an accomplished director with nearly two decades of experience in the television and film industry, having worked across Australia, Canada, and the UK. Her diverse expertise spans all areas of broadcast, from filmmaking to directing live news bulletins, and she holds associate producer and writer credits. In 2024, Lisa co-founded Morii Media Productions, a film production company committed to creating cinematic stories that connect. A passionate storyteller, Lisa brings her love for photography and filmmaking into every project. She is also dedicated to conservation, volunteering for wildlife organizations such as Wires and Orrca. Her global perspective and commitment to impactful storytelling make her a respected leader in the industry.

Cassandra Hampson, Producer of In the Wake of Giants, committed to creating impactful stories on whale migration and ocean conservation.


  • PRODUCER | MARKETING

    Cassie holds a Bachelor of Business with a major in International Marketing and began her career in management and marketing before transitioning into television and production. With a strong foundation in both strategic thinking and creative storytelling, she has worked with major Australian television networks, contributing to high-profile productions. Cassie’s deep connection to the ocean stems from her upbringing and her grandfather, a pioneer in Australian wetsuit design, whose influence instilled a lifelong respect for the sea. A passionate traveler, Cassie has lived in Australia, Canada, France, and Denmark, experiences that have shaped her ability to craft compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.


  • CO-PRODUCER | W.A. + INDONESIA

    Honny is an Indonesian migrant living and working in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia. She was born in Makassar to Torajan parents, an ethnic group native to the South Sulawesi mountain region, and was raised with a rich tradition of storytelling. The Makassan people share a deep-rooted cultural legacy of traversing the oceans including a historic trading relationship with the Yolnu Nation of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory; the connections are still honoured and celebrated by both Indonesian and Australian communities today. This intersection of heritage and history informs Honny’s creative perspective and her commitment to cross-cultural storytelling.

    In 2023, Honny co-founded Sambal Films, a production company that aims to develop and share stories that are inspired by the communities that shape the Austral Pacific region. Drawing upon her experience in collaborating with groups such as Unicef, The United Nations, TED Talks, Minderoo Foundation as well as recently curating for CinefestOZ Film Festival, Honny is compelled to produce stories that bring culture and heritage to the forefront as a practice of truth-telling, knowledge sharing and healing.

Kyle Roepke Black and white image of a scuba diver holding an underwater camera on a boat.


  • CO-DIRECTOR | D.O.P.

    Kyle Roepke is an underwater Director of Photography and adventure storyteller with nine years of experience capturing impactful narratives in some of the world’s most remote and challenging environments.

    Born and raised in rural Oregon, Kyle’s deep connection to nature fuels his passion for visual storytelling. Specializing in underwater cinematography, expedition coverage, and conservation-focused documentaries, he combines artistic vision with technical expertise to bring unseen worlds to the surface.

    Kyle is a certified technical diver with advanced rebreather skills, enabling him to film in extreme underwater conditions and access environments few can reach. He has worked with globally recognized organizations such as the BBC, Discovery, and SeaLegacy, contributing to stories that inspire action and drive awareness. Known for precision, adaptability, and a deep respect for his subjects, Kyle is dedicated to creating visuals that reveal the beauty and fragility of our planet’s wildest places.

Noemi Merz Black and white photo of a woman sitting on rocks by the ocean, holding an underwater camera setup, with a diving mask around her neck.


  • ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

    Noemi is a marine biologist turned cinematographer, combining scientific expertise with a passion for conservation storytelling. With a master’s degree focused on the shark meat trade in Sri Lanka, she has worked extensively in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, documenting marine ecosystems and conservation efforts. Her filmmaking highlights both the challenges facing the ocean and the positive impact of sustainable solutions. Noemi’s deep understanding of marine environments and commitment to visually striking, impactful storytelling drive her mission to inspire awareness and action


  • CINEMATOGRAPHER | INDONESIA

    Prema is an Indonesia-based documentary filmmaker and cinematographer with more than eight years of experience crafting environmental and community-driven stories. His work explores the relationship between people, nature, and conservation, with a strong focus on visual storytelling rooted in authenticity and place.

    Throughout his career, Prema has collaborated with NGOs, foundations, and conservation initiatives across Indonesia, creating films that aim to raise awareness and inspire meaningful connection with the natural world. His approach combines observational filmmaking with a strong sensitivity to atmosphere, character, and environment.

    For In the Wake of Giants, Prema worked as a cinematographer across Indonesia, helping capture the film’s intimate moments, remote landscapes, and evolving relationship between culture, community, and the ocean.

Black and white photo of a woman smiling and holding a professional video camera on her shoulder, wearing a cap and casual clothing at the beach with a hill in the background.


  • CINEMATOGRAPHER

    Nicole is a National Geographic Explorer, professional camera operator, and communications specialist dedicated to telling stories of the natural world and our profound connection to it. Focused on expedition filmmaking, underwater animal behavior, and conservation visual storytelling, she creates work that blends fieldwork, data analysis, and filmmaking. Through her work, Nicole aims to inspire a deeper understanding and drive systemic change to protect people and the planet.

A person wearing sunglasses, a cap, and a patterned shirt holding a boom microphone at a rocky beach.


  • SOUND | INDONESIA

    Reza is a professional sound mixer based in Indonesia, with over 11 years of experience in the film, television, and commercial industry. He has worked on a wide range of projects, including feature films, web series, documentaries, and TV commercials.

    With strong expertise in location sound recording and extensive experience operating in RF-crowded environments, Reza is known for delivering clean, reliable audio even under challenging conditions. He is proficient with both analog and digital systems and prioritizes equipment reliability and efficient collaboration on set.

Black and white photo of a young woman with long wavy hair, wearing sunglasses on her head, a striped shirt, and a tank top underneath, standing outdoors near a beach with rocks in the background.


  • FIXER, PRODUCER | INDONESIA

    Based in Bali, Magdalena Sastra is a seasoned production professional with extensive experience across international and local projects. Her expertise spans documentaries, TV shows, TVCs, music videos, and digital platforms. Magdalena excels in coordinating all stages of production from pre-production planning and managing locations and permits, to directing field shoots and managing post-production.

    Her strong communication skills and organizational prowess make her an invaluable asset to any team navigating Indonesia’s diverse cultures and production environments.

    Her work has been featured on global platforms including National Geographic, ARTE TV, Channel News Asia, META, Google Indonesia, and more.


  • PRODUCTION COORDINATOR | INDONESIA

    Bayu is a production professional with more than 15 years of experience across television and creative media, including four years in TV news and over a decade with Fremantle Indonesia. Throughout his career, he has worked across a wide range of productions including talent competitions, cooking shows, game shows, dating series, web content, and digital productions for platforms such as HBO, VIU, MNC TV, and ANTV.

    In the Wake of Giants marks Bayu’s first documentary project. With a strong background in managing fast-paced productions, he brings a thoughtful and detail-oriented approach to the field, with a particular focus on how subjects are represented on screen and how visual storytelling can strengthen emotional connection within a story.

    Bayu supported the Indonesian production across logistics, coordination, and on-ground production management throughout filming in remote locations.

A person standing on rocks by the water holding and operating a drone with a remote control.


  • DRONE PILOT | INDONESIA

    Sherpa Joseph Stephano is a drone pilot and documentary filmmaker based in Bali, Indonesia. He began his career in 2016 with wedding videography before shifting to property videography in 2020. Now his focus is on documentaries, travelling across Indonesia capturing compelling and impactful stories.

    His work includes a Nyepi video for Ayana Museum (Saka Museum) with Overcrank Media, multiple documentary projects, and contributions to Ocean Culture Life’s coral restoration efforts in Makassar. He has also collaborated twice with Orca Aura on the Zayed Awards. Passionate about storytelling, he continues to capture impactful narratives across Indonesia.