Media Release
SAUGEEN PENINSULA, ONTARIO, June 2026 — Today, Inspired Planet Productions proudly announced that Yvonne Drebert, documentary filmmaker, freshwater explorer, and co-founder of Inspired Planet Productions, has been named a 2026 recipient of the Wayfinder Award presented by Kia, an honour extended annually to 15 visionaries whose outstanding achievements in science, conservation, education, technology and storytelling further the National Geographic Society’s mission to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.
Drebert is being recognized for her dedication to freshwater exploration and conservation in North America’s Great Lakes region. Through her work at Inspired Planet, she has helped pioneer the use of advanced underwater robotics to document rarely seen freshwater ecosystems and behaviours, including capturing the first known footage of wild lake whitefish spawning, co-leading the discovery of the shipwreck Africa in Lake Huron, and most recently exploring Superior Maximus, the deepest point in the Great Lakes, as part of an ongoing effort to reveal the hidden biodiversity of North America’s freshwaters.
“Receiving this award during the same week that we explored Superior Maximus, feels especially meaningful,” said Drebert. “Our team spends much of its time using underwater robots to venture into places that are rarely seen and often overlooked. Whether we’re documenting aquatic life, exploring shipwrecks, or diving to the deepest reaches of the Great Lakes, our goal is always the same: to reveal the wonder of the freshwater world and inspire people to care about it.”
Drebert’s work has reached audiences through award-winning documentaries, educational initiatives, museum exhibits, live-streamed underwater expeditions, and partnerships with scientists, conservation organizations, Indigenous communities, and public broadcasters. Today, Drebert is channeling the skills, knowledge, and exploration tools she has spent decades developing into her most ambitious project yet: Hidden Below: The Great Lakes. Currently in production, the feature-length wildlife documentary will take audiences beneath the surface of the Great Lakes and their tributaries to reveal a freshwater world every bit as dramatic, surprising, and awe-inspiring as any ocean.
While the Wayfinder Award presented by Kia recognizes an individual, Yvonne is quick to point out that meaningful exploration is always a team effort. She works most closely with her husband and co-founder of Inspired Planet, Zach Melnick. The husband-and-wife team have spent more than two decades bringing stories from the natural world to audiences around the globe.
“As Yvonne’s creative partner I’ve had the privilege of watching her pursue ideas that many people initially thought were impossible,” said Zach Melnick. “She has an incredible ability to combine curiosity, persistence, and storytelling in a way that inspires others to see freshwater differently.”
“Every step forward has been a shared effort. This award is a wonderful acknowledgement of the many scientists, partners, crew members, and supporters who have joined us on this journey,” said Drebert from the water as the team continues filming for Hidden Below: The Great Lakes, “I couldn’t be more excited for what comes next.”
To learn more about Yvonne Drebert’s work and the 2026 Wayfinder Award presented by Kia, please visit: https://news.nationalgeographic.org/national-geographic-society-honors-15-bold-changemakers-with-2026-wayfinder-award-presented-by-kia/
About Inspired Planet Productions: Inspired Planet Productions is an Ontario-based documentary production company dedicated to exploring and communicating the natural world through innovative storytelling. Founded by filmmakers Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick, the company specializes in science, conservation, and environmental documentaries that connect audiences with the hidden wonders of freshwater ecosystems. Their productions have been broadcast internationally and have helped advance scientific understanding while inspiring public engagement in conservation.
Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick reside in Miller Lake, Ontario.
