Our Speakers are the dreamers, builders, makers, problem solvers and wizards among us. These changemakers share insights about the world around us, help us move forward thoughtfully, strive to solve big problems, bridge the distance between us, and lift us up, one story at a time.
Photo Ark Founder.
Modern Day Noah.
Man on a Mission.
Photo Ark founder Joel Sartore is a National Geographic photographer using the power of storytelling to inspire action for wildlife conservation throughh his ambitious Photo Ark project.
World Walker.
Writer as Witness.
Chief Listener
Paul Salopek is a two-time Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and founder of the Out of Eden Walk, a 24,000-mile journey retracing humanity’s ancient migration routes.
Rock Nerd.
Endlessly Curious.
Geothermal Scientist.
Andrés Ruzo is an Explorers Club Fellow, Nat Geo Explorer, and TED speaker whose work bridges science, exploration, and wonder.
Gender Equality Champ.
Former First Lady.
Novelist.
Eliza Reid is a novelist and the former First Lady of Iceland who champions gender equality, civic leadership, and the power of seizing opportunity.
Environmental Hero.
Entrepreneur.
Visionary.
Chad Pregracke is a CNN Hero and founder of Living Lands & Waters, leading one of the largest grassroots river cleanups in American history.
Reverent Witness.
Raised on Ice.
Wild.
Paul Nicklen is a photographer, filmmaker, and marine biologist whose imagery and stories serve to defend the natural world with reverence and urgency.
Chief Innovation Officer.
Biomedical Engineer.
World’s Best Minister.
David Sengeh is the Chief Minister of Sierra Leone - he’s also an inventor, scientist, and policymaker shaping Africa’s future through creativity and equity.
Wildlife Filmmaker.
Elephant Whisperer.
Emmy Award-Winner.
Bob Poole is an Emmy Award–winning filmmaker whose decades of work in Africa reveal the beauty and resilience of wildlife in a rapidly changing world.
Stop-Motion Wizard.
Imagination Igniter.
Creativity Champion.
Coco Peri is a stop-motion artist who uses handcrafted animation to bring brands, stories, and ideas to life in playful and unexpected ways.
Time Tripper.
Fossil Hunter.
Indiana Bones.
Renowned paleontologist Paul Sereno, Head of The Fossil Lab at the University of Chicago, continues to break new ground in dinosaur discovery.
Self-portrait Artist.
Creativity Catalyst.
Grief Healer.
Brooke Shaden is a fine art photographer who uses mixed-media self-portraiture to explore vulnerability, resilience, and the human psyche.
Reality Bender.
2% Chance Taker.
Courage Champion.
Dean Otto is a business strategist and superhero whose life was forever changed after a catastrophic accident left him paralyzed with only a 2% chance of ever walking again.
Unleashed Chief.
Chief Wrangler.
Dr. Dolittle.
Vincent J. Musi is a former National Geographic photographer whose witty, empathetic portraits capture the emotional depth of animals.
Horse Whisperer.
EQ Catalyst.
Somatic Healer.
Koelle Simpson is a leading voice in equine-assisted therapy, recognized for advancing the field through innovative, trauma-informed practice.
Special Correspondent.
Eyewitness.
Pulitzer Prize-Winner.
John Moore is a Pulitzer Prize–winning photojournalist and Special Correspondent for Getty Images whose work documents some of the most urgent human stories of our time.
Underwater Photographer
Whale Whisperer.
Mainer.
Brian Skerry is a National Geographic Photography Fellow whose immersive ocean storytelling reveals the intelligence, beauty, and fragility of marine life.
Indigenous Storyteller.
Culture Keeper.
Worldview Shaper.
Kiliii Yuyan is an Indigenous Nanai and Chinese American photographer, filmmaker, and author exploring the intersection of culture, conservation, and climate.
Culture Keeper.
Far East Expert.
Early Adopter.
Michael Yamashita is a National Geographic photographer and storyteller renowned for his deep cultural exploration of Asia.
Dog Whisperer.
Empath.
Survivor.
Ben Moon is a photographer, filmmaker, and cancer survivor whose work explores resilience, adventure, and the profound healing bond between humans and dogs.
Visual Activist.
Ocean Storyteller.
Global Conservationist.
Cristina Mittermeier is a photographer and marine biologist who uses visual storytelling to inspire ocean conservation and global environmental action.
Technology & Healthcare Visionary.
Bestselling Author.
AI Futurist.
Jamie Metzl is a tech futurist and bestselling author who explores how artificial intelligence is changing how we work, play and live.
Globetrotter.
Blue Zones Documentarian.
Brand Wizard.
David McLain is an acclaimed photographer and filmmaker whose work with the Blue Zones Project explores the science, culture, and daily rituals behind long, healthy lives.
Nature Whisperer.
Illuminator.
Mad Scientist.
Anand Varma is a National Geographic photographer and founder of WonderLab, a creative studio and learning space in Berkeley, that explores science through high-tech imaging.
Big Wall Climber.
Best-Selling Author.
The North Face Athlete.
Mark Synnott is an acclaimed climber, adventurer, and bestselling author whose work explores the outer edges of human endurance.
Big Picture Guy.
Day in the Life Creator.
Freedom Fighter.
Rick Smolan is a visionary photographer and storyteller best known as the creator of the Day in the Life series and revealing the human story behind a rapidly changing world.
Giant Screen Storyteller.
Wonder Seeker.
Risk Taker.
Bryan Smith is a filmmaker and adventurer whose cinematic storytelling brings science and exploration to life.
Tiger Champion.
Hollywood Hero.
Big Cat Herder.
Steve Winter is a National Geographic photographer renowned for his dramatic images of big cats in some of the world’s most challenging environments.
Chief Innovator.
Time Capsule Creator.
Photographic Visionary.
Stephen Wilkes is a fine art photographer best known for his groundbreaking Day to Night images, which compress 24 hours into a single frame.
Left Seater.
Trailblazer.
Afghan Refugee.
Shaesta Waiz is a pioneering pilot and STEM advocate who made history as the first Afghan American—and at the time, the youngest woman—to fly solo around the world.
Adaptive.
Life After Coach.
Mr. Irrelevant.
Former NFL linebacker and founder of the Adaptive Training Foundation. After a career-ending injury and dark chapter that followed, David Vobora reinvented his life around service.
