Ami Vitale
Wild Optimist.
Nature Advocate.
NG Explorer at Large.
Ami Vitale is a National Geographic photographer, filmmaker, conservationist and nonprofit chief whose work explores humanity’s connection to wildlife and wild places.
Annie Griffiths
Storyteller.
Global Women’s Champion.
Revolutionary.
One of Nat Geo’s first female photographers, Annie Griffiths shares stories that illuminate resilience, compassion, and the power of women.
Beverly Joubert
Big Cat Hero.
Wildlife Filmmaker.
Survivor.
Beverly Joubert is a wildlife photographer and National Geographic Explorer who creates powerful images to inspire protection of Africa’s wild animals.
Brooke Shaden
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.
Colette Peri
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.
Cristina Mittermeier
Visual Activist.
Ocean Storyteller.
Earth Advocate.
Cristina Mittermeier is a photographer and marine biologist who uses visual storytelling to inspire ocean conservation and global environmental action.
Deanne Fitzmaurice
Pulitzer Prize-winner.
Eyewitness.
Trailblazer.
Deanne Fitzmaurice is a Pulitzer Prize–winning photojournalist and Nikon Ambassador who shares powerful stories of resilience and humanity.
Eliza Reid
Gender Equality Champ.
Former First Lady.
Bestselling Author.
Eliza Reid is a novelist and the former First Lady of Iceland who champions gender equality, civic leadership, and the power of seizing opportunity.
Ella Al-Shamahi
Paleoanthropologist.
2% Neanderthal.
Nerdy Stand-Up Queen.
Ella Al-Shamahi is a paleoanthropologist, evolutionary biologist, and BBC Host who reveals how creativity and adaptability made our species the one that survived.
Endia Beal
Bridge Builder.
Artist.
Cultural Visionary.
Endia Beal is a photographer and keen observer who uses art and storytelling to challenge stereotypes and celebrate Black women’s voices.
Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner
Mountaineering Icon.
Trailblazer.
Resilience Expert.
Legendary mountaineer Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner is the first woman to summit all 14 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen or porters.
Jean Fruth
Visual Storyteller.
Game Changer.
Champion for Opportunity.
Jean Fruth is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker, and visual storyteller who uses the power of sports to create visibility, expand opportunity, and inspire change around the world.
Jennifer Hayes
Aquatic Biologist.
Photojournalist.
Explorers Club Fellow.
Ocean scientist and photographer Jennifer Hayes has captured stories about every topic under the sea—from shipwrecks to coral kingdoms.
Koelle Simpson
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.
Leslie Dewan
Nuclear Engineer.
Clean Energy Champion.
Queen of Possibility.
Dr. Leslie Dewan is a nuclear engineer and innovator who champions clean energy solutions and the bold technologies shaping a more sustainable future.
Louise Leakey
Pilot.
Winemaker.
Fossil Hunter.
Dr. Louise Leakey, daughter of Richard and Meave Leakey, is a paleontologist, National Geographic Explorer at Large, Explorers Club Fellow, and Stony Brook professor exploring human origins.
Lynsey Addario
Conflict Photographer.
MacArthur Genius Grantee.
Pulitzer Prize Winner.
Lynsey Addario is a Pulitzer Prize–winning war photographer who documents conflict and human rights with unflinching courage and extraordinary compassion.
Margie Warrell
Courage Catalyst.
Change Driver.
Aussie.
Global Leadership Advisor Dr. Margie Warrell empowers audiences to close the gap between potential and performance, transforming fear into fuel for bold decisions and meaningful impact.
Melanie Curtis
Pro Skydiver.
Culture Shifter.
Champion for Women & Girls.
World-record skydiver and peak performance coach Melanie Curtis inspires audiences to embrace uncertainty, take bold action, and achieve what once seemed impossible.