Kris |
|
Kristine McDivitt Tompkins, Founder & President
Kris is a conservationist and former CEO of Patagonia, Inc. Since 1993, she has worked with her husband, Douglas Tompkins, to create new national parks in Chile and Argentina. Together, they have protected more land than any other private individuals—over 2.2 million acres.
Kris grew up on a ranch in southern California and in Venezuela, and graduated from the College of Idaho. She led Patagonia, Inc. from its founding in 1973, and was with the company for 20 years. In the early 1990s, she retired from Patagonia, married Douglas Tompkins (founder of The North Face and Esprit), and moved to southern Chile to work full-time on conservation initiatives. In 2000, Kris founded Conservacion Patagonica, an NGO focused on creating national parks that protect and restore Patagonia’s wildlands, biodiversity, and communities. CP’s first project was the establishment of the 155,000-acre Monte Leon National Park, Argentina’s first coastal continental national park. In 2003, she and CP launched the Patagonia National Park project.
For their conservation work, the Tompkins have received accolades such as the Scenic Hudson’s Visionary Conservationist Award, the African Rainforest Conservancy’s New Species Award, and Latin Trade’s “Environmental Leader of the Year” award, and the American Alpine Club’s David Brower Award. |
|
Yvon |
|
Malinda |
|
Yvon and Malinda Chouinard
The Chouinards, the founders and owners of the clothing company Patagonia, Inc., are well known conservationists who have oriented their company to be a model for corporate responsibility. Yvon is a world-class fly fisherman, surfer, and alpinist. Malinda is a California architectural and tree preservationist. |
|
|
Rick |
|
Rick Ridgeway
The vice president of environmental initiatives at Patagonia, Inc., Rick Ridgeway is one of the world's foremost mountaineers and adventurers, and the author of numerous books. Before joining Patagonia, Rick was owner/president of Adventure Photo and Film, building it into the world's most recognized outdoor stock photo and film agency. Rick also leads the Freedom to Roam initiative in the U.S., working toward a National Wildlife Corridor System for species migration. |
|
Peter |
|
Peter Buckley
A kayaker, surfer, and environmental philanthropist, Peter began building institutions for the environmental community after a career as CEO of Esprit-Europe. He is a founder of the Center for Ecoliteracy, the Greenwood School, and the David Brower Center, a facility designed to inspire and support the activist community. |
|
Debbie |
|
Debbie Ryker
The former chief financial officer at Esprit de Corp., Debbie has served as finance director for all of Doug and Kris Tompkins's conservation projects during the past two decades. |
