Kris Tompkins: Guardian of the Natural World

My story of hopefulness is about a woman who's committed her life to helping us better understand the natural world and ensure it's secured for future generations. Kris Tompkins was CEO of Patagonia and, with her late husband, focused on securing large tracts of land, creating some of the largest protected areas in the world.

Kris didn't come from a traditional conservation career; she started in the private sector but always had great reverence and respect for the natural world. She worked with local communities and governments to help set up 13 national parks in Chile and Argentina, protecting almost 15 million acres.

What I most admire is her ability to communicate the importance of the natural world, our relationship with other life forms, and the need to understand and respect nature, so we truly want to protect it. These challenges are immense, with many interests against securing the natural world. Having an example like Kris, who's just got up and done it, is very inspiring.