Chris Burkard
Chris Burkard is an accomplished explorer, photographer, creative director, speaker, and author. Traveling throughout the year to pursue the farthest expanses of Earth, Burkard works to capture stories that inspire humans to consider their relationship with nature, while promoting the preservation of wild places everywhere.
Layered by outdoor, travel, adventure, surf, and lifestyle subjects, Burkard is known for images that are punctuated by untamed, energized landscapes and peak moments of adventure. He has accumulated an audience of over one million followers to become a globally recognized social influencer.
Burkard is often central in synthesizing the creative projects he is involved in, across stakeholders. His holistic and visionary perspective has earned him opportunities to work on global, prominent campaigns with Fortune 500 clients, appear as a TED speaker, develop specialty product lines, teach national and international photography workshops and publish a collection of books, including a children’s book. Along with his team, Burkard is based out of his full-scale production studio and art gallery near his hometown in Central Coast California.
At the age of 30, Burkard has established himself as a global presence and influencer, accomplishing a prolific portfolio, connecting people from around the world and producing some of the most recognized creative work of our time.
3 words to describe Nature?
Beautiful. Vast. Wild.
3 things Nature taught you?
Patience
Freedom
Joy
3 most treasured Nature spots?
Yosemite
Highlands of Iceland
Pacific Ocean
I owe a lot to each of these places.
When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel...?
Calm
When you see a forest, it makes you feel...?
Excited
When you see a volcano, it makes you feel...?
Disbelief. . . I cant even believe they are real. Did a trip flying around the volcanos in the Aleutian Chain. Still think I'm coming down from that experience..
When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel...?
Excited, most of my favorite moments of my life have occured in that 30 minute window before and after sunset!
When you hear thunder, it makes you feel...?
Relaxed. Time for a good book.
When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel...?
I don’t enjoy wind. It’s the most jarring of the elements. I'm more tired after being outside in the wind all day then if it was raining, sunny, or snowing.
Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person?
The ocean will always be where I am most comfortable. I grew up in a small beach town on the California coast more known for it's clam chowder then waves but I spent my whole childhood in the ocean. It will always be an important part of my life.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
9. Only thing above is my family.
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
I was lucky enough to grow up on the central coast of California which lends itself to a life lived outdoors. My first memory of being outdoors is for sure days spent on the beach with my family in Pismo. That’s where my fascination with the ocean began and why I started trekking up and down the coast in search of waves, which eventually led to searching along coastlines around the world!. I remember my mom paddling me out on a boogie board pushing me off into the water and saying the ocean is your friend. I was always scared but I loved the beach.
Greg Smith
Greg Smith is CEO of Icebreaker part of VF Corporation. Prior to this, Greg was General Manager for Icebreaker NZA (Australasia) having joined the company in 2013.
Greg has worked in a number of retail positions over the past 25 years and as GM for NZA was a key part of the Global Executive team spearheading the expansion of the traditionally wholesale led business into the new omni channel consumer led world we now live in.
Greg’s role gives him a unique opportunity to oversee the ongoing profitability and growth of wholesale and eCom side of the business along with retail.
His philosophy on success is simple. Recruit great people, give them clear responsibility and accountabilities and let them win.
Born and raised in New Zealand, when Greg is not in the market, he can be found catching the best surf breaks, playing football, or running around with his wife keeping up with the keen pursuits of their five children.
3 words to describe Nature?
Everything. Powerful. Beautiful.
3 things Nature taught you?
Humility
Appreciation
Perspective - it makes you realize how connected we are to something bigger, it helps you understand the role that we play in the Universe. We are One with the Universe.
3 most treasured Nature spots?
Cardrona, New Zealand
Mangawhai Heads, New Zealand
The Catlins, New Zealand
When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel…?
Energized
When you see a forest, it makes you feel…?
Calm
When you see a volcano, it makes you feel…?
Small
When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel...?
Satisfied
When you hear thunder, it makes you feel…?
Excited
When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel...?
Scared
Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person?
Ocean
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
10, it brings me peace, wellness and happiness, but I also can cope without it. I just need to return to nature every time I need to replenish myself, after a lot of traveling or working for long periods in the city.
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
I was skiing with friends on Mt Ruapehu - the conditions were great, the weather superb and everybody was having fun. Then a series of small events led us into a really unfortunate situation and suddenly we found ourselves fighting for our lives. I didn’t know if I was going to survive, it was really scary, but it was also an extremely powerful experience. It taught me about humility and perspective, how you can enjoy nature one minute, feel like you are heaven, then within a blink of an eye, you struggle to survive. Never take anything for granted.
Zach Rabinor
ZACH RABINOR was seduced early on by Mexico's vibrant cultures, towering peaks, thundering surf and intoxicating cuisine. As the Founder, President and CEO of award winning travel company Journey Mexico, Zach oversees all aspects of the company’s operation and takes special interest and delight in the details of product development, marketing, and business development. Under Zach’s leadership, Journey Mexico has achieved dynamic growth as evidenced by their inclusion as an Inc. 5000 Company consecutively from 2009 through 2016, and has earned top honors and recognition including: National Geographic's Best Tour Operators on Earth, National Geographic “50 Tours of a Lifetime”, Travel & Leisure Best Adventure Trips, Travel & Leisure Best Adventure Outfitters, and The New York Times Adventure Guide. Zach has been personally recognized as a top expert by leading luxury travel publications: Conde Nast Traveller Top Travel Specialist 2010-2017, Conde Nast Traveller Top Villa Specialist 2011-2013; and Travel & Leisure A-List 2010-2017 as well as being named a Trusted Travel Expert on Wendy Perrin’s inaugural Wow List 2014 and each year subsequently (2015-2017). Zach is a Regional Member of the World Travel and Tourism Council, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oceanic Society; he has been sought out in the press on matters relating to Mexico, tourism, and travel including interviews in: Forbes and NPR and a host of other prominent publications.
When not designing new itineraries or leading exploratory expeditions, Zach can be found searching for waves and Mexico’s best ceviche on his beloved Pacific Coast. He lives in Puerto Vallarta with his wife Rebecca and their two sons Sam and Nat.
3 words to describe Nature?
Vast, Powerful, Awe-inspiring
3 things Nature taught you?
Humility, Self Reliance, Faith, Respect
3 most treasured Nature spots?
Ocean, Mountains, Rivers
When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel...?
Alive, Small, Respectful, Hopeful, Dreamy, Spiritual, Complete
When you see a forest, it makes you feel...?
Peaceful, Quiet, Ephemeral
When you see a volcano, it makes you feel...?
Alert, Curious, Wondrous, Ambitious
When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel...?
Inspired, Peaceful, Contemplative, Romantic
When you hear thunder, it makes you feel...?
Excited, Suspenseful, Small
When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel...?
Desolate, Watchful, Pensive
Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person?
Ocean
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
10+
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
The first time I surfed through a blizzard I was thrilled, humbled, elated, and terrified; I knew I would never live anywhere far from the sea.