KRIS TOMPKINS

Kris Tompkins is a leading conservationist and former CEO of Patagonia. Born in Southern California, she developed a deep love for nature during childhood visits to her great-grandfather’s ranch. After graduating from the University of Idaho, she returned to California in 1973 to help her friends Yvon and Malinda Chouinard launch Patagonia, where she eventually became CEO in 1980, shaping their innovative, anti-corporate model. In 1993, she retired and married her late husband Doug Tompkins, co-founder of The North Face and Esprit. Together, they channeled their entrepreneurial talents into conservation, protecting over 14 million acres across Chile and Argentina while establishing 17 national parks. A trailblazer in her field, Kris became the first conservationist to receive the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy and was named the United Nations’ Global Patron for Protected Areas in 2018. Today, she continues her advocacy as co-founder and President of Tompkins Conservation and President of the Board of Rewilding Chile.