Where Bold Ideas and Brave Leaders Unite for a Thriving Planet
SUN VALLEY FORUM
For a decade, the Sun Valley Forum has been where bold leaders come together to shape a thriving future for people and the planet. Founded and curated by Aimée Christensen, the Forum convenes changemakers from business, government, philanthropy, science, and the arts to accelerate solutions for a regenerative, resilient world.
Each year in the extraordinary landscape of Sun Valley, Idaho, this vibrant community gathers to explore transformative ideas and partnerships, grounded in reverence for nature, informed by Indigenous wisdom, and powered by principled capital, innovation, and collaboration. Together, we dive into the systems that sustain life: food, energy, nature, culture, and capital. We unlock pathways to restore balance and abundance for all.
Founded in Sun Valley in 2015 in response to wildfires, drought and threats to energy and food security, the Sun Valley Forum was launched by Aimée Christensen to build resilience from the ground up, locally to globally. From its first gathering with keynote speaker U.S. Senator Cory Booker, the Forum has brought together leaders across sectors to share bold ideas and spark catalytic action. Since then, it has helped launch transformative projects from Idaho to Fiji.
In this decisive decade for our planet, the Sun Valley Forum stands as a beacon of hope and action, where courage meets creativity, and where together, we forge the future we know is possible.
The Forum is more than a conference. It's an experience of connection and co-creation, from adventures in nature and immersive storytelling to plant-powered meals and catalytic collaborations. Participants leave renewed and reconnected, with new allies, ideas, and purpose.
We don’t just exchange ideas. We unlock futures.
PLANETARY BOUNDARIES AS A COMPASS
The Five Pillars
This pillar ensures our efforts are guided by the science of Earth's life-support systems. The Forum champions innovations that protect and restore the nine planetary boundaries to ensure all life thrives within Earth's safe operating space for humanity.
.jpg)
RESILIENCE ROOTED
IN PLACE
The Forum is grounded in a deep respect for nature and community. It recognizes that true resilience begins with honoring the land and learning from place-based and Indigenous knowledge, strengthening local systems while scaling global impact.
.jpg)
CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION
The Forum is grounded in a deep respect for nature and community. It recognizes that true resilience begins with honoring the land and learning from place-based and Indigenous knowledge, strengthening local systems while scaling global impact.
STORYTELLING AS STRATEGY
The Sun Valley Forum blends emotional resonance with practical tools. Storytelling opens hearts and engages us to take action and drive impact where it matters most.
CATALYTIC CAPITAL
FOR NATURE
Financing the future demands more than traditional investment. It calls for catalytic capital that unlocks systemic change. This pillar champions bold financial innovation that values nature, bridges public and private resources, and accelerates regeneration. Together we transform energy and food systems to safeguard biodiversity and the climate, channeling resources toward life itself, building a secure, resilient world.
PAST FEATURED SPEAKERS
FUTURE LEADERS
A global cohort of leaders shaping the future of nature, culture, and capital.
Take a look at our groundbreaking fireside conversations that bring together some of the most thoughtful voices of our time, leaders willing to speak candidly, listen deeply, and lead with intention.
Who We Are
.png)
A Blueprint for a More Beautiful Future with Nathalie Kelley, Actress and Climate Activist + Bill Weir, CNN Chief Climate Correspondent
Fireside Chats
“Going Purpose”: Earth as the Shareholder. A conversation on how new business models can center the planet, doing well by doing good Jenna Johnson, President, Patagonia, Inc. Interviewed by Aimée Christensen
Rooted in Culture: Reclaiming Our Connection to Our Planet Through People with Kristy Drutman, Founder and CEO of Green Jobs Board + Chase Cain, Meteorologist and National Climate Reporter at NBC News
Building Solutions with Sleeves Rolled Up: Kat Taylor, Co-CEO, Beneficial State Bank. Interviewed by Aimée Christensen
Better, Faster, Cheaper: Insights from an Innovator Delivering the Energy We Need Now with Dr. Tom Buttgenbach, Founder & CEO, 1st Avenue Capital, and Leslie Kaufman, Climate and Environment Journalist, Bloomberg Green
Over a
Decade
Of
Impact
2000+
changemakers driving impact worldwide.
$12T
in the room, mobilizing capital for nature.
18
countries, uniting for transformative solutions.
160
next-gen young leaders driving bold innovation.
20+
news anchors and journalists amplifying the conversation.
13
Indigenous leaders guiding with ancestral knowledge.
16+
government officials shaping the future of climate action.
550+
CEO’s of international organizations
