Rebecca Martin—Founder and President, Exploration Connections—has spearheaded pivotal programs at National Geographic and has cultivated extensive networks of explorers during her career. She is widely recognized as a leader in empowering explorers around the world, and is excited to bring her deep experience to this new venture.

As Senior Director of Explorer Programs at National Geographic, she oversaw high-profile explorers—including Sylvia Earle, Robert Ballard, and Mike Fay—among many others. In addition, she significantly expanded National Geographic’s prestigious Awards Program, and developed a mentorship program tailored for explorers.

As founding and longtime director of National Geographic’s Expeditions Council, Rebecca developed and led the organization’s first storytelling grant program supporting many cutting-edge exploration and conservation-based projects, including Mike Fay’s Africa Megatransect, as well as Tim Laman and Ed Scholes’ Birds of Paradise project, and Jim Balog’s Extreme Ice Survey. Her work involved close collaboration with explorers, storytellers and National Geographic program and product groups to develop compelling, impact-driven media content. Under her leadership, the Council awarded nearly 800 grants at a total of $24 million for expeditions and fieldwork around the world.

In addition, Rebecca created and directed the Young Explorers Program at National Geographic to provide grants to people ages 18 to 25 for their exceptional fieldwork in exploration, conservation and storytelling. In tandem, she developed the Young Explorers University Workshops—held across North America and globally—to advise students in designing strong field projects, and engage them in the excitement of exploration. Nearly 800 Young Explorers grants were awarded under her 11 years of direction: The program resulted in remarkable professional development of many grant recipients, including completion of graduate degrees and highly successful careers launched in photography, film, journalism, field science and conservation.

Recognized in 2011 by Outside magazine on “The Power List” of the 25 most influential people in the outdoor world—alongside Yvon Chouinard, Melinda Gates and Conrad Anker— Rebecca serves on the Board of Directors of Machik and Telluride Mountainfilm, as well as the Gunung Palung Orangutan Project, Around the World in 80 Fabrics and Riparia (Canada), and on the advisory board of New York WILD Film Festival. She was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology. Rebecca has served on the juries of Mountainfilm in Telluride and the Banff Mountain Festivals, as well as the Graz (Austria), Trento (Italy), Autrans (France), and Bilbao Mendi (The Basque Country/Spain) film festivals. She has presented to audiences internationally on the subject of exploration. She was recently honored as one of the inaugural class of change makers for the new Residents Program at Eaton House and Workshop in Washington, DC.

Rebecca’s work has taken her to many parts of the world, including from the Black Sea in Turkey and the Basque Country in Spain, to Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal, Japan, Egypt, Gabon, Peru, China, Poland, Portugal, France, Italy, Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, and Canada. A National Fellow of the Explorers Club, she holds a M.A. in International Education from The George Washington University and a B.A. in Literature. When she is not traveling, she resides in Washington, D.C. on the edge of Rock Creek Park and the National Zoo, where coyotes howl after dusk and lions roar in the pre-dawn.

Mary Anne Potts—Editor at Large—has been editing, writing, and producing stories about outdoor adventure and exploration for 20 years. She stays closely connected with the world's top adventurers, explorers, filmmakers, photographers, and writers to create award-winning storytelling about adventure and exploration. Her stories have appeared in National Geographic, Men's Journal, Red Bull, and National Geographic Traveler.

Jennifer Reek—Editor at Large—has spent more than two decades serving as a senior editor for National Geographic and Audubon magazines, and as a reporter/researcher for The Sciences and Discover magazines. She has worked closely with a host of renowned scientists, ecologists, authors and photographers during her career. She holds a PhD from the University of Glasgow in literature and divinity studies, and lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Tim Ward is a public speaking coach and author of ten books. He has worked with hundreds of presenters, mostly in the environment and international development arena, as well as National Geographic explorers. His books include The Master Communicator’s Handbook, Virtually Speaking—Communicating at a Distance, as well as the travel narratives Zombies on Kilimanjaro and What the Buddha Never Taught. He lives in Maryland with his wife, Teresa.

EXPLORATION CONNECTIONS ADVISORY BOARD

• David Braun
  Veteran Journalist; Former VP, National Geographic Digital Media

• Dr. Kenny Broad
  Director, Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy at University of Miami; Chief Exploration Officer, Virtual Wonders; 2011 National Geographic Explorer of the Year

• Susan Kelly
  Director, Global Briefing; Creative Director, Jackson Wild

• Juan Martinez
  VP, Children and Nature Network; Youth and Community Leadership Fellow, Aspen Institute

• Bernadette McDonald
  Award-winning Author; Former VP, Banff Mountain Festivals/Banff Centre

• Faith Model
  Writer and Co-Chair, Bobby Model Charitable Fund

• Carsten Peter
  National Geographic photographer, World Press Award Recipient

• Dr. Losang Rabgey
  Executive Director, Machik

• Cliff Ransom
  Regional Executive Editor, Americas/Nature Research Group

• Nancy Rosenthal
  Founder and CEO, New York WILD Film Festival

• Pat Tackle

  Consultant, Pattackle Designs

• Lisa Truitt
  Founder and President, Think Creative

• Anand Varma
  National Geographic photographer and Media Innovation Fellow

• Tim Ward
  Co-owner, Intermedia Communications Training, Inc.; Publisher, Changemakers Books