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To inspire goodwill toward improving the quality of life and sustaining healthy environments in the world’s mountain regions, the Mountain Partnership nominates well-known personalities to champion the cause of sustainable mountain development.
Currently, the Mountain Partnership has ten goodwill ambassadors:
Luis Benitez was appointed Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador during the Sixth Global Meeting in Aspen, Colorado in September 2022. Based in Denver, Colorado, Luis Benitez is the Vice President for government affairs and global impact at the VF Corporation, a USD 23 billion holding company that includes some of the outdoor industry’s most iconic brands.
Prior to this role, Luis has dedicated his career to transforming the outdoor industry into a powerful force for economic development, conservation and stewardship, education and wellness. Before joining the VF Corporation, Luis was appointed by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper to lead the newly established Outdoor Recreation Industry Office in 2015. During this time, the state’s outdoor economy grew from USD 28 billion to USD 65 billion.
As Goodwill Ambassador, Luis is committed to focusing on connecting people with the outdoors, helping to create a more equitable and sustainable world. Driving community impact and developing collaborative ways to inform and advance transformative, systemic change for the betterment of people and planet is central to Luis’ work.
In 2005, Luis helped create the non-profit organization, Trekking For Kids, focusing on service-based expeditions allowing participants to climb and trek while teaching them about local issues like housing and healthcare for disadvantaged youth around the world. To date, expeditions have been led around the world connecting people with the outdoors.
His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang was appointed a Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador in May 2015. Based in Ladakh, India, he is known for his commitment to the environment, education, historical research and cultural preservation as well as his pragmatic approach to sustainable development projects. He has also traveled and taught abroad, visiting many research centres and universities.
In accepting this appointment, His Holiness pledged to be not only a goodwill ambassador of the mountain region where he was born and now lives, but also to give voice to the common issues and challenges faced by mountain communities around the world.
About His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang
His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang is the 37th throne holder of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage and 7th reincarnation of the Chetsang Rinpoche and is a manifestation of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara). He leads many innovative sustainable development projects in the remote Hindu Kush Himalayan communities of India (Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh), Bhutan and Nepal; among these projects, his Go Green & Go Organic initiative that promotes sustainable forest and agricultural practices in remote mountain areas and his Ice Stupa/Artificial Glacier project are especially worth highlighting.
He is a member of The Faiths for Earth Campaign which brings together faith leaders (Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Indigenous, Islamic, Jain, Jewish, Shinto, Sikh, Taoist and Zoroastrian) from around the world to call on heads of states to respond urgently to the threats of climate change by ensuring transition to renewable energy by 2050.
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Pianist and composer Ludovico Einaudi has a special connection with the mountains.
Einaudi says, "Today, mountains and their glaciers are undergoing irreversible transformations resulting from climatic upheavals linked to human action. These are transformations that affect us: the water and energy that we use daily and so many of the foods we eat come from mountains.
"Through my music, I can offer inspiration and messages that can help support important causes. I have now decided to support the mountain cause, becoming an FAO Mountain Partnership Ambassador and dedicating my concert on the 11 December to mountains.
"Science tells us that climate change is a devastating reality and mountains are at the center of it. They regulate life on earth and are a guarantee of life for us and for future generations. Let us save the mountains to save the planet and ourselves."
About Ludovico Einaudi
Einaudi was born in Turin on 23 November 1955. Perhaps it was his mother, an amateur pianist, who gave him the first impulse to music, planting the seeds for what would become a fruitful, illustrious career. He began to study music at the Conservatory of Turin and graduated with a diploma in composition under Azio Corghi at the Conservatory of Milan. Immediately he began post-graduate studies with Luciano Berio, with whom he worked as assistant, and later with Karlheinz Stockhausen. He then spent several years composing for the ballet, the cinema and the theatre.
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Arjun Gupta was appointed a Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador in December 2017 during the fifth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership. Based in San Francisco, California, United States of America, he is the founder and Chief Believer of TeleSoft Partners, a special situations venture capital firm focused on high-tech and energy value chain companies. In addition to being a successful tech entrepreneur, Arjun is a creative leader that identifies with mountains.
As an avid skier, mountaineer and environmentalist, the mountains have played an important role in Arjun’s life. “In my teens, we used to be taken to the mountains by our school headmaster to learn basic life skills like self-confidence and teamwork. Thereafter we graduated and I became a Liaison Officer with the Indian Mountaineering Federation, which helped me see the extraordinary ecosystems, the flora, the fauna and the biodiversity of mountain ecosystem,” he said. “Now it’s time to give back.”
About Arjun Gupta
Arjun Gupta has over 20 years of experience working with technology companies in venture capital, consulting and design engineering roles. In 2001, Arjun also started the Arjun Gupta Family Foundation to support projects in education, medical research, performing arts, the environment and other community endeavours in Africa, India and the USA. The foundation has supported over 90 projects to date.
In addition to building companies, Arjun is a passionate outdoorsman. Over the last 30 years, his key expeditions include – (a) the North Pole to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Peary reaching the pole, (b) a scuba expedition with National Geographic to chart the Millennium Atoll in the South Pacific, (c) six Himalayan expeditions to peaks over 6 000 metres, (d) Arctic Expedition for Climate Change, (e) Conservation and Human Well-being in Africa, (f) Polar Bear and Grizzly tracking safaris in Alaska, (g) Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and Cotopaxi and Chimborazo in Ecuador, (h) New York and Chicago marathons, etc.
He has an MBA from Stanford University, an MS and BS in Computer Science (Phi Beta Kappa) from Washington State University, and a BA (Honors) in Economics from St Stephens College (India). He is a Henry Crown Fellow and a Trustee of the Aspen Institute, and an Advanced Leadership Fellow from Harvard University.
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Stella Jean – an Italian-Haitian fashion designer – was appointed Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador on International Mountain Day 2021 in recognition of her work with mountain women artisans from Kyrgyzstan.
For many years, Stella Jean has been collaborating on collections with women from developing countries in Asia, Africa, South America and the Caribbean. The focus of her work is to promote fashion’s potential to provide significant opportunities for decent work for both men and women around the world, while ensuring important cultural knowledge does not disappear forever.
Jean was introduced by the Mountain Partnership and the Women’s Committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to the work of a women’s collective in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Called Topchu, the artisan group created carpets, clothes, silk scarves and wall hangings using traditional Kyrgyz feltwork. With support from the Mountain Partnership Products Initiative, a project funded by Italy and implemented by FAO, she started a collaboration with the women to produce and market their products. Together, they found a way to transform a traditional Shyrdak motif typically used for carpets into a pattern for contemporary clothing. Ultimately, they created a collection that was displayed at Milan Fashion Week in February 2021, to critical acclaim.
Now the women are further building their economic autonomy, preserving their traditions and at the same time gaining a place in the global market. They have been able to boost their incomes, support their children’s education and expand their vegetable gardens.
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Dilshodbegim Khisravova was born and raised in the Pamir mountains in Tajikistan and has been a champion for mountain communities since she was a young girl.
Khisravova has been volunteering with the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) since she was 13. At that time, a mudslide had struck her town, destroying 82 households. She decided to join a community emergency response team (CERT) through AKAH. CERTs are volunteer groups that capitalize on the local volunteers’ knowledge of the terrain, language and culture and train them to be first responders in the event of a disaster. She has been trained by AKAH to provide first aid, and she is experienced in camp management and coordination.
Today, she leads a volunteer CERT. She is passionate about protecting mountains and mountain life, as well as encouraging women to speak up and lead.
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World renowned mountaineer, Reinhold Messner was appointed the first ambassador of Mountain Partnership in 2012. Throughout his life, Reinhold Messner has championed the cause of mountains around the world. His love and passion for protecting mountain environment and cultures has inspired him to establish pioneering museum dedicated to mountain cultures.
Reinhold Messner has been playing pivotal role in raising awareness about the importance of mountains for sustainable development. Starting with an exclusive message on mountains for the Mountain Partnership at Rio+20, the world famous climber has provided relentless support to global advocacy on mountains by through several initiatives such as documentaries, exhibitions, books etc. aiming to educate people about remarkably diversity of mountain cultures and the urgent need to sustainably development the fragile ecosystems.
“I think each of us has different emotions meeting the mountains and we have to give to all the lovers of the mountains the possibility to have their own experiences when they approach mountains,” says Reinhold Messner.
About Reinhold Messner
Born in the Italian Alps, Messner became well-known mountaineer by successfully climbing all 14 of the world’s mountains that exceed an elevation of 8 000 metres. Starting at an early age, his love for reaching the heights of mountains took him to breathtaking adventures on all major mountain peaks of the world. A strong advocate of Alpine style of mountaineering, Messner has solo climbed some of the hardest peals peaks including in the Karakuram. He has documented his adventures in several books including an autobiography inspiring climbers across the globe. Currently, Messner spends most of his time at the Messner Mountain Museum in the Northern Italy.
Jake Norton is a world famous climber, photographer, filmmaker, philanthropist and an inspirational speaker. He was appointed Mountain Partnership Ambassador in 2014 during the International Mountain Day celebrations held on 11 December at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States of America, where he made his first official speech and presented a short extract of his upcoming feature film on Mount Kenya as a Water Tower.
Through his inspirational talks, Norton has stimulated interest about mountain issues in thousands of people around the world. His films, photos, workshops and presentations involve emotional and personal stories from his expeditions. Since April 2015 he has been actively fundraising campaigning and working in reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of Nepal’s earthquake.
For Norton, mountains are a cornerstone of humanity. “They are, indeed, the magic in this world. It is high time we recognize this with action,” he says.
About Jake Norton
Norton was born in Colorado and first started climbing in 1986, at the age of 12. He has climbed the most challenging mountains in the world, including Mount Everest which he has summited three times. He is the only person to have visited and documented the pre-World War camps on Everest. He also took five expeditions to the Peruvian Andes, summited the continental highpoints of Mount McKinley in Alaska, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and Aconcagua in Argentina, and climbed Mount Rainier 88 times. He took these expeditions for both climbing and photography purposes.
Norton is a leading photographer for First Ascent expeditions. His pictures have appeared in various national and international publications such as National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, Oprah, Outside Magazine, and Forbes Magazine, while his video footage has been used in various documentaries such as High and Hollowed: Everest 1963 and the Water Tower. In 1999, Norton was a part of the expedition that discovered the remains of George Mallory, who took part in three expeditions to Mount Everest.
In 2011, Norton started Challenge21, a project aimed at raising funds to resolve the water and sanitation crisis by engaging 2.1 million people worldwide. His philanthropic undertakings have enabled him to raise some USD 300 000 for his non-profit partner, Water for People. Norton also serves as Director of the American Mountaineering Museum and is a part of the International Advisory Council for The Mountain Institute. Norton currently works at MountainWorld Productions which he started in 1999.
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Nepalese trail runner and sky runner Mira Rai was appointed a Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador during the virtual International Mountain Day celebrations on Friday, 11 December 2020.
Mira Rai is the winner of 2017 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and is the founder of Mira Rai Initiative, a platform to empower trail runners in Nepal, especially female, and promote trail running as the mainstream adventure sport in Nepal. This initiative aims to give young female athletes an opportunity to chase their dreams and defy the challenges that hold them back. Mira Rai Initiative has been working with the Hong Kong Trail Running group since 2018 to run an Exchange and Empower programme that aims to provide young talented female runners the opportunity to focus on athletic training, education and their professional development.
The appointment of Mira Rai as Mountain Partnership Ambassador on International Mountain Day will help increase awareness of the vital importance of mountains. As a remarkable athlete, an avid advocate for gender equality and an emblem of positivity and possibility, Mira Rai’s story inspires us. Her appointment and her role provide opportunity to others, specifically young women from disadvantaged or underprivileged communities. Her work resonates with the mission of the Mountain Partnership, the UN voluntary alliance dedicated to improve the lives of mountain peoples – among the world's most vulnerable and marginalized – and to protect mountain environments around the world.
“Mountains have always played a major role in my trail running journey. However, they play a key role in our entire global system. Without these beautiful mountains and their environment, there would simply be no life. Pollution, climate change and other insensitive human activities have endangered it and all those who depend on them. We must take action now to preserve and protect our mountains and their ecosystems,” says Mira Rai.
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Nikki Santos is the Executive Director of the Aspen Institute's Center for Native American Youth. She was appointed Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador during the Sixth Global Meeting in Aspen, Colorado in September 2022 in recognition of her passion to support and uplift Indigenous Peoples culture and ways of life.
Nikki is a member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and is of the Red Bird Clan. A direct descendant of Chief Spokane, Chief Ignace, Chief Kamayakin and Chief Leschi, Nikki takes pride standing on the shoulders of her ancestors and honouring the foundations they have laid. Dedicated to supporting Native youth and youth-led programming, Nikki currently serves as the Executive Director at the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute.
Within this role, Nikki leads advocacy, communications, partnership development and collaborative strategies to promote greater inclusion of Native American youth. Her biggest inspiration comes from her daughter, Aplnmarimn’tsu’tn (Carries the Medicine), and being a vessel for her grandmothers to uplift the next generation. Nikki maintains her culture through language, ceremony, powwows and honouring teachings passed on to her.
Sasha DiGiulian is a renowned figure in the climbing world, boasting numerous accolades such as being the Female Overall World Champion and holding the panAmerican Champion title for an unprecedented 10 years. She is a three-time US National Champion and achieved the remarkable feat of being the first North American woman and the third woman globally to climb grade 5.14d, (9a). Sasha has traveled to over 50 countries, completing 30+ First and First Female Ascents, including challenging Big Walls of 5.14 grades.
Sasha believes in the transformative power of sports for youth and female development. As a woman thriving in a traditionally male-dominated space, she advocates for equality in sport, access, pay and treatment of female athletes. Through her initiatives like Female Focused Adventures, which focuses on storytelling in the female adventure space and empowers female content creators, Sasha aims to enhance the access and experiences of women in outdoor activities.
Sasha's dedication to empowering women in the outdoors has earned her prestigious awards such as the Golden Piton Award and the Arco Rock Legend Award. She has also been recognized by Glamour Magazine and the Virginia Legislature for her groundbreaking achievements. In addition to her role as Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador, she serves on the board of the Women’s Sports Foundation, as well as the board of Ascend Afghanistan, and is an ambassador for Access Fund, Protect our Winters and Right to Play International.
Massimiliano Ossini was appointed Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador to Italy on International Mountain Day 2017 during the Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership at FAO in Rome, Italy. Massimiliano Ossini is the host of the Italian television programme on mountains "Linea Bianca".
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Lino Zani was appointed Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador to Italy on International Mountain Day 2017 during the Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership at FAO in Rome, Italy.
A TV producer and author, Lino Zani was born in the mountains and has climbed some of the worlds highest peaks. Much of his life has revolved around the mountains, including being a ski instructor and mountaineer as well as consulting for the Ministry of Regional Affairs on mountain matters. In 2014-2015, Lino Zani was the presenter of "Linea Bianca", an Italian TV programme on mountains, as well as "Italy's Most Beautiful Beautiful Mountain Lodges" broadcast on Rai1.
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