Rick Ridgeway

RICK RIDGEWAY is an outdoor adventurer, writer, and advocate for sustainability and conservation initiatives. From 2004 until 2020 when he “retired,” Ridgeway was the vice president of Environmental Affairs and then vice president of Public Engagement at Patagonia. During his tenure with Patagonia, he worked with teams to develop and launch environmental and sustainability initiatives including Freedom to Roam, the Footprint Chronicles, the Responsible Economy Campaign, and Worn Wear. He also was founding chair of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, today the largest apparel, footwear, and home textile trade organization in the world. Ridgeway is recognized as one of the world’s foremost mountaineers. With three companions, he was the first American to summit K2, and he has done other significant climbs and explorations on all continents. He has written seven books and many magazine stories, and produced and directed dozens of television shows. National Geographic honored him with its “Lifetime Achievement in Adventure” award. Today he serves on six boards of conservation organizations and has returned to his passion for writing. His memoir Life Lived Wild was released in October 2021.