Blue Earth Summit

The day opens with a powerful panel of youth voices led by activist and communicator Dominique Palmer, joined by Lira Valencia, urban birdwatcher and content creator Jonathan Miller-McCall, conservationist, science communicator and storyteller, and Daphne Frias, activist and communicator. Together, they deliver a direct call to action to today’s leaders.

Record-breaking Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave joins James Wallace, CEO of River Action, to discuss his journey into water activism and how he is using his experience and profile to push for a clean water system in the UK.

Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable sets out his vision for the UK’s renewable future by 2030, while Paul Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd, challenges us to consider how activism can reshape political leadership and ambition.

Hands-on sessions, led by Higginson Strategy, bring the fundamentals of lobbying into focus. With input from Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable and Tom Perkins MP, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, these workshops unpack what lobbying is, how it works, and how individuals and organisations can use it ethically and effectively to create real-world change.

Author, educator and researcher Joycelyn Longdon shares insights from her new book Natural Connection: What Indigenous Wisdom & Marginalised People Teach Us About Environmental Action. Her urgent and timely message asks how we move beyond extractive systems towards leadership grounded in reciprocity, humility, and deep connection, to Earth and to each other.

In a provocative dialogue, Dominique Palmer and Einass Bakhiet explore privilege and power, asking the difficult but necessary question: Who gets to save the world?

This is a day defined by possibility. It’s not about what’s broken, but about what’s being rebuilt, and how. Through inspiring talks, panels, and conversations, we’ll explore the future skills and mindsets needed to lead through complexity with hope and purpose.

At its heart, Day 2 is a reminder that leadership doesn’t belong to the few, it belongs to all of us. Whatever your role, background or experience, you’ll leave energised with ideas, tools and connections to step into leadership in your own way, and help shape a more just, resilient and connected future.