At Coast Summit ’26, we’re welcoming double bassist and composer Garth Stevenson, whose work explores the space where music, nature, and connection meet. From playing his bass for sei whales in Antarctica to performing underwater for humpbacks in Baja, Garth invites us to experience The Intelligence of Nature in an entirely new way. Come experience it for yourself.

Wes Carter, president of Atlantic Packaging and founder of A New Earth Project, opens the Summit with a thought-provoking exploration of the connections between humanity, nature, creativity, and value. Challenging conventional ideas about our relationship with the natural world, Wes invites us to reconsider how we define value and how that understanding shapes the products we create, the systems we build, and the way we do business. His talk offers a fresh perspective on the role of creativity and our connection to nature in shaping a more innovative, sustainable future for industry.

Nature has spent billions of years developing strategies for adaptation, resilience, and survival, offering powerful insights into how we can design better products, systems, and businesses. Nicole Miller, CEO of Biomimicry 3.8, explores how biomimicry, the practice of learning from and emulating nature’s proven strategies, can inspire new approaches to innovation and sustainability. Through practical applications of nature-inspired thinking, Nicole reveals opportunities for organizations to rethink conventional design, solve complex challenges, and create more regenerative systems that support both business and the natural world.

Introducing QUOIA, a new creative platform connecting music, wild places, and conservation. Founded through a collaboration between Atlantic Packaging / A New Earth Project, Eleven, and Cox Enterprises, QUOIA brings artists into extraordinary natural environments to create original music inspired by the land and raise awareness for conservation. The platform’s first project, Rainbow Body, brings together seven accomplished musicians: Rick Mitarotonda, Griffin Goldsmith, Taylor Goldsmith, Ross James, Eric Krasno, Nicki Bluhm, and Adam MacDougall, who traveled to Iceland to write and record original music at Flóki Studios. In their first-ever public appearance together, the musicians join acclaimed music photographer and documentarian Jay Blakesberg for a conversation exploring their creative journey, the power of music to deepen our connection with nature, and the possibilities ahead for QUOIA, ahead of Rainbow Body’s world-premiere concert at the Irvine Bowl on Friday, October 23.

From breathtaking landscapes to life-changing adventures, encounters with wild places have the power to transform our perspectives, deepen our connections, and inspire a greater commitment to conservation. Moderated by Ted Reckas, this conversation brings together mountaineer, adventurer, and philanthropist Peter Hillary; explorer and conservation advocate Alexander Hillary; Olympian, adventurer, and conservationist Mike Dawson; and UC Irvine Associate Professor of Psychological Science Paul Piff, whose research explores the psychology of awe. Together, they’ll explore the profound impact of experiencing nature firsthand, the science behind these transformative moments, and how a deeper connection to the natural world can inspire meaningful action to protect it.

Andy Mann has spent his career documenting some of the world's most extraordinary natural environments, from remote mountain ranges to the depths of the ocean. An acclaimed photographer, filmmaker, and conservationist, Andy uses powerful imagery and storytelling to connect audiences with places and species they may never encounter firsthand. In Chasing Wild, Andy will share photographs and stories from his expeditions, exploring the beauty, complexity, and vulnerability of the natural world. His presentation offers a compelling expression of the Summit's theme, The Intelligence of Nature, demonstrating how curiosity, exploration, and storytelling can deepen our understanding of the planet and inspire its protection.

Moderated by Dr. Len Necefer, founder of NativesOutdoors, this conversation brings together Josh “Bones” Murphy, director of Cultural Flow; Nadina Gardiner, founder of Sakesiw; Amy Royster Bridger, Chief Environmental Advocacy Officer at Cox Enterprises; and Wes Carter, President of Atlantic Packaging and founder of A New Earth Project. Together, they’ll explore the vital role of Indigenous leadership in conservation and the importance of protecting the relationships between people, land, and water. The discussion will highlight Cultural Flow, a documentary exploring the Cumberland House Cree Nation’s deep connection to the Saskatchewan River Delta, along with Sakesiw, an Indigenous-led nonprofit dedicated to environmental stewardship, restoration, and cultural renewal. The conversation sets the stage for a special screening of Cultural Flow immediately following the panel.

Experience a special work-in-progress screening of Cultural Flow, a documentary directed by Josh “Bones” Murphy that explores the enduring relationship between the Cumberland House Cree Nation and the Saskatchewan River Delta, one of North America’s most ecologically significant wetland systems. For generations, the river and its surrounding lands have sustained the community’s culture, traditions, and way of life. Through the voices of community members, the film reveals how decades of disruption to the river’s natural flow have impacted the region’s ecosystems, wildlife, and Indigenous communities, while highlighting a growing movement to restore the health of the delta and preserve its deep cultural connections. At its heart, Cultural Flow is a powerful story of resilience, restoration, and Indigenous leadership in conservation, offering a meaningful conclusion to this year’s COAST Summit and its exploration of The Intelligence of Nature.