Artist, NatGeo Explorer, photographer and filmmaker Mattias Klum is participating in the Fifth Villars Symposium, taking place from 14–17 June 2026 at the Villars Palace Hotel in Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland.

The symposium brings together more than 150 Villars Fellows, partners, experts and innovators for interdisciplinary learning and intergenerational collaboration focused on systems leadership and real-world challenges.

During the programme, Mattias contributed to the plenary session “Seeing the Planet Differently”, sharing visual stories and personal experiences from decades of exploration. The session examined what extraordinary ecosystems can teach us about humanity’s relationship with nature, presenting Earth as an interconnected living system and encouraging participants to consider their role in shaping its future.

Mattias also joined the panel “Leading from the Edge”, alongside Xiye Bastida, Brad Irwin, Dan O’Neill and Paul Rose. The conversation explored leadership in times of uncertainty and transformation, with a focus on courage, adaptability, curiosity and the ability to navigate complexity.

The Fifth Villars Symposium continues through 17 June, offering a platform for emerging leaders to exchange ideas, build meaningful connections and develop new perspectives on planetary health and systemic change.