The 2025 Global Exploration Summit (GLEX) will take place September 12–14, 2025, in Ottawa, Canada, hosted in partnership with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. This landmark event brings together explorers, scientists, and storytellers from around the world to chart the future of exploration and celebrate the shared human pursuit of discovery.
Held for the first time on Canadian soil, GLEX: Canada will spotlight the importance of global inclusion in science and exploration. The summit will feature voices from across the world, including Professor Brian Cox, British physicist and acclaimed science communicator, and Louise Leakey, Ph.D., a Kenyan paleontologist doing groundbreaking work on human origins and continuing the legacy of the Leakey family.
Featuring:
- Hari Budha Magar – double above-the-knee amputee and Everest Summiter, now completing all 7 summits
- Valérie Courtois – leader of Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship
- Giles Duley – photographer focused on the long-term humanitarian impact of conflict
- Charles A. Emogor, Ph.D. – pangolin protector and conservationist
- Gunjan Menon – conservation filmmaker
- Sara Seager, Ph.D. – Canadian-American astronomer and planetary scientist
- Oliver Steeds OBE – director of Ocean Census, discovering, identifying, and classifying marine species on the brink
- and a panel on the iconic shipwrecks of Erebus, Terror, Quest, and Endurance with Mensun Bound, David L. Mearns, & Jonathan Moore
General Admission – $225 USD
- Admission to all talks on Saturday, September 13th, at RCGS HQ, 50 Sussex
- Includes lunch, coffee & tea networking sessions
Saturday & Sunday Pass – $425 USD
- Admission to all talks on Saturday, September 13th, at RCGS HQ, 50 Sussex
- Includes lunch, coffee & tea networking sessions, plus:
- A special Saturday night VIP Dinner with speakers
- A Sunday send-off networking breakfast
- Sunday excursion options to the Ottawa River or hiking
Full Weekend Pass – $525 USD SOLD OUT!
- Admission to all Saturday programs and experiences, plus:
- Friday VIP welcome reception at the French Embassy
- A special Saturday night VIP Dinner with speakers
- A Sunday send-off networking breakfast
- Sunday excursion options to the Ottawa River or hiking
Hotel Booking:
We have partnered with the Lord Elgin Hotel in Ottawa to offer a limited number of hotel rooms during the weekend of GLEX: Canada, September 12-14th. This historic and iconic hotel is right in the center of the city, within 15 minutes of 50 Sussex, home of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society and the venue for GLEX on Saturday, September 13th.
