RELEASE: Great Outdoors Foundation Announces Athene Watershed26 Agenda, Keynote Speakers, and Conservation Ag Accelerator Competition
DES MOINES, IA (April 20) – The Great Outdoors Foundation is pleased to publicly announce the agenda for Athene Watershed26, a dynamic, cross-sector water quality summit at the convergence of agriculture and conservation, taking place on June 30 and July 1. Session recommendations have been developed by the Athene Watershed26 Advisory Committee and Content Track Subcommittees with representatives from approximately 30 different organizations across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. The full agenda can be found here.
Opening Keynote
Stephen Shedletzky of Simon Sinek’s Optimism Company will kick off the conference with a keynote address on The Infinite Game. Based on Simon Sinek’s New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, this session explores the five practices required to lead in an infinite game — like addressing water quality — while equipping participants with the pillars of an infinite mindset.
Closing Keynote
Grant Kvalheim, CEO of Athene, will close the conference with an address on the role of the private sector in addressing critical environmental issues. Kvalheim’s leadership highlights the growing opportunity for institutional investors, conservation finance, and market-driven solutions to accelerate adoption of conservation practices, natural infrastructure investments and innovative watershed partnerships. His insight offers powerful perspective on how private business stands to benefit — in risk mitigation, community development, and public sentiment — from safeguarding natural resources, namely, water.
Convergence: The Conservation Ag Accelerator
Convergence, a pitch competition, will serve as a premier platform designed to accelerate the next generation of conservation agriculture solutions, bringing together innovators, farmers, investors, and industry leaders to scale what works for soil and water. The pitch competition will showcase high-potential companies and organizations developing products, services, and technologies that improve conservation outcomes on agricultural land, ranging from soil health and water quality protection to nutrient reduction, carbon sequestration, and climate resilience.
Participants will be representing a range of growth stages — from pilot to scaling enterprises — and will be evaluated on their ability to deliver measurable environmental outcomes, including acres impacted, nutrient reduction, carbon benefits, and farmer adoption. Applications for Convergence will open April 30. For more information, click here.
Three finalists will be selected to compete live on stage at Athene Watershed26 in a high-impact pitch experience, presenting their solutions to a panel of judges and a live audience. The competition will culminate in the awarding of a $50,000 grant to support the continued growth and scaling of the winning solution.
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About the Great Outdoors Foundation
The Great Outdoors Foundation exists to advance conservation through innovation, collaboration, and stewardship. We are the foremost fundraising professionals in the conservation and outdoor recreation sector. Together, we activate meaningful, accessible initiatives that enhance our environment and improve quality of life. Over the last few years, we have invested more than $250 million in conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives, and we’re just getting started.
About Athene
Athene is the leading retirement solutions company with over $440 billion of total assets as of December 31, 2025, and operations in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, and Japan. Athene is focused on providing financial security to individuals by offering an attractive suite of retirement income and savings products, and also serves as a solutions provider to corporations. For more information, please visit www.athene.com.
