BJ Cummings

BJ Cummings is a celebrated conservation advocate and sustainability speaker whose work has inspired communities and reshaped environmental practices in the Pacific Northwest. With a career that spans over three decades, she has dedicated her life to protecting natural waterways and promoting sustainable urban development. As a dynamic speaker, she artfully combines firsthand experience with visionary insights, making her a highly respected figure in environmental circles and beyond.

In her early career, BJ demonstrated an unwavering commitment to environmental justice and conservation. Beginning in the mid-1990s, she worked with the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, tackling complex environmental challenges in one of the region’s most significant estuarine systems. During this period, she took decisive legal action, enforcing a consent decree with the City of Bremerton and initiating a lawsuit to halt illegal mercury discharges from a major pulp and paper mill. These efforts, coupled with her ability to negotiate settlements to curb ongoing industrial pollution along the Duwamish River, laid a robust foundation for her future endeavours. Her initiative in founding the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition in 2001 further showcased her leadership and innovative approach to community-based conservation.

More recently, BJ has continued to break new ground with her work and achievements. In 2015, her relentless dedication was recognised when she was honoured as both a National River Hero and a Sustainability Hero. The following year, she assumed the role of Executive Director at Sustainable Seattle, where she has been instrumental in advancing healthy communities, equitable environments, and resilient economies through innovative sustainability initiatives. In 2019, she expanded her impact further as the Community Engagement Manager at the University of Washington School of Public Health, engaging diverse audiences to foster a culture of environmental awareness and resilience. In 2020, she published “The River That Made Seattle: A Human and Natural History of the Duwamish,” a work that encapsulates her deep knowledge and passion for the natural world.

BJ is hired for her exceptional ability to translate complex environmental challenges into inspiring, actionable solutions. Her extensive experience, combined with a proven track record of community mobilisation and innovative leadership, makes her an ideal sustainability speaker for any event seeking to drive transformative environmental change.