Greg Cummings is an award-winning conservationist, storyteller, and author of Gorilla Tactics. For over three decades, he has lived and worked at the wild edges of our world — from the deep forests of Central Africa to post-conflict communities, guiding not only safaris but conversations between rebels, rangers, and rare primates.
A pioneer in gorilla conservation and narrative-driven activism, Greg has raised over $10 million for grassroots initiatives, advised global NGOs and the UN, and written internationally published memoirs and novels. His work has taken him through 20+ countries, always with a notebook in one hand and a deep reverence for place in the other. “I make a shrine of where I go,” he says.
Greg believes that stories can save species — and that the voices of those closest to the wild are the ones we most need to hear. He has launched The Gorilla Narratives to promote stories from the frontlines of conservation.
His remarkable and deeply unique background positions him for several exciting directions:
1. Strategic Advisor / Consultant for NGOs or Conservation Organizations
His deep field experience, donor relations expertise, and ability to create and lead programs make him ideal for consulting roles with:
International conservation NGOs
Global development orgs
Foundations looking to invest in environmental or post-conflict regions.
2. Executive Leadership in Eco-Tourism or Sustainable Travel
He could lead or advise luxury eco-tourism companies, or build strategic partnerships between conservation and travel, leveraging his:
Wilderness lodge management
Fundraising through immersive travel
3. Public Speaker / Storytelling Coach / Media Contributor
With his published works, global recognition, and storytelling background, Greg is adept at:
Keynote speaking at conservation or NGO conferences
Coaching environmentalists on media strategy
Writing opinion/editorial content or hosting a podcast
4. Donor Engagement & Philanthropy Strategy
He has a rare ability to build narratives that unlock funding. That’s gold for:
Environmental philanthropies
Donor-advised fund organizations
High-net-worth donor engagement roles
5. Author / Creative Director / Publisher
His narrative skills and international recognition make him well-positioned to:
Write more memoirs or creative non-fiction
Launch a publishing venture around conservation stories
Lead content strategy for mission-driven brands
6. Post-Conflict Environmental Policy & Advocacy
His role in the Durban Process and UNEP consultancy point toward impact in:
Environmental diplomacy
ESG strategy for resource-based industries
Corporate social responsibility advising in fragile states
Gorilla Tactics (Chicago Review Press, 2024)
Pirates (Cutting Edge Press, 2014)
Gorillaland (Cutting Edge Press, 2012)
ARTICLES
‘For a Lifelong Homeless Traveler, Music Marks the Place‘ Perspective Travel, Dec 2023
‘Malindi, Kenya: Worth the Slog’ GO Nomad, Nov 2022
‘Billfish Fever in Malindi’ Sea Angler, Feb 2018
‘Johnny Oceans: Lie or Legend?’ The Flamingo Sun, Sep 2013
‘Conservation in the Mountains of Uganda’ The Ecologist, Dec 2012
‘Trekking with gorillas in central Africa‘ The Guardian, Nov 2012
BLOGS
Love Song for Sicily
by Greg Cummings “Sicily is the clue to everything.” – Goethe [13 min read] The Mezzogiorno sun shines relentlessly on Lipari Island. Temperatures continue to climb even as afternoon creeps into evening, and the cry of cicadas intensifies with every degree. I’m where I’m meant to be, in a hammock strung between two olive trees in an outdoor cantina half
World Elephant Day
This World Elephant Day, stand with the matriarchs, the memory-keepers of the wild. Their future depends on what we do now. Join the movement to protect elephants — donate, share their story, and demand lasting change. Tweet I first saw elephants in the wild when I was five years old. My family was touring Amboseli National Park in Kenya. Backdropped
Systems Change: The Funders’ Perspective
Systems Change: The Funders’ Perspective In recent years, a growing number of funders in Europe and North America have begun to invest in systems change. This briefing paper — derived primarily from “Systems Change Isn’t One Thing. Financing Should Reflect That”, and “Investing in Systems Change Capacity” published by Stanford Social Innovation Review, and “Embracing Complexity: Toward a shared understanding
Dismantling Fortress Conservation
Consequent of Big Wildlife’s clout, countless Indigenous and local communities across the world have been forcibly removed from their lands in the name of Protected Areas, leading to the loss of culture, livelihoods, and identity. Indigenous tribes were removed during the inception of Yellowstone National Park in the United States, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Virunga National Park in Rwanda, to name a few.
Hidden Battlefield
https://bluegorillagiving.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_8662.mov Trumpeting Dixie on their musical horns, a parade of vintage Italian compacts cars drove down Corso Umberto I in Leonforte. People scrambled to the sidewalk to avoid the fun-sized motorcade. My wife and I were surprised to find the town bustling with so many people on the first Sunday of October. Its cobblestone streets were lined with food stalls.
Our Grant Writing Bears Fruit
Imagine an orchard where every tree bears a different kind of fruit: mango, cherry, peach, pear, lemon, lime. Each fruit must be picked in its own way and not before it’s ripe. How does the fruit grower manage such an oddly assorted harvest? Grant writing presents a similar challenge to charities and non profits. There’s no one-size-fits-all. Every grant
