FOUNDER KEYNOTE

AnnaCummins is a sustainability leader and marine conservation advocate with more than 20 years of experience advancing environmental initiatives through science, education, policy, and community engagement. Her work spans marine conservation, coastal watershed management, environmental education, and organizational leadership, with a focus on developing practical solutions to plastic pollution and other environmental challenges.

In 2009, Anna co-founded the 5 Gyres Institute alongside her husband, Dr. Marcus Eriksen, to address the global plastic pollution crisis through scientific research, education, and policy advocacy. Under her leadership, 5 Gyres has helped advance evidence-based solutions by supporting local and national legislation, partnering with businesses to reduce plastic waste, and empowering communities to drive meaningful environmental change.

Anna's passion for conservation began in childhood, exploring Southern California's beaches, storm drains, and natural landscapes - experiences that inspired a lifelong commitment to understanding and protecting the connection between land and sea. Her TEDx talk, Synthetic Sea, Synthetic Me, has reached thousands of viewers, helping to raise public awareness about the impacts of plastic pollution.

She holds a bachelor's degree from Stanford University and a Master of Arts in Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.