BJ Cummings is a writer, public speaker, filmmaker, and author of The River That Made Seattle: A Human and Natural History of the Duwamish (UW Press, July 2020). Cummings founded the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition in 2001 and has been honored as a national River Network "River Hero," Sustainable Seattle "Sustainability Hero," King County "Green Globe" awardee, and one of Seattle Magazine's "25 Most Influential People of the Year." She currently manages community engagement for the University of Washington's Superfund Research Program.

Cummings holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Geography from UCLA,and is the author and producer of numerous articles, books and documentary films on environment and development issues locally and throughout the Americas.