Gerry Ellis

Founder, Executive Director & Board Secretary

Gerry Ellis founded GLOBIO as an outgrowth of his Wild Orphans elephant filming project in the late 1990s. That project culminated 15 years of international filming and witnessing first-hand the rapid loss of global biodiversity, and its impact on human and non-human lives. Working for many of the top conservation NGOs Gerry saw firsthand the power of visuals in educational, and value in connecting kids and people through wildlife to global issues we all face. GLOBIO became a natural step in his commitment to inspire in others greater understanding, and steps of personal action to create positive change.

Gerry built his career as an international wildlife film-maker, photographer, and writer whose work has appeared in National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, the New York Times, Ranger Rick, and more. Gerry is the author of more than a dozen children’s books. His current work is featured on the GLOBIO YouTube channel  Apes Like Us, which he also hosts. 

Our Board of Directors

Chair of the Board – Douglas Gastich

Gastich is a technology leader with over 20 years of experience building online education experiences. He believes deeply in the power of story, combined with novel interaction, to engage and inspire.

Board Treasurer –Todd Trzcinski

Trzcinski is a native of Seattle with a degree from Whitman College and graduate studies in accounting at the University of Washington. He is a licensed CPA and served in several companies, both large corporations and startups, in particular focusing on the high tech service sector. In addition to the Pacific Northwest, he has lived and worked both in Europe and Rwanda and is an avid cyclist and traveler. Trzcinski is currently a resident of New York City, and is consulting to US-based companies doing work in East Africa.

Board Member – Colburn Shindell

Shindell is a former secondary school educator and head of school who now focuses his teaching on adult literacy. An avid traveler and passionate conservationist, he spent 2017-2018 traveling through Africa learning first-hand the challenges facing wildlife. His experience fund-raising and leading non-profits complement his dedication to and love of wildlife. He and his family live in Reno, Nevada.

Our Team

Programs Director – Meg Stark

Stark is a lifelong lover of all primates – with a special place in her heart for gorillas and guenons. Her years in primate sanctuaries management in the US and South Africa, coupled with research and volunteer trips to other African sanctuaries have helped prepare her for her current role as Programs Director at GLOBIO. Through this position, Stark handles GLOBIO programs development, in addition to donor management, communications, media production, and general monkey business. When off-duty, she is probably playing with the office cat Squirty or in the kitchen, baking up a storm.