Staff Spotlight: Ellen Dully
Ellen works on the finance team, helping grow our organization and keeping us afloat.
“Our playground was a grove of over 50 Doug-fir trees, where we ran amongst the pine cones and needles, with the branches protecting us from the Oregon rain. ”
How did your childhood influence your decision to work in sustainability?
Hailing from Portland, I learned at an early age to cherish the grandeur of natural spaces. Throughout my elementary years, the natural environment was omnipresent. Our playground was a grove of over 50 Doug-fir trees, where we ran amongst the pine cones and needles, with the branches protecting us from the Oregon rain.
As I continued into high school, my classmates and I participated in week-long trips to restore watershed riparian zones, cut back invasive ivy, and plant trees. This hands-on stewarding of the land were formative experiences, which evolved into my interests in conservation and sustainability.
How did your educational and career path lead you to Sustainable Northwest?
I have spent my career working in Oregon-based nonprofits helping our community improve access to critical resources.
Before joining Sustainable Northwest, I worked for Forth (a partner of our E-Farms program), Multnomah County, National Crime Victim Law Institute, Oregon Food Bank, and Make-A-Wish Oregon. When I found the opportunity with Sustainable Northwest, I knew their mission resonated with my experiences growing up in Oregon.
This work experience, combined with my MBA graduate studies at Willamette University, enable me to work across the disciplines of fundraising, operations, and finance. Now, as Finance Director at Sustainable Northwest, I have the opportunity to weave this deep experience into a position that oversees all aspects of our financial operations and serves as a key member of the Leadership Team.
What do you like most about your position at Sustainable Northwest?
My favorite part about working at Sustainable Northwest is our people-centered approach to everything we do. The workspace is collaborative, caring, and communicative.
This is also true in the communities we work with and serve. I am proud to be a part of an organization that finds community-driven, place-centered solutions. Even though I have more of an internal facing position, I experienced this first hand at our staff retreat to Yakama Nation in 2025. Over two days, our staff had the privilege of witnessing the forest stewardship efforts of the Yakama people, and how their prescribed wildfire burns and sawmill are centering community-led forest management practices that are providing solutions for nature, people and jobs.
Passions outside of work: Tending to my small collection of bonsai trees, watching the Portland Thorns, and camping around Oregon and Washington
One thing you think is overrated: Rhubarb
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Sit by a river and read
Favorite place in the PNW: The North Umpqua River is my happy place. Starting when I was a small child, every summer my parents drove us down from Portland to this river for a week to camp, fish, and swim. This tradition has continued for over 40 years. Though this area has been transformed in recent years due to wildfire, I still consider it the jewel of Oregon and feel so grateful to have such an extended history with such a special place.
Book recommendation: Mink River by Brian Doyle
Cats or dogs? Don’t make me choose, they are both lovely little creatures in their own ways.
