Daniel Conner

Advisor

Daniel Conner is an Advisor for the Global Climbing Initiative. He brings a wide-ranging background in education, emergency medicine, and outdoor leadership, informed by over two decades of climbing experience and global travel. Daniel has worked as an account manager at Petzl, a ski patroller, a canyoneering instructor, and a cardiology technician. He holds degrees in Russian Linguistics and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Utah, and has pursued language fluency and cultural understanding through travel to more than 20 countries.

Daniel is particularly interested in the intersection of climbing, education, and mental health. He draws from formative experiences in the climbing communities of Tennessee and Utah, where mentorship and land stewardship were central to his development. His plans include pursuing graduate education in the mental health field and working internationally in trauma response.

As an Advisor, Daniel supports GCI’s exploration of themes such as safety, guiding, education, and mental health in emerging climbing communities. He offers insight into program development, communications strategy, and global engagement, and brings a deep belief in climbing as a unifying force that transcends borders and backgrounds.