Claire Bennett has served as Director of Operations for a family-run live events organisation since moving to the UK from Brooklyn in 2007. Alongside her team, she produces Wood Festival and Septembersong at Braziers Park in Oxfordshire. Through their venture, Wood HQ Happenings, they partner with like-minded organisations to bring eclectic outdoor performers into local venues, fostering community, nature, and the arts. Beyond her work in live events, Claire is a practicing visual artist and currently lectures at Oxford Brookes University. Read Claire’s answers to our monthly Q&A below:
1. What is the proudest sustainability achievement or moment of your career?
I’m proud of what we have achieved with Wood Festival.
2. What was your worst ever sustainability-related decision, project or initiative and why?
Pre-smart phones, we went paperless with our ticketing resulting in massive queues. What a difference technological advances make!
3. What are you excited about implementing this year?
Coming up with a battery power solution for our catering and developing relationships with more local organisations.
4. Which environmental issue do you most care about?
Protecting the biosphere
5. What sustainable change have you made in your personal life that you are most proud of?
Growing vegetables and fruit in my allotment.
6. What do you read, listen to or watch to stay in touch with green issues?
The Outrage + Optimism Climate Change podcast (co-hosted by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac who oversaw the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change.)
7. What is the most memorable live performance in your life?
Björk, Sigur Rós and Bonnie Prince Billy at Keyspan Park, Coney Island, NY.
8. Was there a moment you committed to taking action on climate change?
It became more focused when my daughter was born.
9. What is the most important issue to tackle at your events?
Reducing travel emissions.
10. What do you think is the most significant challenge for the events industry becoming more sustainable?
Funding – sustainable solutions tend to be expensive.
11. Can you share something sustainable from another artist or event or company that inspired you to make a change?
Shambala’s can-do attitude is inspiring. They demonstrate its achievable.
12. What is the secret to your sustainable success?!
Taking it one step at a time and making each step count!
13. Tell us something you feel positive about right now that relates to the environment
The geoengineering work to refreeze the Arctic’s disappearing ice (and other pioneering solutions like this!)
14. Tell us a book, film or recent article you feel others should watch/read and why about positive change?
The Spell of the Sensuous- This book helps us better understand how we came to be so disconnected from the natural world and looks at how we might restore our relationship with our living planet.
15. Can you give people new to sustainability in events a top tip?
Talk to other people who have similar goals.
16. What is the favourite festival moment of your career?
Watching my 4-year-old daughter sing with her aunt on the main stage.
17. What habit or practice has helped you most in your personal journey in life?
Ashtanga yoga and meditation.
18. Is there anything new or exciting you are planning or changing for the future that you can tell us about?
We are partnering with the Nature-Centric Catalyst (University of Reading) to host a small conference-style event, Confluence, bringing together artists, activists, academics, landowners and government to forge new collaborations and pathways to restore Nature.
19. Will we save the world?
I sure hope so!
20. What would your sustainable super-power be?
Data collection/analysis
Follow Wood Festival on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodhq/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/woodhq/
Follow Claire Bennett on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/claire-bennett-creative
This Q&A originally appeared in our September 2026 Vision for Sustainable Events newsletter. Sign up to receive monthly event sustainability news, case studies and guest blogs direct to your inbox.