Stefan Edwards is Senior Events Officer at Bristol City Council, he leads on commissioning Bristol Harbour Festival and Bristol Run, attracting 200,000+ people and millions of pounds of investment to the city. Stefan’s started his career in events as a booking agent and gig-promotor, tour-managing in Europe and America, before becoming Operations Director for Wychwood Festival. Now living in Bristol, Stefan has increasingly specialised in event sustainability and was recently awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to research innovative approaches to decarbonising event power. Read his answers to our 20 monthly Green Leader Questions below:
1. What is the proudest sustainability achievement or moment of your career?
Achieving A Greener Festival certification for Bristol Harbour Festival after two years of hard work from the team.
2. What was your worst ever sustainability-related decision, project or initiative and why?
Not everything has gone smoothly, but I don’t regret trying anything. My biggest frustration is when progress is slower than it should be!
3. What are you excited about implementing this year?
I’m travelling to Netherlands, Norway and Sweden this year to learn about innovative projects decarbonising event power and can’t wait to implement what I learn in Bristol and share knowledge with others in the UK
4. Which environmental issue do you most care about?
I worry that biodiversity often gets overlooked.
5. What sustainable change have you made in your personal life that you are most proud of?
As a family we fly less and have embraced slow travel via boats and trains. It hasn’t felt like a chore; the journey is now part of the adventure.
6. What do you read, listen to or watch to stay in touch with green issues?
I like reading case studies about festivals pushing boundaries.
7. What is the most memorable live performance in your life?
Counting Crows, Roundhouse Camden 2014.
8. Was there a moment you committed to taking action on climate change?
I ran a café for a few years focusing on ethically sourced food and community building, so food was my route into a wider interest in event sustainability and societal issues.
9. What is the most important issue to tackle at your events?
We’re focusing on the always glamorous topic of waste this year!
10. What do you think is the most significant challenge for the events industry becoming more sustainable?
People generally seem to want to make positive change – lack of time or money are the most common barriers I hear about.
11. Can you share something sustainable about/from another artists or event or company that inspired you to make a change?
Shambala having the courage to go plant-based several years ago, despite most festivals at the time worrying it would be financially disastrous!
12. What is the secret to your sustainable success?!
Working collaboratively with inspiring people as often as possible!
13. Tell us something you feel positive about right now that relates to the environment
Kids are so much more educated about the environment and are challenging us ‘grown-ups’ to be better!
14. Tell us a book, film or recent article you feel others should watch/read and why about positive change?
The Ethical Carnivore: My Year Killing to Eat by Louise Gray. I found this book helpful in making positive decisions on food.
15. Can you give people new to sustainability in events a top tip?
Most events will find some cheap, easy fixes when they first start working on sustainability. Identify your quick wins and tackle those for some instant gratification before you get bogged down in the bigger challenges ahead!
16. What is the favourite festival moment of your career?
Any of the many amazing festival moments where I’ve found myself thinking “is this really my job!?”
17. What habit or practice has helped you most in your personal journey in life?
I’ve got better at not being disheartened by what I can’t change. You can’t let the negative actions of the mega wealthy super polluters discourage you from making positive changes, no matter how big or small.
18. Is there anything new or exciting you are planning or changing for the future that you can tell us about?
I hope that my research trip with the Churchill Fellowship will lead to some positive changes in the area of decarbonising event power.
19. Will we save the world?
Yes, just about, but we will make it as hard as possible for ourselves.
20. What would your sustainable super-power be?
The power to control the weather (every festival organiser’s dream).
Follow Stefan Edwards >>
LinkedIn – Stefan Edwards – Senior Events Officer – Bristol City Council | LinkedIn
Instagram – Stefan Edwards (@stefanedwards258) • Instagram photos and videos
Website – Stefan Edwards / Home | Stefan Edwards
Event Websites – Bristol Harbour Festival / AJ Bell Great Bristol Run | 11 May 2025
This Q&A originally appeared in our January 2025 Vision for Sustainable Events newsletter. Sign up to receive monthly event sustainability news, case studies and guest blogs direct to your inbox.