Bryonie has spent over a decade working on the ground at live events, whilst earning a 1st class degree in Sustainable Festival Management. As Live Events Manager at Hope Solutions, she brings a hands-on approach to supporting festivals and live events clients with tactical sustainability strategy, solution implementation, and impact measurement. Her focus on practical, scalable solutions ensures long-term environmental improvements. Notable clients at Hope Solutions include Glastonbury Festival, Coldplay, and The Earthshot Prize. Read her answers to our 20 Event Industry Green Leader Questions:

1. What is the proudest sustainability achievement or moment of your career?

Being a part of the Hope Solutions team and all the incredible projects we support. 

2. What was your worst ever sustainability-related decision, project or initiative and why? 

You can sometimes question your life choices a bit when you’re in a skip sorting waste and covered in bin juice. 

3. What are you excited about implementing this year?

We kicked off our first festival of the season using a waste baling machine on site that helped us divert huge amounts of material from the general waste stream. 

4. Which environmental issue do you most care about?

Ocean health and plastic pollution. 

5. What sustainable change have you made in your personal life that you are most proud of?

Intentionally sharing positive environmental stories with others to try reduce apathy. Working in this space we are lucky to see people making incredible achievements almost daily, whereas others often only ever hear bad news. 

6. What do you read, listen to or watch to stay in touch with green issues?

Bloomberg Green, Outrage & Optimism, various sources shared via networks and peers. 

7. What is the most memorable live performance in your life?

Loyle Carner at West Holts in 2023. I really respect when artists use their platform to talk about important issues, and the performance itself was incredible – really emotional storytelling! 

8. Was there a moment you committed to taking action on climate change?

I think I’ve always felt compelled to take action in ways that I can to contribute to tackling climate change and other issues faced. Anything else doesn’t really feel like much of an option. 

9. What is the most important issue to tackle at your events?

Integrating sustainability into decision-making. 

10. What do you think is the most significant challenge for the events industry becoming more sustainable?

Probably misinformation around solutions and sometimes financial constraints. 

11. Can you share something sustainable from another artist or event or company that inspired you to make a change?

I have always been inspired by DGTL Festival’s approach to waste management. 

12. What is the secret to your sustainable success?!

Commitment to my values and being surrounded by a network of inspiring people.

13. Tell us something you feel positive about right now that relates to the environment

Seeing the development of new packaging solutions, such as Morro materials that can replace plastic and PFAs. 

14. Tell us a book, film or recent article you feel others should watch/read and why about positive change?

Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman – Restores faith in and deconstructs numerous negative misconceptions about human nature. 

15. Can you give people new to sustainability in events a top tip?

Meet people where they are, understand their priorities, and build strategy from there. 

16. What is the favourite festival moment of your career?

In 2024, two of our major clients crossed paths with Coldplay headlining the Saturday night on the Pyramid Stage. After months of planning and coordination, we distributed and recollected thousands of reusable LED wristbands that lit up the crowd for their performance. 

17. What habit or practice has helped you most in your personal journey in life?

Staying optimistic and looking for the lessons in any setback or challenge. 

18. Is there anything new or exciting you are planning or changing for the future that you can tell us about?

We are maturing as a business at Hope Solutions and continuing to grow our impact which is incredibly exciting, exploring ways we can simplify data capture for all stakeholders. Personally I’m excited to continue expanding my knowledge and refining how to implement event sustainability solutions at any scale 

19. Will we save the world?

We can definitely give our all to undo damage, restore and protect what we can. 

20.  What would your sustainable super-power be?

To super-speed system transition. 

Follow Bryonie Mathews on >> LinkedIn
Follow Hope Solutions on >> Instagram
Visit the website at www.hopesolutions.services

This Q&A originally appeared in our June 2025 Vision for Sustainable Events newsletter. Sign up to receive monthly event sustainability news, case studies and guest blogs direct to your inbox.