As Executive Producer for festival.org, Ellie manages the delivery of Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (GFFI), producing ambitious outdoor events, and leads on environmental practice and sustainable innovations. Ellie has worked across the industry implementing event sustainability, with previous projects including Green Man Festival, Strike A Light, Gloucester’s Rugby World Cup cultural programme, Cheltenham Festivals and touring work. She is particularly interested in the dialogue of how outdoor arts can respond & creatively adapt to changing world-circumstances, leading and reimagining new, collaborative ways of working & highlighting sustainability & accessibility. Read Ellie’s answers to our monthly Q&A here:
1. What is the proudest sustainability achievement or moment of your career?
Being a founding member of Eco’Operation: an (embryonic) international sustainable touring platform.
2. What was your worst ever sustainability-related decision, project or initiative and why?
Trying to do too much and putting undue pressure on to solve everything, rather than recognising capacity & achievable goals.
3. What are you excited about implementing this year?
Round 2 of our Climate Gathering at GDIF, focussing on the importance of local place-based voices in climate discussions.
4. Which environmental issue do you most care about?
Climate injustice.
5. What sustainable change have you made in your personal life that you are most proud of?
Going meat-free in 2019 & deciding not to have kids.
6. What do you read, listen to or watch to stay in touch with green issues?
Socials, Vision for Sustainable Event, and chatting with colleagues.
7. What is the most memorable live performance in your life?
The first time I (finally) saw Guy Garvey at sunset on the Pyramid Stage, surrounded by friends. I picked up Elbow’s Asleep in the Back aged 9 in HMV & had waited a very long time to see them live. All elevated by the magic of a greenfield festival.
Either that, or my first ever crowd surf at DZ Deathrays.
8. Was there a moment you committed to taking action on climate change?
ExR protests in 2019 & becoming Sustainable Champion for festival.org
9. What is the most important issue to tackle at your events?
10. What do you think is the most significant challenge for the events industry becoming more sustainable?
Currently, Artist travel
11. Can you share something sustainable from another artist or event or company that inspired you to make a change?
Available technologies and the funding to support investing in these.
12. What is the secret to your sustainable success?!
International co-training UK technicians to tour work more sustainably.
13. Tell us something you feel positive about right now that relates to the environment
Beavers are being reintroduced to the UK!
(Did you see them fix that Ealing train station flooding issue?!)
14. Tell us a book, film or recent article you feel others should watch/read and why about positive change?
It’s on my “next to read” list: ‘Acts of Resistance’ by Amber Massie-Blomfield which looks at the power of the arts in a burning world to enact social & political change. Working in public space I’m regularly reminded of the impact and power that performance & arts have to bring communities together.
15. Can you give people new to sustainability in events a top tip?
Qualitative environmental storytelling is as important as quantitative data.
16. What is the favourite festival moment of your career?
Producing 8 aerial dancers on the façade of St Paul’s Cathedral!
17. What habit or practice has helped you most in your personal journey in life?
Take a step back, zoom out, & get some perspective.
18. Is there anything new or exciting you are planning or changing for the future that you can tell us about?
Even more ambitious, collaborative, spectacular programming that gets the sustainability message across in a captivating, non-preachy way.
19. Will we save the world?
We’ll give it our best shot, or die trying 😉
20. What would your sustainable super-power be?
Boost Global Biodiversity
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This Q&A originally appeared in our June 2026 Vision for Sustainable Events newsletter. Sign up to receive monthly event sustainability news, case studies and guest blogs direct to your inbox.