Jenny Hutt, Dock Street Events: Technical direction, production and event management for PoliNations

Tell us a bit about your role in PoliNations.

I organise production and technical elements - logistics and operations and everything else that goes into creating a large art installation.

How does sustainability fit into your role?

I'm also Sustainability Lead for the project so have been working across the project with all suppliers to communicate our sustainability aims.

What has been the biggest sustainability related surprise for you since starting on PoliNations?

That most people are very willing to engage on sustainability and want to find ways of reducing impacts on the environment whilst still being able to deliver a high-quality event.

What has been the most challenging aspect of trying to be sustainable?

I'd have to say budget - it's very challenging to source sustainable materials and costs for them can be much higher - something which will hopefully change as we go forward.

What advice would you give to other members of your profession who also want to put sustainability at the heart of what they do?

To have sustainability embedded within the project aims at the outset and ensure it is included as a priority on appropriate meeting agendas and to engage staff and suppliers from the outset making clear the expectation for it to be seen as a core value.

What sustainability initiative are you most excited about for PoliNations?

The main one has been how the whole team have engaged with sustainability from the very start of the project using their skills to find different approaches and challenging the normal ways of operating.

When I need a boost, where can I get inspired about sustainability?

Nature - sit outside and engage with natural surroundings and realise how important it is for everything and everyone!

If you had a sustainable super power what would it be?

To make everyone understand and act on the changes that need to be made.