Hugh Scobie

Hugh Scobie
He/They
Sustainability Officer, WOMADelaide

My journey in festivals and events began as a teenager, volunteering wherever I could and gradually stepping into formal roles as my experience grew. I’ve always been fascinated by the logistics behind large-scale events, particularly the psychology of festival crowds—how people interact with each other and their environment.

In 2020, I officially joined WOMADelaide, an organisation that holds personal significance for me through a family connection. Before this, I worked across iconic festivals including Strawberry Fields, Meredith Music Festival, and Adelaide Fringe. I pitched the role of Sustainability Officer to WOMADelaide after observing strong investment in environmental initiatives but recognising a gap in dedicated management to ensure these efforts were effective.

Since taking on the role, we’ve made strides in reducing single-use waste and embedding sustainability across the festival. With more than 20,000 attendees each day, WOMADelaide presents a rare opportunity to engage environmentally conscious audiences and showcase the viability of circular economy principles.

Key achievements include phasing out single-use drinkware for alcoholic beverages, introducing an on-site wash station that processes over 100,000 cups per festival, and implementing a biodiesel power project that now runs site-wide—significantly reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. We’ve also expanded the festival’s carbon accounting processes to better track and improve our environmental impact.

The challenges facing the industry are real, but I remain optimistic. I’m proud to work with WOMADelaide and Festival City Adelaide to push the boundaries of sustainable festival practices. Together, I believe we can lead by example—proving that environmentally responsible events not only work, but can inspire lasting change in our communities.

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This article is part of the Festival & Event Industry Career Profiles series, a collection highlighting the diverse stories of Adelaide’s finest festival professionals. 

Photography by: Jack Fenby