Hi, I’m Nika, founder of Calm Nest Collective, a neurodivergent‑led consultancy and design studio creating sensory‑friendly, neuroinclusive spaces and strategies for events, workplaces and public venues.
My work sits at the intersection of wellbeing, accessibility and sustainability: I help organisations reduce overwhelm, design calmer environments and build cultures that support real human needs over performance at any cost.
I’ve spent over 12 years working on large‑scale music events and festivals, implementing sustainability practices and supporting organisers to embed environmental and social responsibility into their shows. I’m still active as a sustainability assessor at various events, including my current role as Sustainability Manager at AtoJazz Festival in Sofia, where we’ve been steadily phasing out diesel generators, introducing mains power and drinkable water, and celebrating the festival’s 15th edition with a stronger sustainability focus. I also have seven years of experience in corporate environments, and I’m a qualified social worker and PhD researcher focusing on mental health and neurodiversity in the events industry.
Sustainability for me is both environmental and social. Practically, we use upcycled furniture, make low‑waste design choices, and work as a Living Wage and Mindful Employer member with Carbon Literate and Planet Positive certifications, treating fair work and climate responsibility as part of the same story. I’m also a certified nature‑based and horticultural therapist, and a big believer in biophilic design, bringing elements of nature into indoor spaces to support nervous‑system regulation and wellbeing. A lot of my inspiration comes from my grandma, who taught me to love plants and soil long before I knew the science behind it.
Alongside consultancy, I also host the Pink Nest podcast and mentor event professionals and early‑stage founders who are trying to build purpose‑led businesses without burning out. My passions centre around community, nature‑based practices, and re‑imagining high‑pressure environments so that more people, especially neurodivergent and marginalised folks, can stay well while doing work they care about.
I’m excited to connect with the ASP community because I see sustainability, wellbeing and inclusion as deeply intertwined, we can’t talk about sustainable futures without talking about the conditions under which people live and work. I’m keen to learn from others, share what we’ve been experimenting with at Calm Nest Collective, and explore how we can co‑create spaces and systems that are calmer, kinder and more sustainable for everyone.
https://calmnestcollective.com and https://nikabrunet.com
https://www.instagram.com/thatinclusiongirl
