An amazing speaker line-up for OA Gathering Day…

We are excited to announce our simply AMAZING speaker line-up for our first Octopus Associates in-person Gathering Day on 13th November 2025 in Soho, London:

- Yasmeen Lari – Global pioneer in socially responsive and humanitarian design
- Adala Leeson - Head of Socio-Economic Analysis & Evaluation, Historic England
- Josh Goode – Claremont Graduate University
- Tom Tapper - Co-Founder & CEO Nice and Serious
- Gregorio Lucena Scarpella – Director of Global Cultural Districts Network (GCDN)
- Parvinder Marwaha – Cultural Strategist and Curator
- Dr Silvie Jacobi – Consultant Researcher & Practitioner
- Neal Shasore – Academic, Advisor and Trustee of The Architectural Heritage Fund
- Noemi Blager – Architect, Curator and Strategist
- Prof Elena Marco – Pro Vice-Chancellor at UWE
- Joel Peter Levack – Artist, Explorer and Co-Founder of All is Joy Studios
- Clare Hughes – Heritage & Museum Consultant
- Joe Jack Williams – Head of Regenerative Strategy, Bywater
- Elizabeth Bennett – Research Fellow, University of Leeds
- Soumyen Bandyopadhyay - The Heritage Institute | The University of Liverpool
- Leanne Werner – Co-Founder WilderCIC
- Justin Spooner – Co-Founder & Director, Unthinkable
- Roxani Kamperou – Arts Manager, Facilitator & Coach
-Francine Norris – Higher Education Leader
- Jill Hogan – Senior Comms & Marketing Expert
- David Maher Roberts– Advisor, Managing Partner Digital DNA

Along with our very own Octopus Associates Co-Founders Alexander Barron ACA FRSA and Geoff Rich.

With a headline theme of 'What's Stopping Us?' our day will include insightful and uplifting talks, provocations and projects, and co-creation workshops for all participants led by sector experts.

All based in the 'secret cinema' space at All is Joy Studios in the creative heart of London.

Join us if you’re ready to jump in, share knowledge and help improve the definition and delivery of the kind of sustainable and socially impactful projects the world urgently needs to succeed!