Our Team
Geoff Rich
Co-Founder, Architect & Social Impact Innovator
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Geoff is an internationally-renowned architect known for sustainable, socially responsible design. His award-winning work spans major heritage regeneration projects, international cultural initiatives and community-led developments.
He brings:
Strategic clarity and creative problem solving
Expertise in regeneration, conservation and place making
A global perspective across the UK, Europe, India, Myanmar, Jordan, and the US
A track record of helping clients secure over £100 million in funding
Geoff is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a TEDx curation lead and a Visiting Professor at the University of the West of England.
Alex Barron
Co-Founder, Strategist & Transformation Leader
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Alex is a dynamic not-for-profit leader with over 20 years’ experience as a CEO, Director of Finance & Enterprise and Audit Partner. His career includes leading one of the UK’s largest charities, overseeing major capital projects and driving organisational growth across arts, culture, heritage, education and environmental land management sectors.
He brings:
Strategic and creative leadership
Deep financial expertise
Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder environments
A proven track record of delivering growth and high-quality outcomes
Alex is a Chartered Accountant, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a graduate of the Hult Ashridge Advanced Leadership Programme.
Adrija Zake
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Adrija has worked in communications in the cultural sector for almost a decade, most recently as Communications Manager at the Chelsea Arts Club in London. In 2020, she founded lasāmviela, working to make literature in English more accessible in Latvia, and is a trustee of Gadfly, a UK-based charity that encourages children to explore their creativity. She’s interested in storytelling and in how shared narratives can help build communities, which is what draws her to OA. She’s currently based in Riga.
Lisandra Stebner
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Lisandra (who also goes by Li) is currently a PhD student at Claremont Graduate University with a focus distilling complex narratives into visual storytelling. She loves to both strategise and create which is what makes her a perfect match for Octopus Associates. Li is always excited to start a new adventure and meet new people.
She graduated with a BFA in Acting from the University of Southern California and has been a part of multiple productions both on the stage and screen. Her diverse work background in research, entertainment, and academia has prepared her to take on almost any challenge. She loves helping exciting new projects form and grow, which originally is what interested her in Octopus Associates.
Elizabeth Bennett
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Dr Elizabeth Bennett (she/her) is an interdisciplinary cultural researcher, educator, and facilitator. She currently working as a consultant for Historic England, supporting them to evaluate and measure their social impact. Her monograph, Performing Folk Songs: Affect, Landscape and Repertoire, was published by Bloomsbury in 2024, and she co-authored the AHRC report From Brass Bands to Buskers: Street Music in the UK. She has held research and teaching posts at the University of Leeds, Royal Holloway and the University of Winchester. She is happiest when working with communities in the places that matter to them.
Renee Tai
Renee is a multidisciplinary creative with a background in architecture, currently working as a Project Coordinator at Octopus Associates alongside her work in architectural design and AI application development. Her interests sit at the intersection of design, technology, culture and creativity, with a curiosity for how different disciplines can come together to create new ideas and experiences.
Her architectural background shapes the way she approaches projects through creative thinking, research and problem-solving, while her work with AI has expanded her interest in how emerging technologies can support and transform creative processes across different fields. Renee is also a DJ and music producer, using music as a way to communicate and connect with people.
