Meet the Team

A founding member of the organisation, and a passionate proponent of the Arts and its transformative effect on people and communities.

Doug has been a strong voice in temporary use projects, assisting groups all over the country to start up their own community centres from buildings long forgotten and discarded. His own artistic practices as a performer, and as a director and ringmaster of The Invisible Circus, keep him an active part of Bristol’s creative community.

Wim Penhaul is a co founder of Artspace Lifespace in its Bristol incarnation and passionate about the creative re-invention of under used commercial and industrial properties into thriving community resources.

As a Co Director with Invisible Circus he has been instrumental in the development of such projects in Bristol and beyond.

Kara is a practicing architect, lecturer, and advocate for regenerative design and culture and founder of Terraluppa. Beyond her work with ASLS she helps to run TEDxBristol and is also a keen allotmenteer.

She is driven in all that she does to help create a happier, healthier, and more resilient world for future generations to enjoy.

Aran is a designer, engineer and inventor, passionate about designing for the environment and biodiversity. He has run his own ocean sustainability startup for 10 years, as well as running teaching programmes at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London.

He has arrived at ASLS, passionate about the mission and ready to help the team as a trustee.

Bristol-based for 25 years, Mel is currently CEO of Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust, one of Bristol’s key Community Hubs. Mel admires the way Artspace supports talented artists and creative meanwhile spaces throughout Bristol.

With a background in filmmaking, human rights and creative R+D, she brings a wealth of expertise in strategic planning, fundraising, and team leadership to her trustee role at Artspace. She’s always interested in collaborating with others to build a fairer, greener, stronger world.

Ben Stephenson is a Bristol-based placemaking consultant, working nationally as a specialist in high street renewal, culture strategy, community-led governance and place vision.

He was a High Streets Task Force expert, is CEO of the Angel Islington BID and runs the Bristol Urban Forum, a group which encourages citizen participation in city decision-making, based in Sparks. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Institute for Place Management.