Our Founders

Portrait of Geoff Rich - Octopus Associates
Styled Text

Geoff Rich RIBA AABC

Geoff is an internationally renowned architect known for his commitment to sustainable and socially responsible design.  

He’s worked on major regeneration projects as an accredited conservation architect. These include the world’s oldest surviving iron-framed buildings at Shrewsbury Flax Mill Maltings, and the restoration of Bath Abbey, both of which were RIBA National Award winners in 2024.  


  • Other previous projects range in scale from Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, and the Roman Baths, to smaller initiatives in Malawi, India, Myanmar, and Jordan.   

    Current projects include a new International Slavery Museum for Liverpool and a low-carbon retrofit of a heritage skyscraper in New York City.  

    Geoff is renowned for bringing positivity and clear strategic thinking to his client relationships and projects. He is a trusted advisor to many organisations including Historic England, Exeter Cathedral, and the UK Houses of Parliament Restoration & Renewal project. His approach has helped not-for-profit clients secure over £100 million in funding for heritage and community initiatives.  

    He is a Visiting Professor at the University of the West of England, a visiting lecturer at Harvard University, and an external examiner for Birmingham City University.  He is also a Winston Churchill Fellow, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.   

    Geoff is passionate about sharing powerful ideas and is a TEDx curation lead. 

Styled Text

Alexander Barron ACA FRSA

Alex is a dynamic not-for-profit leader with more than 20 years’ senior leadership experience.  

His entrepreneurial approach combines a high-risk appetite with a track record in delivering growth and high-quality projects across a range of sectors. He is politically astute and an empathetic communicator, known for his good humour and authentic approach.  


  • Originally trained as a Chartered Accountant, Alex was made partner at a young age before joining The Edward James Foundation as Director of Finance. He went on to become Chief Executive. Better known as West Dean, the Foundation operates one of the world’s most important colleges of making encompassing art, craft, conservation and design, as well as the award-winning West Dean Gardens visitor attraction, an internationally-significant art collection and the 6,400-acre West Dean Estate.   

    Alex stepped down as Chief Executive at the end of 2024 to co-found Octopus Associates, but he leaves West Dean as the UK’s pre-eminent college of making with a new London campus in Bloomsbury and having become one of the largest charities in the country.      

    Alex is experienced in managing complexity and a wide range of stakeholders across not-for-profit, arts/culture, heritage, tourism, education, investment property and environmental land management. 

    Also a graduate of the Advanced Leadership Programme at Hult Ashridge Business School, Alex has adapted his professional training to develop an effective ‘toolkit’ for delivering social change.   

    Alex is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Member of Chelsea Arts Club.   

© Octopus Associates Ltd.