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Member Bio
Our mission is to inspire the public, politicians & professionals across the built environment to design, better, healthier, places to live, work & relax. We learn from our heritage to build our future. A registered charity we put design & social value at our heart. Design West is the new name for The Architecture Centre & Creating Excellence.
Our programmes inspire, inform & involve people in the design of the world around them. We work across sectors & society to innovate, co-design & challenge. We are international & local, bringing the best people together to shape better places.
We are collaborative, creative, expert, independent, open & visionary.
Key People
Dr Anna Rutherford, Director
Anna joined as Director in 2018. She is a visionary CEO known for driving step-changes in organisations and previous directorships include Pride Festival & In Between Time. Anna combines a scientific mind (PhD Biochemistry) with the creativity of a cultural leader; her unique approach ensures organisations flourish. Anna is driven by excellence & creating positive social change, & thrives on collaboration & building innovative cross-sector partnerships. She develops impactful programmes that inspire - transformative examples include founding the current Bristol Pride (2010), Fog Bridge for Bristol Green Capital (2015), Night Songs with the National Trust (2015), The Tale (2017), Bristol Open Doors (2018-21).