Say hello to the new Future Space team

Say hello to:

Centre Manager: Tom El-Shawk

Tom El-Shawk has joined us from the The Growth Hub Forest of Dean, where he was Hub Manager and Business Growth Navigator.

Maria studied Business Studies at the University of Plymouth and worked at the Cornwall Innovation Centres for five years. She has hands-on experience designing and developing websites, as well as building and maintaining strong customer relationships.

Maria says: “Future Space offers such a vibrant and positive work culture that inspires creativity and collaboration. It is enormously rewarding for our team to see how the support we provide is helping so many start-up businesses to grow, expand and reach their full potential.”

Innovation Manager: Thanh Quan-Nicholls

With 20 years of professional management and economic development experience, Thanh is an expert in business growth. She has set up three successful and award-winning co-working spaces in Bristol and Basingstoke, and headed up Economic Development at Bristol City Council working on inward investment, creative technology projects and skills programmes.

Thanh previously worked as the Digital Innovation Lead at UWE Bristol delivering workshops, hackathons and £1.2m in grants to innovative companies in the region, and for MyWorld (University of Bristol) supporting industry engagement and collaborative R&D programmes for Digital Catapult. She is also Co-founder of Women’s Tech Hub, advancing gender diversity in tech and working to close the gender entrepreneurship gap.

Thanh says: “I am delighted to be joining the Future Space Team at such an exciting time as we expand our offer and space. Future Space as part of the University Enterprise Zone helps to build bridges between innovative fast-growing businesses with academics and students to create university spinouts, student start-ups and high tech, science-based businesses. I am looking forward to being part of this collaborative, positive and pioneering community.”

Assistant Innovation Manager: Abi Ross

Abi has been part of the customer experience team since 2020, and has now moved into a new and exciting role providing innovation support to our members.

Abi trained to be an artist at Loughborough University. She has since taught English in Lyon, managed an independent festival business, and run luxury properties in the French Alps. As Assistant Innovation Manager, she helps deliver our Business Support, including events and workshops, access to internships and funding, collaboration opportunities and advisory support.

Abi says: “The past two years I’ve spent working with our members has given me a real appreciation for how interesting, hard-working and kind our community is. In my new role in the Innovation Team, I’m excited to focus my efforts on nurturing and growing a collaborative network of innovators, and I hope to use my understanding of our community and my creative flare to support members. I’m looking forward to gaining more insight into the business needs of our companies and working with Thanh and the team to rebuild our post-pandemic vision of what Future Space can be.”

Lab Supervisor: Sharon Chadwick

Sharon has a background in molecular biology, and medical devices and has worked for several University spin-out companies. She brings experience of working in many varied lab environments from Universities (with a Degree from Bristol University and PhD in Cancer Genetics from Birmingham University) to company labs.

As Lab Supervisor, Sharon uses her expertise to manage and maintain our shared lab facilities, and advises OI on continual lab development plans. She says:

“I’ve loved supporting the lab businesses at Future Space and helping to make their lives a little easier with well-running, shared facilities. Future Space is a great community of different sized businesses who are keen to help each other out.

“It can sometimes seem quite lonely as a start up business; over the past year we’ve set up a Health and Safety Committee for all Lab and Workshop Customers to join which helps everyone feel more of a sense of community and to help each other with any issues that arise.”

Customer Experience Assistant – Events and Meetings: Viktoriia Kuprovska

Viktoriia is the newest member of the Future Space team. Originally from Ukraine, she has experience of working as both a receptionist and accountant for international agriculture company Cargill Ltd.

She says: “I’ve been in Bristol for four months now and I’m loving walking around and getting to know the city. I hope that this role will reveal my organisational skills and open up new opportunities here.”

Customer Experience Assistant – Reception: Latoyah Williams

Latoyah has a variety of finance, office support and facilities management experience. Latoyah runs our reception and is the first port of call for all questions. She has a passion for construction which stems from her charitable nature, as she wishes to one day contribute to the building and planning of a potential future home or public space and establish a community.

Centre Director: Laura Stevens

A former international strategic start-up specialist in China and Russia, Laura brings with her a wealth of experience of Future Space, UWE and the wider tech and science ecosystem. As Centre Director, Laura acts as the figurehead for Future Space, building our reputation and cultivating working partnerships and connections, locally, regionally and nationally. Laura says: