Organisation/2014 Trustees Election/Candidates

Lucia Naidu

I have been a Hackspace member for over a year, and visit the space often. I am a member of theNot Just Arduino and Acoustic Hacking groups, and have done many Arduino and electronics projects. When I first joined, I was a complete beginner to electronics and coding, so I understand the problems faced by newcomers, and also that the Hackspace community is a great place to learn new skills. I have also helped many others with their first Arduino projects.

The Hackspace has made a huge difference to my life, as it would have been impossible for me to learn on my own, and I have met many great people there. I have a disability which makes it difficult for me to access the space and difficult or impossible for me to use most tools and equipment, so I understand some of the problems that makers with disabilities can encounter. I think that improving accessibility would improve the space for everyone, the heavy doors are one example.

I would like to see more special interest groups getting together, so that members with similar interests can share skills and knowledge and make new friends.

I am at the Hackspace most Monday and Tuesday evenings, and sometimes on other days.

Blanca Regina

Hi I´m Blanca Regina. I'm currently involved in creating audiovisual performances, music, installations and film.

I will like to be a trustee because I think this is a position that needs to rotate, to whoever likes and loves Hackspace. For keeping up a positive attitude, the good work and maintain a clean and organized space. I think that to keep the space mantainance and to try to help whoever that needs a hand or guideline its essential. Im up for it! If I know about anything I will first make a cup of tea, I will listen and I'll try to refer you to the best ways of sorting out an idea or case.

I joined Hackspace in May 2012, and since then I feel very gratefull and close to what happens. I have met amazing people and I'm glad about it. I joined Music Hackspace and worked with the group for a couple of years curating the evening of live performances at Troyganic. I recently left the group looking forward to focus at some other initiatives. Since we moved to the new space and mostly for the last 8 months I've been focused in the Darkroom project and lately at the buildup of the Darkroom downstairs. I'm very excited about how this its turning out. Im becaming a master making tea. See you soon in the space.

Tim Reynolds (TimRTerrible)

I'm standing in the trustee elections because I find myself with some spare time and capacity and putting that to use at the hackspace seems a fair trade for the things the space has done for me. As we approach 1200 active members the trustees are busier than ever. I've said during past elections that I'd like to facilitate subgroups taking on more responsibility (both fiscal and organisational) for their specific areas of the space, and that is still true. While trustees have no more control over how things evolve than any other member, I've mentioned that to give you some idea of the direction I'd like the space to head in.

I've been a hackspace member for almost four years and like to think I know what's going on most of the time. I'm in the space at least weekly to work on the Bikeshed and can usually be found floating around on Tuesday evenings. I freelance in the entertainment industry as a day job and helped to run the stages at Electromagnetic Field 2014.

Henry Sands (YetiFiasco)

I'm happy with how the space is currently run and I don't see any reason to change things drastically, trustees past and present have done a fantastic job of keeping a community of over 1000 people stable and growing despite the ever present threat of drama and that’s what I’d like to continue as a trustee.

I'd like more focus on training for tooling and skills, skillsharing is one of founding Hackspace dogmas and apart from 3d printer, lathe, woodwork and laser cutter training, it's done on a very ad-hoc basis. There are many who wish to use specific tools, but can't find someone to show them the basics (the vinyl cutter for example, which is tricky to use at best). This would involve a thorough dig out of the wiki and a revamp of training articles, including tutorials and a catalogue of external resources.

Keeping the Hackspace ticking along, organizing more cool events like the open days and kicking up the activity on social media (more blog posts!) are all things I'd love to do.

Ryan Sayre (kraptv)

Hi there, I’m kraptv. I originally joined the space because of the amateur radio club - I really love communications. When I arrived, I installed networking to the radio shack, built the telephone system, and volunteered for infrastructure duty to improve the space.

Since then, I’ve listened to and assisted several fellow members with their goals, from helping champion the disabled to bringing in donations of technology and infrastructure bits that improves our space safety and security. I have enjoyed presenting at EMF and have actively given open house tours, washed dishes, disposed of dozens of bin bags, sorted recycling, and done plenty of sweeping and dishwashing - something I’ll continue regardless of election outcome. Actions matter over talk.

I believe in participating in progress rather than questioning results - and sensitivity matters when handling difficult issues. I stand for more sharing, less stealing, and better management of ‘collective stuff’ at the space.

Professionally, I’m a ‘technical diplomat’ for a large technology company - I understand the need for positive collaboration between members and the outside and am willing to take responsibility in managing information requests (PR, etc.) for the benefit of the space.

My organisational experience is also small and intimate - in 1997 I co-founded and still adminster an internet co-operative (skylab.org) with 150 members, volunteer in personally mentoring young technology professionals, and firmly believe in technology innovation as empowerment for a connected, egalitarian, and better life for everyone.

I like fun. Let’s have at it, gang. ;-)

Heather Sullivan (akki)

You may not recognise me from my picture, I change my hair colour occasionally, but you may recognise me from my posts on the mailing list. I’m the one who made Pteri, the giant black pterodactyl that hangs in the main room on the ground floor, and the wooden bird skeletons that were on last year’s Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. Both made in the hackspace. In the old hackspace, I helped restart and build the old darkroom and helped out on several maker-faires in the past. I've not always been able to attend the hackspace in person but I've kept tabs on it from afar as I like to see the hackspace thrive.

We've grown into such a huge community that I feel we need to focus more on respect. Respect for the tools, the rules and each other, which is actually what the first two are for anyway. I hope that people will feel they can speak to me when they don’t feel like they can speak out on matters. I’m here to help and advocate for others.

Samantha Thompson

Hello, I come from a background of hands on lab work in biotech followed by business development in the scientific industry. I've also had a crazy love of computers since getting my BBC Model B at age 7! I want to see every group in The Hackspace have the same support and encouragement that the biohacking group has benefited from thanks to the generosity of the founders and current trustees. I think some of the best ideas arise when people from different backgrounds share knowledge and skills and as such The Hackspace is a unique place that I couldn't live without.

As one of the directors of the biohacking subgroup's legal entity I've been involved with getting our lab up to spec to meet government regulations and successfully putting together proposals for which we have received funding from other institutions such as UCL. I feel this is a good grounding for dealing with requirements of a Hackspace trustee.

Our hackspace is awesome and I believe it can be even better. Please give me the opportunity to help in the next steps in its development.