Mary Jeavons – Registered Landscape Architect, Private Practice
  1. Where are you at in your career? (no. of years’ experience)
    29 years. Yikes!

  2. What motivated you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?
    I had studied geography and ecology but had not studied design in my first degree. I worked for an advocacy organisation (now called Play Australia) which inspired me to try and solve issues and design problems related to outdoor play spaces, so I decided to study Landscape Architecture and signed up for the Masters course at the University of Melbourne. This brought me back full circle and linked perfectly with my original field of study.

  3. What do you do in a standard day ‘in the office’?
    ‘Standard’ days vary a lot in our office:
    • I spend a fair bit of time preparing fee proposals and liaising with clients (in meetings or on the phone);
    • I work on business strategy and management issues with my senior management team
    • I do a lot of report writing such as on big strategy projects that we do for local government (for examples play strategies; a strategy re nature play in the ACT; a strategy regarding disabled access to playgrounds). This is one of my ‘niches’ in the office.
    • I have recently been working on some landscape guidelines re the amount and quality of outdoor spaces in schools
    • I work on concept plans and master plans for schools, early childhood centres and public spaces
    • Sometimes I am lucky enough to spend time with kids on consultation processes especially in schools
    • I support staff as they develop their ideas, and check drawings
    • I do a fair bit of advocacy work; presentations at seminars and the like; writing articles; support Play Australia
    • I represent Play Australia the Australian Standards committee for playgrounds and attend their meetings.
      
  4. Tell us about a favorite project or work related experience
    I have many favourite projects:
    • the Growing Wild Project at Melbourne Zoo was great
    • a pro-bono project at the Bawa Gawiy Family and Children’s centre at Fitzroy Crossing in WA was a highlight
    • the Nature Play Spaces report for the ACT government TAMS directorate
    • consulting kids at schools always brings us back to earth with their fresh approach to life and their environment
    • too many others to list.

  5. What advice would you give someone considering a career in landscape architecture?
    This is a career that is very fulfilling and offers infinite variety in terms of where one can specialise. Its valuable to get a broad range of experience in a range of sectors to see where your interests lie.
  • Get some good drafting skills and learn to think and write coherently and you will be employable from day 1. Even in a humdrum role you can learn about the practice and work towards your goals;
  • Remain observant as you travel and interested in how other cultures solve everyday design issues;
  • Never stop learning.