5 May 2014

The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects’ (AILA) bid to host the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) 2016 Asia-Pacific Congress in Canberra has been successful. The bid was presented to the IFLA Asia-Pacific Regional Council at the 2014 Congress in Kuching, Malaysia on 27 April.

The IFLA Asia-Pacific Congress, an annual event, will be the focal event of AILA’s fifty year celebrations in 2016. The Congress events include an International Student Charette, Gala Dinner, two-day Congress along with pre and post Congress touring. The Congress typically attracts over 500 delegates from more than fifteen countries.

‘The Congress will focus on the past and present Asia-Pacific Landscape learning’s while realising the exciting central global role this region has to play, setting benchmarks to positively influence our future,’ AILA National President, Mark Frisby said.

‘The 2016 Congress in Canberra is an opportunity for all Asia-Pacific IFLA neighbours to develop and nurture collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships to advance Landscape Architecture in the centrally significant Asia-Pacific Region, a shared vision for the next fifty years.’

Greg Grabasch, AILA National Council Member and IFLA Delegate along with John Easthope, IFLA Executive Council Treasurer, presented the successful bid. Other proposed locations for the 2016 Congress included Japan and Hong Kong. The IFLA AsiaPacific Congress last visited Australia in 2006.

About the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects

AILA is the peak national organisation representing and harnessing the collective interests of the Australian Landscape Architecture profession and oversees the professional recognition of Registered Landscape Architects. AILA has a rapidly growing membership with the current membership of 1,400 expected to increase to 2,000 members in the next three years.

AILA is the vehicle by which the Landscape Architecture profession is able to raise awareness, initiate and lead engagement with the wider community on issues of strategic importance to the natural and built environment. AILA provides leadership in the education, professional development and ethical behaviour of members and to influence decision making in response to the evolving knowledge, understanding and requirements of people, natural and built environments.

AILA actively anticipates and develops a leading position on issues of concern relating to the design, planning, management and stewardship of the natural and built environment. It seeks to be comprehensively acknowledged in this role by allied professions, political and community leaders and the wider public.

Contact and Interviews

The AILA President and AILA CEO are available for comment. Please contact AILA to coordinate interviews:

Caroline Odgers

National Manager, Marketing & Development

Australian Institute of Landscape Architects

T: +61 2 6248 9970

E: [email protected]