The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) is pleased to announce that on Friday 4 November, the Board of Directors elected Peta-Maree Ashford, FAILA, as the next AILA President. Her presidency commences immediately and she joins Ben Willsmore, Vice President, and Katie Earle, Company Secretary in filling the elected positions on the board.
“I feel privileged to be taking on the Presidency,” says Peta-Maree. “However, I truly believe that I remain one of five leaders elected to represent and serve our membership. Having already met as a collective, we are confident in our Board transition and are eager to get to work because, as always, there is so much we wish to achieve for members.”
Peta-Maree is currently mid-way through her second term as an AILA Board Member. She has previously served as Vice-President from 2020 to 2022. Based in Western Australia, she is an experienced leader both in the practice of landscape architecture and at AILA.
Throughout her career, Peta-Maree has served on the committees of aligned industries, advocating for the influence of landscape architects in government and in private forums. In 2016, she was shortlisted for the inaugural UDIA Women in Leadership Award, and in 2017 was acknowledged with an AILA Fellowship.
One year into his second term as a Board Director, Ben Willsmore has been elected to the role of Vice-President. Based in South Australia, Ben has over 20 years of experience in Australian and international design practices, more recently leading integrated design teams within local government.
Katie Earle has been elected to the role of Company Secretary, also having been appointed to a first term as a Board Director. Based in Victoria, Katie has over a decade's experience practicing as a landscape architect both internationally and in Australia.
Ben Stockwin, CEO of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, says, “We are delighted to welcome Peta-Maree as the new AILA President. She has been a valuable member of the Institute for many years, and I look forward to working together with the AILA Board to continue to deliver great outcomes for our members.”