2024 Landscape Architecture Awards Juries

The Landscape Architecture Awards jury serves an important role in determining Awards in recognition of exceptional Landscape Architecture practice. The jury awards practices and members in confirmation of talent, commitment, and design excellence.

Tasmania Chapter is not hosting an Awards program in 2024. 

NATIONAL JURY ACT JURY NSW JURY QLD JURY SA & NT JURY VIC JURY WA JURY

2024 National Jury 

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Jury Chair: Andrew Thomas

Andrew Thomas is the Director at Four Landscape Studio. As a Registered Landscape Architect with over 15 years of professional experience, Andrew brings extensive experience across multiple project types and scales, with particular expertise in education landscapes. Andrew was the AILA WA Chapter President from 2017 – 2021 and is a current board member of the Learning Environments Australasia Western Australia chapter. Andrew’s work has been recognised with awards from AILA at both State and National level, along with State and Regional level awards for Learning Environments Australasia.

Nathan Brandrick

Nathan Brandrick is a proud Gureng Gureng man and aspiring Architect. He has four years of industry experience, working across both Architecture and Landscape Architecture disciplines. He works primarily in the Designing with Country space, working alongside the First Nations community in order to make their voices heard. His passion revolves around the idea of educating people of our Nation's Indigenous history through the built environment, incorporating Indigenous knowledges and practices that work to improve the overall understanding of our rich and resourceful First Nation's history.

Azin Emampour

Azin Emampour is a Senior Associate Landscape Architect with over 14 years of experience in Landscape Architecture, Architecture, and Engineering both in Australia and internationally. Her primary focus lies in sustainability, green infrastructure, and WSUD. She has delivered hundreds of successful multidisciplinary projects with a deep commitment to promoting landscape and community values, collaborative success and innovative solutions. As an executive member of the AILA, Azin actively advocates for landscape architecture, future generations, and our planet.

Warwick Keates

Warwick Keates is a Director at WAX Design with thirty years of experience practising in the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Australia. Warwick has always been aware of the power and responsibility that comes with being a landscape architect. He believes authentic collaboration and co-creation are fundamental to creating places people love and enjoy. Warwick is fascinated by the idea of legacy and that the designs of landscape architects exist beyond the lifespan of the designer. In this sense, he believes that landscape architects have a responsibility to the past, present and future.

Dan Plummer

Dan Plummer is a Landscape Architect based in northern NSW. Dan co-founded design studio Plummer & Smith with artist Belinda Smith in 2012- a cross discipline partnership of landscape and art. Since that time the studio has worked on a range of public projects for a variety of different communities- both urban and regional. The studio prides itself on community and environmentally focused outcomes.

Miriam Shevland

Miriam Shevland is a Director of Hobart landscape architecture firm Playstreet. She has developed a passion for working within community and school environments through master planning and the design of nature based play spaces. She has a strong background in place-based design and enjoys the interaction that occurs working with a wide cross section of the community. She believes that landscape plays a role beyond the usual perception of gardens and that is has the power to transform the way people interact with one another and their environment. 

Dr. Mimi Tsai 

Dr. Mimi Tsai is the John Oxley Library Fellow (State Library of Queensland) and works as a Learning Designer and sessional academic at Queensland University of Technology. Her work sheds light on therapeutic landscapes and contributes to our understanding of resilience in the face of challenges. Beyond her research, Dr. Tsai served as the Chair of the 2023 Queensland Landscape Architecture Awards and is an active member of the AILA National and Queensland Advocacy Committee.

2024 ACT Jury

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Jury Chair: Gay Williamson

Gay’s experience is broad, covering consulting, expert client, policy formulation, and academia. She has an extensive regional and national network of allied professions. She considers these valuable to keep advocating for the contribution landscape architects can make in the ACT, the region, and Australia.

Cia Flannery

Cia is a founding director of her own firm which has been operating for over 30 years in Canberra/ NSW. She has worked on a broad range of projects and scales for both the private and public sector. Projects range from urban design, master planning, estate planning, multi-unit design, residential design to main street design and colour schemes. She has served as the ACT Chapter President, and on the National Capital Design Review Panel. Cia is now on the AILA Board.

Andrew Mackenzie

Andrew is Honorary Associate Professor at ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society. Was previously Director of University of the South Pacific in Vanuatu where he researched and practiced in the development of urban greening plans and policies for enhancing resilience of developing small island states.

Garth Paterson

Garth is an Urban Designer and Landscape Architect with over 30 years’ experience. In 2011, he was recognised as a leader in his profession and was elected a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. In 2010, Garth established Paterson Design Studio (PDS) which is now one of the most accomplished and respected Landscape Architecture & Urban Design practices in Sydney. He has also been a professional review panel member on over ten State and Local Government panels.

Peter Johns

Peter is a qualified town planner, member of the Planning Institute and an ACT Committee member. He has worked on major projects in Canberra, recognising the value of green spaces in joining buildings through creating wonderful urban spaces. Peter has a real passion for cities, especially Canberra, what makes them tick and the equity of cities. In times of climate change and urban densification policies, urban green spaces are important responses – for community resilience and as places for people to gather and interact – creating community inclusion and social cohesion.

Elizabeth Judd

An urban designer and lawyer, Elisabeth is a Director of JUDD.studio in Canberra. Over the past 20 years she has worked across the public and private sectors on a range of projects related to placemaking, urban development, planning and affordable housing. Her diverse career has given her a unique insight into the creation and implementation of urban and social policy, ‘on the ground’ industry responses, design for better placemaking and the impact of authentic stakeholder and community engagement.

Obelia Tait

Obelia Tait is an urbanist who specialises in place, urban design and architecture. As Director of Inhabit Place she works to shape better cities through the creation of delightful, human-centric solutions to urban problems. She is a passionate advocate for creating space for women in our cities, and the construction and design industries, the climate, and integrating great design with the natural world.

2024 NSW Jury

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Jury Chair: Kate Luckraft

Driven by a desire to see delivery of public spaces that are loved by communities while providing habitat for other living creatures, Kate is an accomplished designer of public places. Kate’s advocacy for the development of the landscape architecture profession has led to her roles as tertiary educator, design review panelist, design advisor, mentor, and NSW State government design lead.

Jon Hazelwood

Jon is a Principal and Global Sector Lead for Public Realm at Hassell. His global experience brings an ability to approach projects that are wholly grounded in local context and environment, while approaching projects from a regional, national and global best practice, bringing new approaches to the design of our public realm. Jon is particularly passionate about the planted aspects of his projects, understanding a nature first approach to projects can improve peoples’ well-being as well as non-human well-being.

April McCabe

April is an experienced urban planner and strategy specialist with 20+ years working across government and the private sector in Australia, the UK and Ireland. She is the current chair of the LFIA Biophilic Design Advisory Panel and is an active member of the Planning Institute of Australia NSW Divisional Committee. April is a storyteller, facilitator and strategic thinker. She has designed and delivered a range of recreation, open space social, cultural strategies, social infrastructure needs studies and implementation plans.

Geoff Bunnett

Geoff is a practising landscape architect, currently working for the ACT Government, at the City Renewal Authority, supporting their 30-year, precinct-based urban renewal program. Moving to Canberra in 2008 from Sydney, Geoff has led designs for numerous award-winning landscape and place projects in the nation’s capital, from master planned communities through to public parks and new streetscapes, strategic ‘landscape’ wide land management strategies and designs for sustainable residential gardens.

Shellie Smith

Shellie Smith is a proud Awabakal woman and a graduate of Architecture, Shellie specialised in heritage conservation, adaptive reuse and public art before joining the University of Newcastle as an Associate Lecturer in Architecture and Indigenous Design. Shellie's research and creative practice aims to inspire other First Nations people to reconnect and reawaken their own cultural heritage by developing and demonstrating ethically sound practices.

Steven Hammond

Steven is an accomplished landscape architect with extensive experience in designing, directing and delivering projects. Steven is adept at the management of multidisciplinary teams, with skills in leadership and communication. His open and collaborative manner ensures the clients, stakeholders and communities are a part of the design process from start to finish.

Mary Ann McGirr

Mary Anne is an award-winning urban designer and registered architect, who delivers high quality, contextually and visually sensitive, urban design solutions with a commitment to the improvement of the public realm. Her particular strengths include achieving a seamless integration of urban design and engineering whilst enabling placemaking-focussed design solutions that add layers of meaning for the community. Recent key projects she has delivered include Byron Bay Transport Interchange and a major upgrade to Redfern Station.

2024 QLD Jury

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Jury Chair: Liam Cridland

Across his career Liam has been fortunate enough to work across a large variety of sectors, scales and locations throughout Australia and New Zealand. From challenging and complex urban transport infrastructure, to remote engagement and master planning projects, he values site specific, collaborative responses that ensure authentic and measurable ongoing environmental and community benefits. He sees Landscape Architects as playing critical roles in addressing that challenges facing Country and communities. 

Maria Cacciola

Maria is a recent graduate of Landscape Architecture at QUT and recipient of the 2023 Karl Langer Award. With prior qualifications and experience in business administration and human resources, Maria has lived and worked in a number of regional communities across QLD and overseas. The decision to study Landscape Architecture was a long-held dream inspired by Maria’s rural upbringing, travel, and deep love of trees and nature. Maria has a particular interest in community-led design and is an advocate for incorporating culturally and environmentally sensitive design principles into every project.

Cathryn Chatburn

Cathryn is an award-winning urban designer and Landscape Architect. She is an ardent advocate for collaboration and effective design and development processes to achieve great project outcomes. She is one of Australia’s leading urban designers and her contribution to the country’s-built environment spans the nation’s capital, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. With more than 30 years’ experience Cathryn has accumulated dual proficiencies in both policy and practice and is also an active member of several Design Review Panels nationally.

Yan Chen

As a multifaceted professional with a keen interest in photography, hiking, gardening, and landscape design, Yan is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between people, communities and Country. With a diverse background that includes working with international multi-disciplinary firms and local boutique studios since 2008, Yan currently brings experience to his lead designer role at Aspect Brisbane. He concentrates on developing compelling concepts, promoting effective collaboration with consultants, clients, and stakeholders, and supporting fellow team members to help them achieve their full potential.

Samuel Davis

Samuel graduated Landscape Architecture at QUT and was a 2021 Karl Langer Award nominee. He has been working for City Parklands Services for a number of years, managing and delivering key public open spaces throughout Brisbane. He has a personal interest in how landscape functions as an expression of societal power paradigms. Outside of work he can usually be found hanging out with his family, fly-fishing badly, and working out how to be a chestnut farmer.

Tracey Harvison

With over thirty-five years of professional practice in landscape architecture, urban planning, and policy development, Tracie has worked across Queensland and New South Wales for both private and public sector clients. Her research interests continue to focus on the interrelated themes of ageing and salutogenic environments, climate change adaption and urban typologies linked to modernity. Tracie is currently the Principal Planner in the Parks and Open Spaces Program at Mackay Regional Council leading a multidisciplinary team.

Greg Kitson

Greg is Wakka Wakka, a qualified and practicing regional and town planner (UQ Hons), completing his PhD through the Cities Research Institute at Grifith Univeristy and currently working as a consultant specialising in Indigenous Community Planning, including planning with Country.

2024 SA & NT Jury

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VIEW THE NT AWARDS

Jury Chair: Dr Janelle Arbon

Janelle Arbon, PhD, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, AILA SA Chapter President, and Senior Associate with JPE Design Studio in Adelaide. She is an award-winning landscape architect with over 15 years’ professional experience working on multi-disciplinary public realm projects, in private practice and public sectors. Through her collaborative approach, Janelle bridges the gap between strategy and delivery, aligning landscape architecture, urban design, and infrastructure to achieve a positive socially sustainable outcome.

Daniel Bennett

Daniel is a Registered Landscape Architect and AILA Fellow with over 25 years’ experience shaping better places across Australia, Asia and the United Kingdom. He is a passionate advocate for the landscape architecture profession, and has authorised dozens of national and state submissions on AILA’s behalf. He was AILA’s national president in 2015/2016 celebrating AILA’s 50th year, followed by 4 years as AILA’s South Australian President between 2019 and 2023.

Jordan Duke

Jordan has experience working in both Canada and Australia. Her portfolio covers an array of projects including urban renewal projects, streetscapes and cultural / civic spaces. She has a broad array of experience in public consultation, concept design & documentation. She is a natural collaborator and leader, developing strong relationships with the communities, clients and other disciplines she works with. Jordan has been a guest critic and tutor at the University of Toronto.

Karl Winda Telfer

Karl Winda Telfer is a Burka, a Senior man from the Mullawirra meyunna of the today-known Kaurna People of the Adelaide Plains region of South Australia. He is a Traditional Owner and senior Cultural and Spiritual holder of the ceremony, a cultural educator, a Storyteller and a designer/artist. Karl has been involved in Aboriginal cultural and spiritual renewal all his life, coming from a family of strong cultural and political activity. He now holds the peace lore song of Tjirbrkui/Tjilbruke and holds walks and talks along the Tjirbruki/Tjilbruke Dreaming Track. He is known in his and the wider community as a senior wisdom holder of story in his country.

Ken Long

Ken is motivated to help facilitate a positive quality of life for human and ecological communities through sustainable and regenerative built environments. Ken is the Regional Sustainability Manager South Australia and Victoria for Lendlease and a recognised advocate for sustainable built environments. With qualifications in Architecture, Sustainable Design and Ecologically Regenerative Design, Ken facilitates a holistic system thinking approach to design problems. Ken’s professional experience traverses organisational sustainability and net zero advisory and technical sustainable design consultancy for developments of all scales.

Louise Custance

Louise’s career has taken her to some of the world’s most beautiful places, both at home in regional Australia and internationally. From tackling projects in different climates, scales, languages and time zones, Louise is not put off by a challenge or an adventure. Her diverse professional experience over ten years ranges from working on high-end hospitality projects and nature-based experiences while based at VIDA in Costa Rica and more recently, delivering multiple public realm projects at Kangaroo Island Council. Louise has two master’s degrees (MLArch and MEnvM) and speaks two languages (while learning a third), and prides herself on her ability to get things done and bring out the best of every project.   

Stephanie Pope

Steph is a Landscape Architect working at Tract in Adelaide. With a passion for education and research, she has maintained a strong relationship with the University of Adelaide and continues to tutor architectural design studios whilst working at Tract. She has a keen interest in all design that expresses great attention to detail and the finer grain, and with a focus on people-centric and environmentally sustainable design, Steph has a commitment to producing work of the highest ethical and cultural values through projects that bring community and education to the forefront. 

Steven Huntingford

Steven Huntingford is a registered architect and the Director of Huntingford Architecture which was registered in November 2019, and prior to that was the Project Director of Jackman Gooden Architects (NT) for 27 years.  During Steven’s time at Jackman Gooden he managed, along with the Design Director Colin Browne, a professional staff cohort of architects, interior designers and architectural technicians ranging between four and ten in number, in addition to managing numerous collaborations with other local and interstate architectural practices.

2024 VIC Jury

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Flynn Hart, Director, Pollen Studio

Flynn has built a practice where landscape architecture plays a leading role in meeting generational challenges including climate change adaptation and Indigenous self-determination, putting communities and their environment first. He believes stewardship and shared responsibility towards land, ecology, climate, culture and Country should be central to all landscape architectural practice. During 20 years of practice and 13 years leading the Pollen team, Flynn has designed, collaborated and guided the evolution of spaces in public and private practice with heart.

Alexandra Lee, Principal, Spiire  

Alex is a Principal at Spiire and a member of the Birrarung Council. With over 25 years experience, she is driven by her connection to water and is passionate about Landscape Architecture’s role in the management and celebration of water in the public realm. As a member of the State Connection to Country sub-committee, she is dedicated to cultivating our industry role working with Traditional Owners, advocating with and supporting their continuing legacy.

Brendon Burke, Director BBLA 

Brendon Burke is a registered Landscape Architect and consulting Arborist, boasting over nine years of expertise in both the private and public sectors. Throughout his career, Brendon has worked on a wide range of projects, demonstrating his versatility and proficiency in project management. His expertise extends to landscape architecture, arboriculture, town planning, and horticulture. Additionally, Brendon is an active academic at university where he shares his passion and knowledge with aspiring professionals. 

Sulochi Walisinghe, Coordinator Urban Design, Maroondah City Council  

Sulochi Walisinghe is a driven and passionate AILA registered Landscape Architect with over 17 years of experience in designing and delivering of opens space both in private and public sector. Committed to fostering meaningful connections between children and nature. She is currently the Coordinator Urban Design at Maroondah City Council and an active member of several organizations that promote play for all, such as Play Australia, Kids in Nature Network, and a Tutor at Melbourne University. 

Tim Hart, Managing Director, Urban Initiatives  

Tim Hart is the Managing Director of Urban Initiatives a Landscape Architecture and Urban Design practice, which has a long and rich history in the design of public realm projects.  Over a 35-year career, Tim has led the practice on complex landscape and infrastructure projects. He also has significant expertise in park masterplanning, zoo exhibit and biophilic design, water sensitive urban design, and large-scale environmental planning projects. He has a particular passion for community-driven design, sustainable transport and cycling projects.   

Bridget Keane, Lecturer, University of Melbourne 

Bridget is an academic practitioner focusing on the role of design in the context of climate crisis and positioning the designer as one of many interacting agents within complex ecological, material, and economic systems. Three threads have informed her research and practice. Developing and implementing teaching models that explore intersections between academic, industry and creative practice. Examining disciplinary lineages and reflecting on these in response to the climate crisis. Design projects that envisage alternate futures in response to the effects of extractive industries and overconsumption. 

Elly Russell, Principal, Arcadia 

Elly Russell is a passionate Landscape Architect with a breadth of experience in high quality public realm projects and landscape masterplans, both locally and abroad. Elly enjoys interdisciplinary collaboration in striving for both ecologically and socially restorative landscapes. She believes a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach is vital to achieve the regenerative measures required, to collectively tackle our climate and biodiversity crises.  

Jury Observer: Alix Lung, Landscape Architect, WILDStudio 

Alix is a recent graduate (2022) of QUT, with a Bachelors in Landscape Architecture (with Distinction) and an Honours degree in Urban Planning (First Class Honours). Additionally, Alix was a Karl Langer Nominee, Wendy Chadwick Bursary winner (PIA) and has completed research scholarships alongside studying and working in the industry full-time. Alix enjoys spending time with her young daughter and amazing husband and believes being a parent inherently drives you to push for a greener more equitable future.

2024 WA Jury

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Bel Foster

Bel is the Principal Landscape Architect for the Botanic Parks and Gardens Authority, former AILA WA Chapter president and member of the WA State Design Review Panel. She is a multi-award-winning RLA with 20+ years’ experience across the public and private sectors. With an in-depth understanding of ecological processes that support thriving places, she channels her passion for natural and cultural heritage into crafting places that promote well-being and stewardship.

Ingrid Cumming 

Ingrid Cumming is a proud Whadjuk Balardong Noongar woman from Fremantle. She runs a 100% owned and operated First Nations business that provides Welcome to Country, Master of Ceremonies, cultural awareness packages, keynote presentations and advisory services. Ingrid is a recognised young leader within the First Nations community and a TedXPerth Alumni. She is also an UN published author and presenter, a former Commissioner for Conservation for the WA state government, and recipient of multiple awards, such as the Indigenous Business of the Year and the Champion for Change.

Julia Robinson

After graduating from UWA in 2008, Julia began her career with Oculus in Sydney, then Melbourne. She later joined ARM Architecture in Melbourne to design and deliver the Perth Waterfront Project, Elizabeth Quay, as well as a range of high-profile landscape projects across the East Coast. Julia returned to her home state of WA in 2021 to establish Mala’s Perth studio. She has a particular interest in detailed design where science and art intersect to solve complex problems.     

Julian Croudace

With over 25 years of professional experience, Julian has concentrated on integrating environmental management with landscape architecture to implement innovative design solutions across a variety of Australian landscapes. He has helped AILA for many years in WA to coordinate new members registration and advocate AILA’s values to government and educators.

Simon Kilbane

Simon is the discipline head (Landscape Architecture) at the University of Western Australia and leads the landscape and environmental consultancy, Rhizome. With a diverse experience across public, private and academic sectors both in Australia and overseas, he is driven by the pressing need for novel solutions that articulate and strengthen an enduring connection between people, place and ecology.

Claire Tyrrell

Claire Tyrrell is a Senior Journalist for Business News. Claire began her career with Seven West Media in 2009, working at regional publications before moving to The West Australian in 2013, and has also worked in London as a journalist covering the finance sector. As a judge on the WA Architecture Awards, Claire is passionate about good design.