The Landscape Forum 2026
Description
LANDSCAPE FORUM 2026
NOW LIVE ONLINE- JOIN THE CHAT
Tell your stories.
Nourish fresh futures.
Make real changes.
The LANDSCAPE FORUM is a two-day event planned for Thursday 4th and Friday 5th of June. On Saturday 6th June a 'constitutional convention' is being held.
The FORUM will bring together people from around Australia, and it is open to all with an interest in the discipline of landscape architecture in the broadest possible sense. It is being held in person and on-line. The event is open to practitioners in public and private practice, scholars, teachers, students, recent graduates, gardeners, contractors, craftspeople, writers and historians. It is inclusive of AILA members and non-members, as well as allied disciplines and is being publicised as widely as possible.
You are invited to tell your story and to share with the Forum. For now, please email.
Over three days in June, you can help make history.
The FORUM is open to all, with an opportunity to share your story. Based around an open program of short presentations, happenings and other provocations, the first day is being crafted from this open call for submissions, from all States and Territories. This is an opportunity to hear from your country, and to create the agenda together.
We may all wonder “what just happened” and this may be discussed. But what do we all do now? What does the future look like for the discipline? How could the new Institute change in order to nurture a fresh future? Your views are keenly sought. Both in-person and online submissions will be available, including recorded, live, reels and tik toks.
A 'constiutional convention' is proposed to follow the forum. This event is being developed in parallel with the FORUM, in the lead-up to the AILA General Meeting which is being held on 4th July 2026. More information about the proposed General Meeting will follow, and it has the potential to create real changes to the current Institute. If you support this idea please sign the secure form at this link.
Cover and gallery images of Trades Hall used with permission, at no cost, and a very big thank you.
(C) Pete Glenane courtesy Lovell Chen Architects.
What is happening when?
- 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Draft programme.....in construction..PLEASE HELP SHAPE THIS
Events are face to face, live and at the venue, unless marked [V], where content will be from online live or pre-recorded to video. The event will be self-catered, so BRING A PLATE! - more on this closer time. Social events are planned for Friday and Saturday nights, further details to follow. This might mean heading across the road to the John Curtin Hotel or having a beer, wine or soft drink in the undercroft below Trades Hall, all at own cost. Or whatever works. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ THURSDAY 4 JUNE Sponsored by URBLO- thank you! AEST 08:00 Courtyard opens – Dress warmly 08:30 WELCOME TO WURUNDJERI COUNTRY ALL | Moderator: Grant Revell 09:30 Forum opening GELLUNG WARL | About TREATY and the First Peoples’ Assembly FORUM opening sponsored by ACE Landscape Services - thank you! 10:15 The 4 principles and the One Law of this Forum Moderator: Josh Zeunert 10:30 Using DISCORD - the Forum 'app' TBC 10:45 Gardening a Profession Georgina Reid (WONDERGROUND); Robert Champion (TARN); David Godshall (TERREMOTO) Speakers now all online (v) due to travel In person moderator: Thomas Gooch ================== 11:50 Short break ====== 12:00 Our Garden of Australian Dreams Howard Raggatt (ARM ARCHITECTURE) In memoriam Richard Weller Moderator: Grant Revell and TBC 12:50 John Gollings and the PHOTOBOOTH with Aliyyah Wright. ------ 13:00 Long lunch – BRING A PLATE! 100% chat | BYO (own cost) .......and! own a John Gollings photograph- of you and your forum friends. The JG PhotoboothTM will be running at lunchtimes, For a small charge John will take your photo, print and sign it. (no rights reserved). 14:30 LANDSCAPE AS LEADERSHIP Joan Ko (ARUP) | Moderator: Catherine Rush 15:15 LET'S HEAR FROM LAs WORKING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT Alli Coster; Andrea Macdonald, Adrian Gray, more to come. Moderator: TBC | 50% chat ================== 16:20 Short break ====== 16:30 AND A GREAT CHAT FROM THE CLIENT SIDE IN BIG INFRASTRUCTURE Hear from Robyn Pollock (Urban Design Adviser, Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority (VIDA), Damian Collopy (RLA, Office of the Victorian Government Architect OVGA) and Lisa Dunlop, Senior Manager, Urban Design, VIDA. Moderator: Adrian Gray | 50% chat 17:30 OPENING EVENTS Solidarity Hall - a short musical interlude. 18:00 Undercroft Bar Drinkies sponsored by ACE Landscape Services ---------------------------------------------- FRIDAY 5 JUNE AEST 08:30 0845 Welcome back RE‑DESIGN FRIDAY Moderator: Michael Wright 09:00 RESILIENCE - HOW ARE WE AS PEOPLE OF EARTH? *trigger warning* some sensitive content. Call 131114 or text 0477 131114 if you need help, or the Forum on 0428 784401. The Caller from Queensland (QLD) --- Karolina Bober (LAUNCESTON CITY COUNCIL) --- Cat Kohn (PRESTON UPPER) ---- SHORT BREAK --- Min Shu (MIN SHU) --- Dan Nunan (@MORNING_NUNAN_NIGHT) --- Ben Crisfield-Smith (CRISFIELD LANDSCAPE) --- Moderator: Maggie Fooke ================== 10:20 Short break ====== 10:30 THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, THE ARCHITECT AND THE CONSTRUCTOR Carey Lyon (LYONS ARCHITECTS) Ken Bartlett (ACE LANDSCAPE SERVICES) Catherine Rush [RUSH WRIGHT] Nick Somes (ecoDYNAMICS) Moderator: TBC 11:30 FRESH FUTURES Schools of Landscape Architecture TBC - all educators welcome from all schools. Please join. Moderator: Gini Lee ---------------------- 12:30 Long lunch – BRING A PLATE! 100% chat | BYO (own cost) ......and! own a John Gollings photograph- of you and your forum friends. The JG PhotoboothTM will be running at lunchtimes, For a small charge John will take your photo, print and sign it. (no rights reserved). ------------------------------ 14:00 TECH FUTURES .........AI..........WHAT'S HAPPENING? THIS IS AWESOME THANK YOU EVERYONE! Artificial Intelligence, Eliza Bingham, Bonnie Lester, Mark Rodriguez, Thomas Gooch, Edan Weis, Philip Belesky, Yazid Ninsalam ================== 15:20 Short break ====== 15:30 IFLA PRESIDENT Dr Bruno Marques Moderator: Joshua Zeunert 16:00 FORUM QANDA Joshua Zeunert + TBC Panel elected from the floor Moderator: Michael Wright 17:00 FRIDAY HAPPENING TBC ---------------------------------------------- SATURDAY 5 JUNE - FROM THE GROUND UP A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION AEST 09:00 Courtyard opens – Dress warmly 09:30 Assemble in Solidarity Hall Form the agenda, open discussion What is a resolution? 10:00 THE STRUCTURES OF THE DISCIPLINE Hear from Forum members working in: - Education & research - Writing & art making - Public practice & procurement - Private practice - AI, how will AI structure the discipline? - Contractors - the Membership organisations 11:00 IS THERE ANYTHING BROKEN THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED? Forum floor Moderator: Neil Hobbs 12:00 THE AILA CONSTITUTION WHAT IS IT AND IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG? Here from company specialists about the way constitutions work. Discuss the existing AILA document Mark up any changes as a group 12:45 Working lunch – BRING A PLATE! 100% chat | BYO (own cost) 13:30 DRAFT CHANGES & RESOLUTIONS Work together to suggest changes to the Constitution Bring your ideas for resolutions Create resolution wording for the General Meeting 15:00 FORUM CLOSE (OR 16:00 latest) Go home Prepare for July 4th, 2026 Stay in touch and stay hopeful!
Our venue at Trades Hall: the main hall and lots of other rooms
FAQs
- Who is organising these events?
Well, in many ways, if you are reading this, we all are.
Over the last four months, the discipline of landscape architecture has been tested at an institutional level. This event is a members' response to the many conversations that have happened over that time, both on and offline. Those conversations definitely need a focus and and an outlet, and a way to turn these challenges into changes.
A small group of people have come together to create a place to come together, for anyone interested to make their point in person, and to begin a process of restoring collaboration and respect.
The group currently includes members below. If you would like to join this growing group, please email us at landscapeforum@gmail.com. Thank you to those who have reached out recently, now is a great time to contribute,
People
Thomas Gooch: TGLA
Adrian Gray: Manager Design & Technical Services, City of Adelaide
Neil Hobbs: Director, Hobbs Harris Landscapes
Dr Gini Lee, Honorary Professorial Fellow, The University of Melbourne, Adjunct Professor RMIT University
& The University of Adelaide
Yazid Ninsalam, Associate Dean, Landscape Architecture, RMIT University; supporting as Affiliate member, AILA
Robyn Pollock, Principal Urban Designer, Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority (VIDA), State Government of Victoria.
Grant Revell (Wadjella) - and studios, Walyalup-Fremantle lovingplace.net
Catherine Rush: Director, rush\wright associates
Michael Wright: Principal Gardener, rush\wright associates
Joshua Zeunert: Associate Professor, School of Architecture and Built Environment, The University of AdelaideNo endorsement is implied, claimed or asserted by any of the organisations listed above. Members are acting in their personal capacity. A separate 'sub-committee' of the organisers is putting together the General Meeting, please see the call for signatures.
More to come
Lineup
You and your stories.
This event will be experienced like a book of short stories, with lots to hear and lots to tell. An open call for submissions responding to a provocation will be sent out soon. All submissions will be given time in the program. If there are many, parallel sessions can happen in the rooms of Trades Hall- have a look at the floor plans in the gallery. There will be screens in every room if needed. Tell your story. Nourish fresh futures. Make real changes. Please email your idea for a submission to landscapeforum@gmail.com or text/whatsapp 0428784401. A FORUM contact mobile will be available soon and this number will be updated.
Thank you to our sponsors
Big thanks to ACE Landscape Services for sponsoring the Welcome... and thursday night drinks... ACE- building our designs and doing it together. Thank you Ken Bartlett.
................................................................................................................................
Thanks so much to Pyrenees Quarries too, for giving us a head start on the social events! This is huge, thanks to Glenn and David at Pyrenees, the most amazing source of stone and stone craft in the country.
...............................................................................
A huge thanks to ecoDynamics for supporting the event and making our use of Trades Hall possible. Thank you Nick Somes.
............................................................................................................................
Thank you to our launch sponsor, John Gollings Photography for inspirations and images. You may see John at the event in June taking record photographs. Thank you John Gollings.
..........................................................................
Urblo provides design-led stone solutions for streetscapes & civil landscapes. Driven by a deep care for the future of the landscape architecture industry, they have sponsored our venues. Without this support, the event could not have happened. Thank you Natalie Ma.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity