Boffa Miskell supports the 2023 NZILA Conference

Boffa Miskell was well represented at the 2023 NZILA Firth Conference in Whakatū / Nelson.

Luke Porter, a Boffa Miskell landscape architect, is the Nelson/Marlborough Branch Chair, so the conference location was a great opportunity for the Whakatū / Nelson office to meet and host colleagues and take a lead role in conference activities.

At the President’s Cocktail Evening, Rebecca Ryder and Shona McCahon were named as new NZILA Fellows for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the landscape architecture profession.

Rebecca is a shareholder director at Boffa Miskell, based in the Tauranga office. She joined Boffa Miskell in 2001 and has been actively involved in the NZILA Executive for most of her career.

Shona worked for Boffa Miskell from 1990 – 2004 as a landscape planner.

Hamish Cochrane, Hannah Wilson and William Hatton were recognised for successfully passing their New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Tuia Pito Ora (NZILA) Registration interview.

John Potter (FNZILA) was the 2022 Registration Panel Chair; and Mark Brown, Helen Baggaley, Bruno Gilmour, Yoko Tanaka and Pete Whiting were among the Registration Panellists.

Boffa Miskell sponsored Day One keynote speaker Kotchakorn Voraakhom. She is a Thai landscape architect and chief executive officer of Porous City Network, a social enterprise that looks to increase urban resilience in Southeast Asia. She is also the founder of the Koungkuey Design Initiative, which works with communities to rebuild public spaces, and chairwoman of the Climate Change Working Group of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA World).

Her presentation highlighted the importance the role of advocacy and community engagement plays in landscape architecture design and climate adaptation. Boffa Miskell partner Rachel de Lambert (FNZILA) says the presentation was especially relevant given Kotchakorn’s experience of working with, and not against water: “She’s really doing it, not just talking about it and we have a lot to learn from her.”

Alan Gray presented “Nelson-focused greenfields and urban centres” on Day One. Alan is a landscape architect in the Whakatū Nelson office, and has led public realm delivery outcomes, including the development and adoption of Te Ara ō Whakatū, Nelson’s central city vision. Jeremy Butler of Tasman District Council was co-presenter.

Rachel says Day One was a reminder to the profession on the importance of continued involvement of mana whenua in all aspects of project design and implementation.

“The theme of “Growing Pains’ was expertly woven through the whole programme. The message is clear about working with mana whenua; there is still more to be done and we can and must improve in this area.”

On Day Two, Luke Porter MC’ed the session “Unique – how do we retain our place?” which examined the challenges and opportunities facing Whakatū Nelson. Alan Gray was one of four panellists for “Shifting the Narrative: How Local Advocacy Can Challenge the Status Quo.”

Boffa Miskell landscape architects are actively involved in the Association’s many panels and working groups; on the NZILA Executive Committee (Rebecca Ryder FNZILA, Megan Harshey, William Hatton); and serve as local Branch Chairs (Luke Porter, Emma Taylor) and branch officers (Topsy Steele, Steve Dunn).

Julia Wick is on the Accreditation Panel; Rachel de Lambert and John Potter on the Advocacy Panel; Mark Lewis on the Climate Change Action Working Group; Dave Parker on the Continuing Professional Development Working Group; Frank Boffa (FNZILA) and Boyden Evans (FNZILA) on the Fellowship Review Working Group and John Potter on the Registration Working Group.

For further information please contact Luke Porter, Rebecca Ryder or Alan Gray