Learn from Australia's leading 
landscape designers

AILA Registered Landscape Architect and Landscape Designer

Landscape Designer and Managing Director of COS Design

Landscape Designer and Founder of Landart

Jim is a highly accomplished landscape designer and architect who has received over 30 international design awards, including 16 international gold medals. Jim was the first Australian-based garden designer to compete at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2004 and the famous Philadelphia Flower Show in 2014. He designed show gardens for Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, winning a gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2011 and Gold and Best in Show at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in 2014. In Japan, Jim won the Gardening World Cup in 2011. Jim's achievements have led to encounters with world leaders, and his expertise is widely recognised, making him a sought-after judge for garden shows and design associations worldwide.

Steve Taylor has built and designed multi-award-winning gardens in Australia and internationally for over 20 years. Steve is a regular on the judging panels for state and national landscaping awards, including the Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers Awards of Excellence, the Master Landscapers of South Australia Awards of Excellence and the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Steve won the 2023 Professional of the Year and Pool Designer of the Year at recent Victoria and National SPASA awards.

Matt Leacy has an established 20-year career in the Australian landscape design industry. He founded his business, Landart, in 2000, a successful design, construction and maintenance company that has grown to include a team of over 40 professionals. Qualified in horticulture and structural landscaping, Matt is driven by creating spaces that become even more appealing with maturity and where the day's worries fade away. Matt regularly appears on television to encourage others into the garden and is the landscape guru for Channel 10’s The Living Room.

Landscape Architect and Founder of BWLA

Landscaper and Owner of InStyle Gardens 

Farm Manager at Coolabah Turf

Bethany Williamson is a Melbourne-based landscape architect. With a Master's in Landscape Architecture from the University of Adelaide, she began her career at Ian Barker Garden Design before starting her own studio, Bethany Williamson Landscape Architecture (BWLA). Passionate about creating balanced and elegant gardens, Bethany excels in designing landscapes that emotionally engage and connect people with nature. Her minimalist approach and emphasis on collaboration result in functional and beautiful spaces with seamless transitions between interior and exterior environments.

Joel has been the proud owner of InStyle Gardens, a landscape design and construction company based in Geelong, Victoria, for 15 successful years. After gaining valuable experience at a golf course and nursery early in his career, Joel further honed his expertise by pursuing a landscaping apprenticeship, which ultimately paved the way for him to take the helm at InStyle Gardens. Alongside running InStyle Gardens, Joel is an active industry contributor. He hosts The Landscaping Podcast, where he engages in insightful conversations with professionals across the landscaping industry. Additionally, he is currently developing The Landscaping School, an online platform offering courses on practical landscaping skills such as concreting and paving aimed at supporting aspiring professionals and enthusiasts alike.

As Farm Manager, Dave oversees daily operations at Coolabah's turf farm in Echuca, Victoria. His primary responsibilities include ensuring the farm produces top-quality turf, balancing production capacity and irrigation needs, managing seasonal challenges, and maintaining a steady supply to meet demand while consistently meeting deadlines. With a strong background in landscaping, cropping, and horticulture, Dave is deeply committed to environmental conservation and sustainable farming practices. His years of experience working on land in rural Victoria and the remote Mataranka region of the Northern Territory have instilled in him a profound respect for preserving our natural resources for future generations.

Director at Jardan

Business Development Manager at Warners Nurseries

Director at Atelier Ten

Nick has been Jardan’s director for over 25 years. After honing his skills as a designer and gaining invaluable experience from working with large retailers and architectural firms, Nick’s insight into the needs and opportunities within the manufacturing and design community helped him shape Jardan’s tangible and unique proposition. With a deep connection to the Australian way of life, Jardan creates inspiring and responsible furniture and lighting and a curated collection of homewares.

Andrew has worked at Warners Nursery for nearly 40 years. From humble beginnings, Warners Nurseries has grown and prospered through four generations to become one of Australia’s most successful wholesale nurseries. Focusing on growing an extensive range of quality trees and shrubs for the horticultural industry, Warners strives to be the ultimate destination for professionals working in the landscaping and gardening sector.

David is the leader of Atelier Ten’s Melbourne studio, a strategic sustainability consultancy specialising in environmental design, ESD consulting, and transforming the built environment. With expertise in strategic consulting, environmental design optimisation, and net-zero carbon strategies, David has worked with government and corporate clients on large-scale projects worldwide. He is an accomplished environmental engineer and teaches at the University of Melbourne.

Meet your mentors

During your studies, you’ll receive feedback and support from a dedicated industry mentor who is a practising landscape design professional. Connect with your mentor through discussion boards, live events, and a one-on-one session at the end of your course. Your mentor will also provide detailed feedback on your activities and projects.