When the COVID lockdowns hit Sydney, landscape architect Jess Hodge turned to cooking for stress relief, discovering a talent that got her into Season 13 of MasterChef Australia. Her passion for plants and food sparked a hunger to learn about native ingredients and collaborate with First Nations knowledge holders. Now, Jess is principal landscape architect at Yerrabingin, a Designing with Country practice in Sydney. She shares the milestones, mentors and attitudes that helped shape her unconvent...
Aug 11, 2025•38 min
Pouring beer and waiting tables during uni, Terrence Stapleton would never have dreamed of his fabulous future career. Now he’s a successful landscape architect leading TCL’s Sydney studio, with rich, complex projects all over Australia. Terrence reveals how he learnt to be confident in his own strengths, champion his team and curate diverse voices to get the best results. Find out how to hold your own when your client has 20 years more experience, keep your cool when fighting to save trees on a...
Dec 15, 2024•34 min
Dr Libby Gallagher designs major parks in Sydney, teaches at leading universities and advises government on urban tree canopy. Her Cool Streets research gained national media coverage and was featured in the Powerhouse Museum's 100 Climate Conversations. But Libby’s success hasn’t come easy - - she reveals the leaps of faith that forged her career path, the long days and late nights spent honing her work and the courage it's taken to make sure her message of climate resilience reaches as many pe...
Oct 20, 2024•31 min
Freelance photographer Bo Wong has done things most sole traders only dream of. Like take an 8-month creative sabbatical, swim in the ocean daily, even collaborate successfully with family and friends. Now she supports other creative freelancers trying to juggle life, work and wellbeing through mentoring, retreats and her Soul Traders podcast. Find out why it’s better to be respected than liked, when to use containers in your communication, and the three words you need to remove from your emails...
Aug 06, 2024•34 min
As a young planner, John O’Callaghan created a buzz in the industry by using social media to get his peers engaged with cities. Now, after ten years leading strategic planning and engagement company JOC Consulting, John shares how he learnt to slow down, find his voice and focus his energy in order to have the greatest impact. Find out how to disrupt a highly regulated industry and harness the latest tech for powerful engagement, plus what John really thinks about planning jargon.
May 14, 2024•35 min
Nicole Larkin is an architect, artist and an expert on ocean pools. Her Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship canvassed all 59 pools along the NSW coast, allowing Nicole to create opportunities, forge connections and bring a fresh perspective to coastal design, planning and policy. Find out what it takes to go from recent graduate to respected expert, ways to supercharge your career and generate dream projects, plus what needs to go up front in your next presentation.
Nov 18, 2023•30 min
Host of Grand Designs New Zealand for six years, Chris Moller is a charismatic TV star. But behind the camera is an erudite architect urbanist who challenges the way we live, build and think. Chris has taught at prestigious architecture schools, run practices in the UK, the Netherlands and New Zealand, and invented a prefab building product called Click-Raft. His latest project is a community centre in Christchurch inspired by a giant shellfish.
Jul 13, 2023•32 min
Helen Lochhead sends a refreshing jolt of energy through the architecture profession. As the first female dean of the Faculty of the Built Environment at UNSW Sydney, national president of the Australian Institute of Architects and one of the Australian Financial Review’s top 100 women of influence - she’s resilient, ambitious and inspiring. Helen shares insights on communicating ideas in private practice, the public sector and academia. Find out how to impress a design review panel, how to beat...
Dec 11, 2019•29 min
Greg Grabasch models a new role for landscape architects - as design facilitators. In 2006 he founded UDLA design studio in Fremantle, Western Australia on strong principles of social and environmental justice. Greg talks about holding the middle ground - building and maintaining trust with communities while delivering outcomes for developer and government clients. Find out how Greg became the go-to landscape architect for the trickiest projects in the toughest towns and why he thinks designers ...
Oct 09, 2019•24 min
Indira Naidoo is an expert communicator. You might have seen her on TV, heard her on radio or read her books The Edible Balcony and its sequel The Edible City. Indira knows how to hook you into a story, from a spelling bee that nearly spelled the end of her TV career to a real-life bee that’s become a symbol of hope for climate resilience. Find out Indira’s top tips from 30 years in the communications industry: how to grab people’s attention in an era of fake news, why never to watch yourself on...
Jul 25, 2019•30 min
Jennie Officer’s life is immersed in architecture. She practices as co-director of Officer Woods Architects, teaches at the University of Western Australia and writes about architecture in the dead of night. From tongue-tied recent graduate to award-winning architect, Jennie reveals how she learnt to stand up, speak up and back up her opinions. Find out how open, honest collaboration can produce unbelievable results, how to call out gender bias and key communication tips that will save you hours...
May 03, 2019•29 min
Damian Thompson, landscape architect and director of multidisciplinary design studio Lat27 shares his refreshing take on the design industry - he’s successful yet humble. And he’s learnt jedi-like mind tricks for staying calm when someone’s confrontational. Hear about the botched presentation that’s etched into his memory, why everyone loves a volcano and how to reach every member of your audience.
Mar 09, 2019•29 min
Georgina Reid never dreamed her online magazine The Planthunter would go viral. So when her stories about people and plants connected with thousands of fans, she was terrified. Georgina takes us behind the lush images, revealing the impacts of sudden fame and self doubt. How she’s learnt to let go of her head to write from the heart. What she’ll never forget about working for Jamie Durie. And essential advice for anyone who wants to put their ideas out into the world.
Jan 21, 2019•27 min
Harry Partridge is a rare bird: a structural engineer with a creative soul. He ran his own firm Partridge Engineering for over 30 years, taking pride in delivering strong, safe buildings. But early on, Harry knew something was missing. So he went in search of inspiration, creativity and art in his life and in his work. Now with his firm Cultural Capital, Harry works with artists and developers to bring public art to new communities. And he wants to bring the arts into the education of young engi...
Oct 11, 2018•24 min
Tim Ross is a comedian and design nerd. He’s leapt from the entertainment industry into the design world with a fresh perspective, dry humour and a love for mid-century Australian design. He knows how to keep it real, put you at ease and make any talk feel like you’ve known him forever. Find out how to use memory and stories to communicate ideas plus Tim’s practical tips for public speaking, TV and radio.
Aug 12, 2018•27 min
Tiffany Beamer is a self-confessed introvert - more of a lover than a fighter. At age 30 she was the youngest partner ever made at OLIN and now leads their Los Angeles studio. She learnt how to stand her ground firmly but politely and put her case calmly, gaining authority and respect. Find out how she navigates boardrooms and construction sites as a young landscape architect and how her harshest design critic shaped her approach to communication.
Jun 06, 2018•25 min
At 23, Sacha Coles had just finished uni. He had zero clients and no work, but big plans for the future. Now he’s a successful landscape architect and director of Aspect Studios, responsible for multibillion dollar projects across Australia. He talks about pitching his way up, honing his message, owning his ideas, impressing clients and winning their trust. Find out how he amps himself up before a big pitch and what he thinks are the biggest mistakes designers make when communicating their ideas...
Feb 07, 2018•28 min
