Biography
I am a lecturer in urban horticulture at Burnley Campus, University of Melbourne. My teaching and research interests are in the design and management of urban landscape plantings, including green roofs, vertical greening, climbing plants, ground covers, children’s and therapeutic landscapes. Other roles have included Acting Head of Campus, Course Coordinator, Subject Coordinator, Manager of Knowledge Transfer activities and outreach activities with the professional and wider landscape industries. My research interests fall into three main areas - green roofs and green walls, therapeutic horticulture (community, therapy and school gardens) and plants and planting design (landscape design and plant performance). Over the last three years I have developed new subjects that reflect these interests and incorporated these into both undergraduate and postgraduate subjects, most of which I am coordinating. I have also been involved in creating new academic and research programs in urban landscapes, including the Burnley Short Course Program and courses, including the Master of Urban Horticulture and Graduate Certificate in Garden Design. My design work has been brought into the public domain through exhibition. Since 2003 I have designed 9 displays, 5 which have been award winning at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Together with Nick Williams, I have established a research program to develop green roofs suitable for Australian conditions as a climate change adaptation strategy. I am also actively involved in contracted projects and consulting activities, particularly in relation to green roof substrates research and development.
Research Expertise and International Linkages
Research Expertise
| Research Interest |
Key Words |
Country of Expertise |
| Green roofs as an adaptation to climate change |
evaluating plant performance |
Australia |
| Horticultural teaching and learning |
develop specialist and development programs |
Australia |
| Landscape design and plant performance |
improve design outcome and sustainability |
Australia |
| Social and therapeutic horticulture projects |
researching plants suitable for these applications |
Australia |
International Linkages
Qualifications, Honours, Fellowships and Other
Awards
Qualifications
| Title |
Institution |
Date Awarded |
Abbreviation |
| Bachelor of Applied Science |
University of Melbourne - Burnley |
19-Mar-1993 |
|
| Graduate Diploma in Education (Tertiary) |
University of Melbourne |
31-Dec-1996 |
|
| Diploma of Horticultural Science |
Victorian College of Agriculture and Horticulture |
31-Dec-1979 |
|
Memberships
| Membership Type |
Membership Body |
Description |
Start Date |
End Date |
| Member |
Australian Open Garden Scheme |
Committee Member |
11-Aug-2009 |
|
Other Awards
| Award Type |
Awarding Body |
Comments |
Date Awarded |
| Other (Award) |
The University of Melbourne |
David White Award for Excellence in Teaching (Science) |
21-Apr-2010 |
| Other (Award) |
The University of Melbourne |
Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching |
06-Apr-2005 |
Government Research Classifications
Research Fields, Courses and Discipline Classifications
Socio-Economic Objective Classifications
Grants and Contracts
Research Grants, Contracts and Consultancies awarded to the University of Melbourne as the administering institution (since 2003) as recorded in Themis Agreements.
Contracts
| Title |
Role |
Funding Source |
Award Date |
| PIXEL BUILDING GREEN ROOF - PHASE 2 |
Chief Investigator |
GROCON |
29/01/2010 |
Consultancies
| Title |
Role |
Funding Source |
Award Date |
| PROVISION OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF A GREEN ROOF FOR THE CITY OF MELBOURNE |
Chief Investigator |
UOM COMMERCIAL LTD |
01/10/2008 |
| THE VENNY GREEN ROOF RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECT |
Chief Investigator |
UOM COMMERCIAL LTD |
|
Additional Grant and Contract Information
Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant: Green Roofs as an adaptation to climate change: evaluating plant performance and building energy budgets.
Publications
Publications produced at the University of Melbourne and reported in the Annual Publications Collection and 'Research Report' since 2001. The Themis Publications module, released in November 2006, allows additional publications from previous institutions and publications from past years to be entered.
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