Nick Archer – Consultant, A & R Tree Surgeons.

Nick began his involvement in the arboricultural industry in the mid 1960’s. He was formally educated in the profession in England, prior to beginning his private practice in Australia in 1970.

A & R Tree Surgeons is now directly focused on arboricultural consulting work, primarily on the integration of trees into new developments. Nick is also involved in undertaking street tree planning for major municipalities, including tree selection assessments.

Paul Goodison – Landscape Architect, Manningham City Council.

Paul is currently the Landscape Architect at Manningham City Council. One of his main tasks at Council is to help plan each year’s street tree planting program. In recent years the aim of this program has been to gradually replace the poorly performing 1960’s and 1970’s street trees with better performing and more attractive species.

Prior to working at Manningham, Paul had more than 10 years experience undertaking various landscape design and management plans primarily for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Parks Victoria and local government.

David Grant – Arboricultural Officer, City of Ballarat.

David began in Arboriculture in 1978 at the then City of Benalla. He worked in both public and private sectors until 1985, when he returned to study obtaining formal qualifications at Burnley College. During this time he developed his main interest, professional tree management in local government.

He resides in Ballarat and has been employed as Arboricultural Officer with the City of Ballarat since 1990. The role has now changed from operational to tree management and planning. David oversees two Botanic Gardens, Ballarat Avenue of Honour and numerous areas of significant exotic and remnant indigenous vegetation.

Tim Hart – Landscape Architect, Urban Initiatives.

Tim is a director of Urban Initiatives, responsible for the implementation and project management phase of the practice’s work in urban design and landscape development. Tim is involved in streetscape works, park planning and design, institutional, heritage and urban design projects.

He is involved in a number of external activities within his profession namely, chair of the AILA Vic Group Education and Student Liaison sub committee and sessional lecturer for the RMIT Landscape Architecture course.

Megan Jones - Urban & Public Spaces, City of Stonnington.

Meg has worked at Stonnington Council for the past three years in the Urban and Public Spaces Department and during this time she has been responsible for implementing the Capital Works Street Tree Program. This program involves selecting streets most in need of attention, preliminary proposal and survey to residents and the overseeing of tree planting.

Meg has formal qualifications in Landscape Architecture and had worked in private practice before moving to Stonnington.

Ian Rogers – Arboricultural Management Officer, City of Greater Geelong.

Ian is the Arboricultural Management Officer in the Parks Unit of the Environment and Recreation Service Department, City of Greater Geelong. Ian’s primary function is Asset Management for all street and park trees within this very large municipality.

He is involved in all areas of tree management including data base development, strategic planning, removal and replanting programs, tree selection, tree policy and implementation. Ian has many years experience in tree matters with local government in Melbourne and now with Geelong.

Michael Smith – Parks Business Manager, City of Greater Dandenong.

Mick has been involved in this industry for over twenty years and holds tertiary qualifications in horticulture and management.

As Parks Business Manager, he is responsible for parks, sports grounds, streetscapes, amenity horticulture and capital projects for this large municipality. Mick also undertakes development and strategic policy planning for the city.

Michael Leers

Michael completed a Bachelor Applied Science in Horticulture (Honours) in 2000 and is currently undertaking a Masters Degree in Horticulture. To complete this research based qualification Michael is investigating factors that influence tree establishment within the urban environment.

Michael has worked in local government for over ten years. For the past five years he has had the role of Senior Arborist at Hume City Council. In this role he is primarily responsible for tree planting and establishment as well as all aspects of tree management and maintenance for the 128, 000 street and reserve trees in Hume, including powerline clearance programs, tree protection during development and other construction, pruning programs, tree removal programs and tree asset inventory database management.