AIH Conference & Awards 2026
5 September 2026
Adelaide Wine Centre, South Australia
Plants, People, Planet – AIH conference PLUS Awards Dinner, AGM and Horticultural Tour
The Australian Institute of Horticulture Biennial Conference and Awards returns in 2026 with a powerful and timely theme: Plants, People, Planet. Grounded in our commitment to supporting planetary health, this year’s event explores the vital connection between thriving landscapes and human wellbeing. As the importance of time spent in nature becomes increasingly recognised, the role of horticulture has never been more essential—for our health today and for generations to come.
Bringing together industry leaders, practitioners and innovators, the conference will showcase a diverse program of speakers who will expand on this theme across a range of topics. From arboriculture management and the protection of endemic species, to product diversity, sustainable destination design, advancements in horticultural therapy, and the future of urban green infrastructure, each session is designed to inform, inspire and connect.
Complementing the conference program, attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a garden tour, attend the AGM, and contribute to the Strategic Plan Review.
At the heart of everything, we commit to sustainable, innovative and connected horticulture.
The 2026 Biennial Conference and Awards Weekend begins on Friday, 4 September with a garden tour and AGM Day.
On Saturday, 5 September, the Conference will be held at the National Wine Centre from 8:00am to 5:00pm, followed by the highly anticipated AIH Awards Dinner from 6:30pm to 10:30pm—an evening to celebrate excellence across our profession.
Plus, discover a plethora of green industry events happening in Adelaide from 2nd to 5th September. Definitely a landmark occasion for Australian horticulture not to be missed.
Discounted early bird tickets available until 30 June.
Conference Programme
Saturday
Registration 7:45 am to 8:15 am
Introduction & Welcome to Country 8:15 am to 8:40 am
Introduction
By AIH President then handover to the MC (Clarence Slockee or Costa Georgiadis)
Welcome to Country
Kuma Kaaru / Luke Wilson
Session 1 – Growing in Adelaide – Showcase Local Environments 8:40 – 10:00 am
Matt Coulter
Senior Horticultural Curator Nursery Operations, Botanic Gardens & State Herbarium of SA
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden: One of Australia’s Great Cool Climate Gardens
Set within the cool, moist climate of the Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden provides an ideal environment for an exceptional diversity of plant collections. This presentation explores how the garden’s unique conditions support both biological and ecological plantings, including the immersive Fern Gully and Woodland Garden.
Matt Coulter will showcase the garden’s distinctive geographical plantings, from the Himalayas to New Zealand, South Africa, and the Americas, demonstrating how climate and design come together to create one of Australia’s great cool climate botanic gardens.
Matt Coulter is Senior Horticulture Curator of Nursery Operations for the Botanic Gardens of South Australia, with 40 years’ experience across nursery production, propagation, conservation, and horticultural research.
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Jeff Lugg
Royal Zoological Society of South Australia Inc
The Life of a Zoo Horticulturist
Explore the unique role horticulture plays within a modern zoo environment. The presentation highlights how plant selection, landscape design, and habitat creation support animal welfare, conservation messaging, and visitor experience. It also provides insight into the daily work of maintaining complex living landscapes that must be safe for animals, sustainable for long-term management, and immersive for zoo guests.
Jeff Lugg is the General Manager of Operations at Adelaide Zoo, where he has worked for 36 years. With qualifications in horticulture and arboriculture. Jeff has led major habitat and landscape developments across the zoo.
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Morning Tea 10:00 – 10:30 am
Session 2 – Urban Greening Infrastructure (UGI) Advancement & Environmental Management 10:30 am- 12:55 pm
Dr Tonia Cochran OAM
Founder, Curator and Collections Manager of Inala Jurassic Garden, Tasmania
Inala Jurassic Garden’s ‘Noah’s Ark’ Project: protecting ancient plant taxa
The Inala Jurassic Garden houses an in-situ collection of over 750 species of plants from 50 families with ancient Gondwanan connections. Many of these are threatened in the wild from anthropogenic effects and climate change. Tonia will speak about the projects in which the Inala Jurassic Garden is involved and the importance of ex-situ collections as insurance against extinction of these species in the wild.
Tonia Cochran is Founder and Curator of Inala Jurassic Garden in Tasmania and Managing Director of Inala Nature Tours. A conservation leader and former marine biologist, she collaborates globally on plant conservation and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her environmental contributions.
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Jason Summers
Remarkable Trees
Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI)– Growing Cities From the Ground Up
TBA
Over 30 years experience in Local Government Parks management
PLA Board Member and World Urban Parks Academy Regent
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Michael Casey
Evergreen Infrastructure, Director and Green Infrastructure Consultant
Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI)-From Environmental Amenity to Economic Asset – Reframing nature as performance infrastructure within modern cities
Urban green infrastructure is often framed as an environmental or aesthetic feature within city developments. Yet when designed and managed effectively, systems such as green roofs, living walls and biodiverse landscapes can perform as valuable infrastructure supporting environmental resilience and economic performance. This presentation explores how urban greening contributes to cooling cities, improving building performance, attracting tenants and strengthening urban environments while delivering long-term value for businesses, property owners and communities.
Michael Casey is Director of Evergreen Infrastructure and a recognised leader in urban green infrastructure and urban horticulture. He co-founded the National Urban Green Infrastructure Roundtable, served as a technical panellist for the World Green City Awards and was a Past President of Australian Institute of Horticulture.
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Lunch 12:55 – 1:45 pm
Sam Dalton
Product Analyst, Arborgreen
Mary-Claire King
Partnerships Manager, Arborgreen
Flex MSE – Sustainable Vegetated Wall System- Product Diversity and Sustainability
TBA
TBA
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Gary Chua
Senior Director of Research & Horticulture at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Anton van der Schans
Principal Horticulturist at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Gardens by the Bay: A Horticultural Destination Designed with Sustainability
Gardens by the Bay is a horticultural destination where plants, immersive experiences and sustainability are thoughtfully integrated. This presentation highlights the signature attractions and dynamic programming that made the Gardens a global icon since 2012 and outlines how sustainable designs and systems underpin these experiences. Through this session, conference participants are invited to experience the Gardens both as a world-class horticultural showcase and as a living example of sustainability in practice.
Gary Chua is Senior Director of Research & Horticulture at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore. A NUS Botany graduate with nearly 30 years’ experience, he currently oversees plant production to support iconic floral and orchid displays.
Anton van der Schans is Principal Horticulturist at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore. He studied Landscape Architecture and spent nearly 20 years in Tropical North Queensland specialising in vegetation survey and planting design. Anton joined Gardens by the Bay in 2007 and played a key role in plant selection and themed garden design, helping to bring a world of plants to Singapore.
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Anna Baker Cresswell
Horticultural Therapy, UK
UK and Europe’s Horticulture Charities Advancement – and her work in the Ukraine.
An update on Green Social Prescribing, professional accreditation of Horticultural Therapists, the NHS and Horticultural Therapy and how HT is helping in Ukraine.
Anna’s horticultural therapy journey began in 2007 when she established a charity in memory of her mother, centred on delivering horticultural therapy for veterans in walled garden settings. In 2012, she founded HighGround to further explore the benefits of horticultural therapy as a rehabilitation intervention for injured service personnel at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. Anna is a proud Trustee of Gardening4Health and continues to advocate for the role of nature-based therapies in health and wellbeing. Based in Northumberland, she enjoys gardening and travelling—particularly when the two can be combined.
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Jeff Barry
CHOJO Feature Trees
Bonsai: A Quiet Rebellion in an Era of Noise
Bonsai is not the art of making trees small but the practice of learning attention and patience. Through years of working with trees I have come to see it as a reflection of life shaped slowly through care and observation. Influenced by nature and experiences across cultures bonsai connects science art and culture while teaching humility responsibility and a deep respect for time.
Jeff Barry is an Australian bonsai artist, educator and founder of Chojo Bonsai Nursery. Active in the field since 2001, he teaches, curates exhibitions and collaborates internationally. He was the inaugural Artist in Residence at the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia.
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Conference Concludes 5:00 pm
AIH Horticultural Awards Dinner – Saturday 5th, 6:30 pm
The evening will commence at 6.30 pm and conclude at 10.30 pm at the beautiful Adelaide National Wine Centre.
Enjoy a seated dinner and take the opportunity to rest those weary feet after several days exploring Adelaide’s horticultural treasures.
Our Awards Dinner speaker is the 2025 Horticulturist of the Year and 2019 BBM Award recipient—an international horticultural journeyman who has built displays at the Chelsea Flower Show, spent time working in Monet’s Garden, and most recently served as gardener to Australia’s highest civil representatives, Tyler Howard MAIH RH.
Friday
Tour & Lunch 10:30 to 3:30 pm
Limited numbers
10:30 am to 12:00 pm – Guided walk – 1.5 hours
Meet at Adelaide Botanic Gardens – Meander to Adelaide Zoo
12 :30 to 1:30 pm – Lunch at own cost at Adelaide Zoo restaurant
1:30 to 3:30pm – Adelaide Zoo staff led for a horticultural themed tour
Numbers are limited to 30 for the Friday Tour due to operator restrictions so book early! Only AIH members can register at this time. Any remaining tickets after July 31st will be available for non-members and guests.
AGM and Strategic Plan Review 3:45pm to 4:45pm
The AGM and Strategic Plan Review will be held at the zoo after the tour. If you will be attending the AGM in person but not on the tour you must book for the AGM. The zoo entry fee is at attendees cost
For those members who can’t attend the AGM will be broadcast as a Microsoft Teams meeting – members will be advised of the login arrangements September 1st, 2026
Horticultural Events in Adelaide the Same Week
What else is on in Adelaide, 2nd September to 5th September, 2026?
We’re delighted to share that other leading green industry associations will be holding tours, awards nights and conferences in Adelaide during the same week—making it a landmark occasion for Australian horticulture.
- Horticultural Media Association of Australia (HMAA) – Book Here for HMAA Laurels Awards, September 3rd The Neutrog Laurels Awards Dinner Night at Carrick Hill
- Therapeutic Horticulture Australia (THA)– Conference and Dinner September 2nd, 2026
- TreeNet – September 3rd and 4th 2026 – TREENET Symposium, Adelaide
- The Royal Adelaide Show Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA (RA&HS).September 5th to 13th, 2026
So plan your ‘Once in a Century Gathering of Kindred Horticulturists’.
For all The Horticultural tourists out there with all this a’happening’ ….. don’t leave it too late to book your travel and accommodation.
Mark your calendar, spread the word, and plan to be in Adelaide for this unmissable week.