Simon’s early experience as a landscape architect centred on the design and delivery of waterway projects, including the rehabilitation of natural ecosystems as well as constructed wetlands and waterways.

The breadth of his expertise today is reflected in the diversity of projects GbLA undertakes, but waterways remain his great passion, and Simon is regarded throughout the profession as a leading practitioner in this specialist area.

Within the firm, his responsibilities are wide ranging—and he embraces them all. As a creative, Simon loves nothing more than putting his head down and designing. As a colleague and mentor, he is welcoming, inclusive and supportive. As a leader, he sets high standards and uses his 20+ years’ industry experience to ensure project teams translate their ideas into deliverable outcomes of the quality for which GbLA is renowned.

A Registered Landscape Architect, Simon holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from RMIT University, and a Bachelor of Arts (Geography and Anthropology) from Monash University.

Ashley’s design career began in Sydney, where he worked on large-scale projects, locally and internationally, including the athlete’s village for The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

A client-side role followed in local government. Four years later, with his talent for landscape design and planning now complemented by well-honed project management and community consultation skills, he joined GbLA. The year was 2004.

Flash forward and Ashley today is a director of the firm, with more than 25 years’ experience to his name and expertise in a range of typologies. Forthright in his belief that GbLA deliver outcomes that benefit client, community, and environment alike, he is an active contributor and ongoing presence throughout the life of projects, large and small.

A Registered Landscape Architect, Ashley has fulfilled roles at both state and national level for AILA and is currently Chair of the association’s national membership committee. He holds a Master of Environmental Planning from Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from UNSW.

Annette joined GbLA in 2019, bringing with her more than two decades’ experience, and a uniquely diverse skillset acquired through roles ranging from plant collecting for Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, to academic teaching, consulting, and multidisciplinary practice.

Able to guide projects large or small from proposal to completion, she is a strong conceptual thinker and exceptional communicator. Expert in landscape architecture and horticulture, her approach is always deeply considered, and the development of her designs from the abstract to the granular, always meticulous.

Annette also contributes significantly to the professional development of junior staff— both as an inclusive, engaging team leader, and a knowledgeable and enthusiastic mentor.

A Registered Landscape Architect, Annette holds an Associate Degree in Horticulture from the University of Melbourne, and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from RMIT. She is currently undertaking a PhD on the mid-to-late twentieth century landscape designer, Gordon Ford.

Gemma is a widely experienced landscape architect who possesses both outstanding conceptual skills, and the ability to translate high-level concepts into richly detailed designs.

An innovative thinker with a penchant for hand sketching, she is always happy to take on new challenges, and always looking to push boundaries in ways that elevate project outcomes – especially in the area of playground design.

Passionate about storytelling through landscape, Gemma seeks to weave site history and heritage with local flora and fauna, to create experiential, human-scale spaces that engage and inform. As a senior team member and design lead, she is also committed to supporting the growth and professional development of junior colleagues, through mentoring and knowledge sharing.

Gemma is a Registered Landscape Architect. She holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Melbourne.

An outdoorsy type with a love of art and design, Harry’s professional epiphany came during a brief stint as an assistant gardener. Six years and two honours degrees later, he was part of GbLA… and has never looked back.

Focused and thorough, Harry’s all-round talent enables him to make key contributions at every project stage. Be it preparing detailed masterplanning documentation, or liaising on site with clients and contractors, his personable nature, proactive approach, and irrepressible enthusiasm never fail to deliver the best outcome for the task at hand.

Having a positive impact on the community is what brings him the most joy: “when you complete a project and see people using the spaces you’ve created, that’s a special moment”.

Harry holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architectural Design (Hons), and a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (Hons), both from RMIT University.

John grew up on a vineyard in Mildura, inspiring a deep connection with the land and environment that led ultimately to a career in landscape architecture.

Passionate about delivering built landscapes that will be used and appreciated, John thrives on the challenge of guiding GbLA designs from inception to completion. Working mostly on site, he co-ordinates the contract administration of multiple projects at multiple locations across greater Melbourne and Geelong.

For John, relationship building is key. Organised, capable and always amiable, he has a natural rapport with stakeholders and contractors that encourages collective problem solving, and invariably leads to great outcomes with minimal fuss.

He holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from RMIT and a Diploma of Education from the University of South Australia.

After gaining qualifications in architecture and landscape architecture, Perin quickly came to the realisation her true passion lay with the latter – a conclusion reinforced through ensuing roles in both private and multi-disciplinary commercial practice.

As a designer, she believes landscapes should tell a story; that people engage more deeply, and have greater pride of place, when aesthetic qualities are complemented by layers of narrative. Perin also appreciates the bigger picture; that beyond aesthetics, landscape can have a positive impact on community and climate – two issues close to her heart.

Delivery is another of her strengths. Organised, collaborative, process driven, and detail focused, she takes great satisfaction in ensuring design intent is translated through the documentation process, then fully realised on site.

A Registered Landscape Architect, Perin holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and a Master of Architecture from the University of Melbourne.