IFLA ExCO
Bruno Marques
IFLA President
Bruno Marques is a registered landscape architect and educator. He completed his Landscape Architecture studies at the University of Lisbon (Portugal) and Berlin Technical University (Germany), followed by his PhD studies at the University of Otago (New Zealand).
Bruno has practiced in Germany, Estonia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, having an extensive portfolio of built projects.
During the past nine years at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, he has developed a comprehensive research agenda to embrace the formulation of frameworks on landscape rehabilitation, cultural landscapes, place-making, and Indigenous community health and wellbeing.
He is currently the Associate Dean for the Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation.
Hermann Georg Gunnlauggson
IFLA Treasurer
landslagsarkitekt FÍLA / Landscape Architect Dipl. Ing. (FH) / City Planning MSc
Hermann graduated 1996 from Fachhochschule Weihenstephan in Germany with a Landscape Architecture degree Dipl. Ing. (FH). After 2 years working experience at the Icelandic National Planning Agency and in the office Landslag ehf he founded together with his college Ólafur Melsted the office Teiknistofan Storð ehf in 1999.
Storð landscape has been working both in landscape design and planning for municipalities and the icelandic government and private contractors in Iceland for more the 25 years. Hermann worked on Landscape projects for housing project for Búseti co-operative building association in Smiðjuholt at Einholt 6-12 and Þverholt 15-23, Keilugrandi 1-11 and Árskógar 5-7 in Reykjavík. Landscape design for Nurshinghome Hulduhlíð in Eskifjörður in 2011 and landscape design for Sund Upper Secondary School in 2013 after a design competition.
In 2019 graduated Hermann with a MSc in City Planning from the Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI) and his thiese was a study on Kindergarten environment in city planning in Stockholm and Reykjavík. Hermann has been involved with many landscape design projects for Kindergartens, School yards and playgrounds in Iceland. He is interested in further research on design and children's environment in the future.
Experience and academy
Owner of Teiknistofan Storð ehf / Stord landscape Laugavegi 178, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland since 1999.
Adjunct Lecturer and Program Director of BSc Program in Landscape Architecture at the Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI) 2021-2022. External Lecturer August to December 2022.
Assistant Professor at AUI from 2003 to 2005.
Volunteer work
Federations of the Icelandic Landscape Architects FÍLA. President from 2013-2016 and member of FÍLA since 1997.
IFLA Europe Treasurer 2023 – 2024
Member of FBP Committee since 2014
IFLA Europe Treasurer 2020-2022.
IFLA Europe Vice-President for Professional Practice from October 2015 to October2019.
Ruth Wanjiku Mwai
President IFLA Africa
Ruth is a Landscape Architect and Environmental Planner with over 16 years of experience shaping landscapes in the built environment. Her professional journey has taken her across the vibrant landscapes of Africa, where she's left her mark on numerous infrastructure and building projects through a wide range of roles. Her expertise encompasses master planning, landscape restoration, landscape planning, environmental impact assessments, participatory planning, contract administration, project management, and landscape construction.
Based in Nairobi Kenya, Ruth leads the team at Muzuri Spaces a landscape architectuural firm providing landscape planning & design services, environmenta impact assemment and, landscape construction services. Her team endevours in crafting designs that seamlessly blend strutures and landscapes.
Beyond her role at Muzuri, she has served as a tutor at the Department of Landscape Architecture of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology (JKUAT) and at the Department of Architecture & Interior Design of Kenyatta University.
Before taking on the role of the International Federation of Landscape Architecture (IFLA Africa) President, Ruth served as the Professional Practice and Policy Commitee Chair from 2023-2025. At the National level, Ruth's is a dedicated member of the Architectural Association of Kenya(AAK), where she has served in various capacities, including a noteworthy tenure as Chairperson of the AAK Landscape Architects Chapter from 2021 to 2024, during which Kenya and Sweden jointly hosted the 69th IFLA World Congress. Currently, Ruth brings her expertise to the AAK’s Executive Committee as the Honorary Secretary.
Ruth holds a bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology and a Master's in Planning (Urban & Regional Planning) from the University of Nairobi.
Rafael Dodera
President IFLA Americas
Rafael Dodera is a forest agronomy engineer, graduated from the Universidad de la República in Montevideo, Uruguay. He has served as the coordinator of the Landscape Disciplinary Group at the Facultad de Agronomía, UDELAR since 2017 and has coordinated the Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Design since 2013. Since 2012, he has been the professor responsible for courses such as Transversal Workshop, Landscape Interpretation, Bio-aesthetics and Landscape Perception, and Landscape Management. He has also held prominent roles at IFLA AR (International Federation of Landscape Architects – Americas region), serving as Chair of the Permanent Committee on Education and Academic Affairs since 2020, Secretary General from 2018 to 2020, and is currently the President of IFLA Americas.
Chris Tidswell
President IFLA Asia-Pacific
I am thankful for the privilege given to serve International Federation of Landscape Architects Asian Pacific Region (IFLA APR) Honorary Secretary and now President.
The objective is to expand the network and raise awareness of what landscape architects do across Asia Pacific Region.
My passion and motivation behind standing for IFLA APR President stems from the experiences through my professional career. Previously I was the IFLA APR Honorary Secretary, a past Australian Institute of Landscape Architect (AILA) National Board Director and the Company Secretary.
I have expert knowledge in Corporate Governance and has served on the AILA National Practice Committee, National Advocacy Committee and National Gender Equity Working Group. I was also on the committee that selected the current Chief Executive Officer.
I am a Director at Arcadia Landscape Architecture. Arcadia is an Australian privately-owned company which has offices in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane with over 60 staff.
I will be looking to achieve the below in my terms as president:
Lead various strategic IFLA APR Key Items
We are at a generational cross roads and opportunity to provide guidance to the planet as landscape architects on Climate Change
Create partnerships and relationships with IFLA World - Past and Current Presidents and ExCo
Ensure a financially sustainable IFLA APR
Work closely with the Secretariat and manage the MCI Mandate
Take strategic guidance from IFLA APR Advisory Board
Provide knowledge of the IFLA APR Constitution and Governance Model
Represent the regional organisation in an effective, efficient, collaborative, and cooperative manner in the best interests of the IFLA APR and the profession, in accordance with the Constitution and the Strategic & Operations Plan
Lead and take overall responsibility for the implementation and administration of the IFLA APR Strategic Plan
Continue to lead the Registration and Constitutional Reform for IFLA APR
Attract emerging and new member nation associations
Katarina Gkoltsiou
President IFLA Europe and IFLA Vice President
Katerina Gkoltsiou has a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Aegean in Greece, a Master in Landscape Architecture from the University of Edinburgh, U.K., and a diploma in Αgriculture from the Agricultural University of Athens, Greece. She is President of IFLA Europe (2021-2023), President of the Panhellenic Association of Landscape Architects (PHALA) (2016-present), and member of the Geotechnical Chamber in Greece (1997-present).She was Vice President of Professional Practice of the European Federation of Landscape Architects (2019-2021), Delegate of PHALA-Greece in IFLA Europe (2016-2019) and member of the Landscape Committee of Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (2016).In 1997, she founded her practice on Landscape Architecture, in Athens-Greece (www.katerinagoltsiou.gr ). She specializes in a wide range of services in the design, construction and research sector of landscape architecture. Her landscape expertise involves the landscape design of public and private projects, landscape assessment, and landscape restoration projects. She is also a partner of AGRODESIGN ( www.agrodesign.gr ), in order to promote rural tourism and to provide innovative ideas concerning the landscape design of agritourism farms and agricultural landscape.She was giving lectures about landscape design and research in lifelong learning programs for adults, public officers and as part time teacher at the Agricultural University of Athens (MLA course).She is also the co-author in books for High Schools and Universities, she wrote articles in many scientific journals and technical reports. From 2002, she is participating as project manager and scientific adviser in EU research programs. Her broad research interests involve landscape character assessment, landscape analysis, as well
as policies and methods for raising awareness among the civil society, private organisations, and public authorities about the value of landscapes and their protection.
Jala Makhzoumi
Interim President IFLA Middle East
Jala Makhzoumi is the 2021 laureate of the IFLA Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award for her outstanding contribution to education and practice in landscape architecture. She is adjunct professor of landscape architecture, American University of Beirut, Acting President, International Federation of Landscape Architects, the Middle East Region.
Teaching and practicing in a region where landscape architecture is still an emerging profession brought many challenges, but it freed Jala to engender a definition of landscape architecture that was responsive to the ecological, socio-cultural and political context of the region. She applies this contextual landscape approach to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to framing human rights and citizenship and in her approach to postwar recovery.
Her publications include Ecological Landscape Design and Planning: The Mediterranean context, co-author Pungetti, The Right to Landscape, contesting landscape and human rights, co-editors Egoz and Pungetti, and Horizon 101, a collection of paintings and prose, reflections on landscape and identity.
Jala is recipient of the Tamayouz Award for women in architecture (2013), was profiled by the Aga Khan Women Architects (2014), received the lifetime achievement award of the European Council of Landscape Architecture Schools (2019).
Kharbal Kaltho
Chair IFLA CER Committee
Kharbal James Kaltho is a Landscape Architect with a Master's in Landscape Architecture (MLA) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria a BSc. In Architecture and an MSc Architecture in view. He has experience in Regional Landuse Planning, Landscape Ecology, and Landscape Spatial Analysis and Design. He has conducted several studies and publications in the areas of water conservation, Land Management, Biomass regeneration, watershed restoration, river basin management, and degraded landscape regeneration in semi-arid tropics. His work is centered on Smart solution-based design, Community/civic engagement, green disaster planning, and sustainable livelihood. He is also involved in the design and implementation of other Landscape projects.
He is the co-founder and CEO of Design Infinity Studios Ltd Landscape Architecture Firm, the immediate past Publicity Secretary of the Society of Landscape Architects of Nigeria (SLAN), a past Chair, IFLA Africa Communication and external relations committee (IFLA-Africa-CER), the past Secretary-General IFLA-Africa and Current Chair, IFLA Communication and external relations committee IFLA-CER.
He is also a Member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) Specialist Group on Sustainable Use and Livelihoods (SULi) (IU-13625) February 2015 and a member of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) (18257)21 June 2017.
Alessandro Martinelli
Chair IFLA EAA Committee
Previously involved in research projects and didactic activities at the Accademia di architettura in Mendrisio and the International Institute of Architecture in Lugano Vico Morcote, the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam, the Barcelona Institute of Architecture, the Canadian Centre of Architecture in Montreal, the Archivio Cattaneo in Cernobbio, the Shih Chien University and the Huafan University in Taipei, Alessandro Martinelli, Ph.D., is Associate professor at the Department of Landscape architecture, the Chinese Culture University, Taipei.
He is also the editorial director of ListLab Publisher (listlab.eu), Chair of the IFLA Education & Academic Affairs Committee, and immediate past chair of the IFLA Asia Pacific Region Education & Academic Affairs Committee.
Finally, he works with BIAS Architects & Associates (biasarchitects.com) on design and curating projects concerning public space today.
Indra Purs
Chair IFLA PPP Committee
Work Experience and Elected Positions
2022 - present Riga City -Council City Development Department, City Architect’s Service https://arhitekts.riga.lv/ chief city landscape architect
2022 – present President of Latvian Association of Landscape Architects
2016 - 2022 Latvian Association of Landscape Architects board member, foreign relations, project management - http://www.laaab.lv/
2021 - present Ogre Technical College lecturer https://ovt.lv/
2021 - present Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Latvia, Construction Council member https://www.em.gov.lv/lv/latvijas-buvniecibas-padome-0
2019 - present Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, National Architecture Council member https://www.km.gov.lv/lv/arhitekturas-padome
2019 - present Member of Network of European Landscape Architecture Archives - NELA
2018 - present Urban Institute, Board member https://www.facebook.com/Urban.Riga
2016 - present LAAA Delegate to IFLA Europe - European Region of the International Federation of Landscape Architects https://iflaeurope.eu/
Chair of the IFLA Europe New European Bauhaus Working Group and IFLA Europe representative to New European Bauhaus Collective
2016 - present LAAA Delegate to IFLA - International Federation of Landscape Architects https://www.iflaworld.com/
2017 - present BSRLA Baltic Sea Region Landscape Architects Group, alliance establisher, delegate, project leader
2002 - present Purs consulting Ltd. - owner, researcher, landscape architect, financial consultant
1997 - 2001 EY Latvia Ltd. senior auditor
Education
2009 - 2012 Candidate of Dr Arch in Landscape Architecture doctoral studies in Landscape Architecture
2003 - 2009 BLArch Professional Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture and Planning
1997 - 1999 MSocSc in Business Administration
1993 - 1997 BEcon in Financial Management MAJOR RECIENT PROJECT EXPERIENCE
2020 - present Law on Architecture, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia member of development working group
2020 - present Actualisation of occupational qualification structure of construction industry, ConstructionnIndustry Experts Council, member of working group
2020 - present Occupational standards “Landscape Architect”, “Landscape technologist”, “Environmental Designer”, moderator of development working group, expert
2020 - present National Acoustic Concert Hall project development group - researcher, member
2020-2021 Architectural strategy 2022-2027, Design strategy 2022-2027, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia; member of working group
2021 - present 1st Latvian Landscape Architecture Award – LAABA 2019, LAABA 2022 - member of curating team
2019-2021 Riga Architectural Award 2019, 2020, 2021 - researcher
2017 - 2021 EU COST Action “REthinking Sustainability TOwards a Regenerative Economy” Latvian delegate, circular construction subgroup leader
2015, 2016 EU University-Business Forums in Brussels, BE, Vilnius, LT, Helsinki, FI - delegate
2009 - present Author of several international scientific and professional publications, numerous reports in international, national scientific and professional conferences and seminars