International award-winning Australian designer and author Jamie Durie started his design practice 21 years ago in 1998. Since then he and his team at Durie Design have received over 36 international design awards including the coveted gold medal at the Chelsea flower show in London and further gold medals received in Singapore, Tokyo, Auckland NZ, Melbourne, and Durie’s place of birth, Sydney.

In 2001 Durie made his entrance into furniture design when he and his team were asked to design various pieces of custom furniture for several upmarket hotels and resorts first in Spain, with several more in Asia, Australia and the Middle East. After launching several design collaborations in Europe, USA and Australia his furniture is now retailed worldwide through his multiple partnerships.

Jamie started his television career as host of the 6-time Logie award winning lifestyle juggernaut Backyard Blitz. Jamie has hosted over 52 primetime design shows worldwide aired in over 90 countries, and has hosted The Outdoor Room, HGTV Green Home, HGTV Dream Home TV shows among many others since his debut as a regular celebrity designer guest for 4 years on the Oprah Winfrey show.

Today, Durie is the new judge in House Rules and a regular contributor of Better Homes and Gardens. Durie is also the host of Habitus House of the Year and the new host of Australia by Design.

In honour of his work over the last two decades, Jamie was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2013 for services to the environment & design, while in 2004, he received the Centenary Medal for services to the environment, television, and the community.

Paddock Studio is an award-winning landscape architectural practice passionate about designing and creating fun and meaningful places.

Paddock is led by David Warwick, a Registered Landscape Architect, trained in Australia and Canada, with extensive experience in landscape architecture and urban design throughout Australia and overseas. Prior to establishing Paddock, David was fortunate to train under some of the industries most respected and talented landscape architects, including Stephen Pate and Dean Butcher at S.P.L.A.T. in Brisbane and Ingrid Mather, James Delaney and Anton James at JMD design in Sydney. His meticulous work ethic and flexible approach to management and coordination with multidisciplinary design teams has led to success on a variety of projects, and his work has been recognised with numerous State and National awards within Australia.

Paddock focuses on creating public open spaces that contribute to the social and environmental wellbeing of communities and the urban fabric of our city spaces. Paddock emphasises the importance of a contextually appropriate, environmentally responsive design outcome of the highest quality that heightens an understanding of place within a cultural, social and environmental framework. Its work encompasses private residential gardens, small scale interventions, master planned communities, regional parklands and significant public realm projects.

Sara is an AILA Registered Landscape Architect, PhD Candidate and lecturer in landscape architecture at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney. Sara has practiced in Denmark, Europe and Perth, Western Australia and taught design studios, history and theory, and landscape performance courses in the undergraduate and masters programs at the University of Western Australia and UNSW Sydney. Over the past six years, Sara has held leadership positions within AILA including State President of the WA Chapter and has served two terms as a Director of the National Board.

Shaun is qualified in Regional and Town Planning, Landscape Architecture and Business Management.

His current professional role is the Chief Executive Officer of City Parklands P/L in Brisbane, a commercial entity that manages the South Bank and Roma Street Parklands on behalf of the Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government, and welcomes 12 million visitors per year into these spaces.

Shaun is the National President of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, as well as a Director for the Oxley Creek Transformation, overseeing $100 million open space renewal for along the Oxley Creek in the western suburbs of Brisbane.

Shaun’s professional career has spanned 25 years and previous roles have included Planning and Development Coordinator for South Bank Corporation, Design Manager for Place Design Group Brisbane, Environmental Manager for Australian Antarctic Operations and Environmental Manager for City Design, Brisbane City Council.

Shaun is also a committed volunteer both as trail guide coordinator for the “Great Noosa Trail Walk” which raises the profile of the local landscape and fundraises for local community groups in the Noosa hinterland, as well as active volunteer for Noosa and District Landcare.  He is a keen bushwalker and passionate gardener, having established a large estate garden of native plants over 16 years.

As a third generation nurseryman, Wes Fleming was ‘born and bred’ growing trees. As an eager 11 year-old Wes started growing trees and selling them back to the nursery – showing his entrepreneurial and business savvy at an early age.

Today Wes is dedicated to delivering the best wholesale trees in Australia, and to introducing new and improved cultivars from overseas.
Originally a bare-root tree production nursery, growing millions of trees for the orchard and retail sectors, Fleming’s relied on the majority of sales during winter. In the 1990’s Wes identified the emerging opportunity for year-round sales of ready-potted trees.
A highly motivated personality with a big picture attitude, Wes has encouraged and implemented many significant changes including the establishment of Fleming’s small containers, advanced tree and native nurseries.

In the early 2000’s he started to develop a landscape division with the establishment of ‘Habittude’ – a supply, install and maintenance program for the urban development industry.

That division has now grown to include commercial and domestic landscape services such as design, construction and project management.
Having earned a widespread reputation for quality and innovation in horticulture, Wes now finds himself in a position to give something back to the industry.

Wes was the driving force behind the creation of the Australian Street Tree Evaluation Program (AUSTEP) in 2001, and is a sponsor of both the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) and Parks & Leisure Australia (PLA), and a member of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA Vic).

In 2004, Wes’ vision to further unite and place the horticulture industry on the world stage was realised with the first ever Australian show garden to be exhibited at the renowned Chelsea Flower Show in London. Eight more trips to Chelsea were to follow bringing much needed ‘good news’ to the landscape and gardening industries culminating in the 2013 BEST IN SHOW award with designer Phillip Johnson.
In 2015 Wes Fleming was awarded a prestigious Order of Australia Medal for his contributions to horticulture and landscape architecture.
When not involved in horticultural pursuits, Wes and his wife Paige enjoy spending time with their family including elder children Jess, Jake, Todd and younger siblings Aurelia and Mietta, as well as other interests including a close association with the Essendon Football Club and thoroughbred horse breeding & racing, and travel.

Mark is the National Geostone Manager for LafargeHolcim. He has been extensively involved in the manufacture, design and professional placement of decorative concrete throughout Australia ranging from driveways and residential projects, large scale commercial and multi residential developments and of course large public spaces.

Tim is the Founder and Managing Director of Landscape Solutions, Australia’s leading full-service landscape company are experts in the construction and long-term maintenance of large scale Civil / Building / Landscape projects, built to tight fames and budgets.

Tim has significant experience in business management and is responsible for strategic direction, managing estimating, construction and overseeing business operations. Tim has taken an active role in leading the company on some of Australia’s biggest builds and has built Landscape Solutions ground up into a company of high standard ensuring it delivers projects to time, quality and safety standards that clients expect.

Landscape Solutions continues to develop and grow under Tim’s direction while he maintains his vision of growth for the future.

Originally from Birmingham, U.K., Nigel Ruck first came to Australia in 1988 as part of an extensive global tour, later settling as a permanent resident. He started working in the landscaping industry in 1989 studying through the 90’s at Ryde College of TAFE in Sydney gaining a Certificate 3 in Landscape Construction. He has also studied landscape design.

From 2000 – 2006 Nigel presented on the multi-Logie award winning show Backyard Blitz along with fellow presenters Jamie Durie, Scott Cam and Jodie Rigby. He has presented on various lifestyle shows over the years including an ongoing role with The Garden Gurus gardening program and Explore travel program on Channel 9.

Nigel has written 2 books, “Hands on Home Landscaping” by The Paving Guy and “Loving Your Lawn” Your Guide to the Perfect Aussie Lawn, the latter published as part of his ambassadorship for Sir Walter.

Nigel has run his own landscaping business, Greenology, for 20 years in Sydney specialising in residential landscape construction and maintenance. He is also an ambassador for Seasol.