LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE - Key Persons


Akash Wadhawan CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Chartered Member

Alan Howard

Job Titles:
  • Policy & Public Affairs Manager
Alan works with LI members serving on the Policy and Communications Committee (PCC). We champion the vital role which landscapes play in our lives - for health and wellbeing, for thriving, safe and sustainable communities. We apply the expertise of our members to help politicians and policy makers make informed decisions. Alan's favourite landscape is The Garden City Greenway, Letchworth

Allison Walters CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Chartered Member

Anastasia Nikologianni AMLI

Job Titles:
  • Policy & Communications Committee Representative

Annie Coombs FLI

Job Titles:
  • Panel Co - Chair
Panel Co-Chair Annie Coombs FLI encourages LI members to take advantage of the opportunity to contribute to the quality of built developments in the North West of England

Ben Gurney CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Chartered Member

Carolin Göhler FLI

Job Titles:
  • Acting President
  • President Elect

Chris House CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of Education & Membership Committee

Christen Joda

Job Titles:
  • HR / Office Assistant

Daisy Parsons CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Branch Representative, East of England

Deborah Nagan

Job Titles:
  • Independent Trustee
  • Member of the Chair Policy & Communications Committee

Emma Hayes CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Branch Representative, Wales

Emma Wood

Job Titles:
  • Governance & Regulation Manager
Emma joined the LI in 2014, bringing with her a wealth of experience in both professional membership bodies and government. Emma's role promotes good governance at the LI, developing, implementing, communicating, and maintaining governance, regulation, and compliance policies and procedures. Her role also involves ethics and conduct management, governance support to the Board of Trustees and Advisory Council, LI elections, AGMs, and guidance on the LI's governing documents. Emma's favourite landscape is currently Yosemite in California, USA. But tomorrow it could be New Zealand's Abel Tasman National Park, Grand Balcon Nord in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France… the list goes on!

Hazel Benza

Job Titles:
  • Policy & Partnership Manager, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Hazel is part of the LI's policy team, working on policy, research, insight, campaigns, and networking to grow influence and help build the landscape profession in Scotland and Northern Ireland. As policy manager, Hazel works on national priorities and opportunities, but also contributes to the work of the wider UK team. Hazel's background is in the not-for-profit sector, including working as marketing manager for the European Renewable Energy Council, promoting the work of renewable energy professionals in Europe. Hazel's favourite landscape is Machu Picchu in Peru, which she describes as breathtaking - especially first thing in the morning, when the sun is just starting to rise and the tourists are still asleep!

Jackie Sharp

Job Titles:
  • Interim Head of Policy & Technical

Jane Clarke

Job Titles:
  • Independent Trustee
  • Member of the Chair Policy & Communications Committee

Joe Thomas

Job Titles:
  • Interim Finance Director

John Clay

Job Titles:
  • Branch Representative, Midlands

John Ingham CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Branch Representative, Yorkshire and Humber

John O'Keeffe

Job Titles:
  • Head of Education & Careers
John is responsible for all things related to Education & Careers including accreditation, apprenticeships, Continuing Professional Development, careers and is the staff lead for the LI on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. John's favourite landscape is the Sexby Gardens in Peckham Rye Park.

John Turner CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Branch Representative, North East

John-Paul Friend CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Branch Representative, South West

Josh Cunningham

Job Titles:
  • PR & Communications Manager
As PR & Communications Manager, Josh's role is about telling the story of landscape and the Landscape Institute. He collaborates with colleagues and members across LI channels, creating and managing content and coordinating communications. Josh is also copy editor for Landscape, the Journal of the Landscape Institute, and manages the LI press office. Josh has worked in magazine and book publishing, content marketing, and agency communications. His MRes dissertation looked at narrative approaches to research on cultural landscapes at the University of Exeter. His favourite landscape is anywhere from the saddle of a bicycle.

Karen Rogers

Job Titles:
  • Membership Engagement Manager
As Membership Engagement Manager, Karen, manages the LI local member networks (Branches) and the volunteering strategy. She works in collaboration with members and groups to create content and opportunities, adding value to membership and supporting the development of the LI across the UK.

Keith Prickett

Job Titles:
  • Membership Services Officer
Keith delivers on the day-to-day business of the LI membership department. He deals with queries, advising potential members, setting up new members, managing payments, and maintaining our membership records. He leads on the standard routes to membership: i.e. the applications that go to the Membership Admissions Panel. He also administers the LI's Pathway to Chartership. Keith's favourite landscape is Valley of Rocks, Exmoor.

Lee Garnham

Job Titles:
  • Senior Finance Officer

Lizzie Bushby CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Branch Representative, East Midlands

Marc Norden

Job Titles:
  • Independent Trustee
  • Member of the Chair Policy & Communications Committee

Margaret Johnson

Job Titles:
  • HR Consultant

Mark Harvey

Job Titles:
  • Membership Development Manager
Mark's role is to promote and gain new members at all levels: Student, Associate, Affiliate, Chartered, and Fellow, whether for the Technician or the Practitioner route to LI membership. He is excited to develop the LI's experienced routes to cover all roles in the industry, and meet and add value for all stakeholders in the landscape industry. Mark says: ‘Our team are professional and keen to provide an outstanding service. Nothing is too much trouble.' Mark's favourite landscape: ‘I am really into all things "art deco" so my favourite landscape would probably be in Miami, where they have numerous examples of art deco architecture.'

Mark Smeeden CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Honorary Secretary

Mark Turnbull

Mark Turnbull was one of Scotland's most eminent Landscape Architects. The Mark Turnbull Travel Award offers up to £5,000 to travel and gain an insight into innovative landscape practice overseas.

Marko Yau

Job Titles:
  • Student Representative

Mat Haslam CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Honorary Treasurer

Michele Lavelle CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Chartered Member

Naomi Taylor

Job Titles:
  • Head of Membership Services & Acting Commercial Director
Naomi is the SLT lead for all things related to membership: recruitment, renewals, benefits, systems processes, and wider member engagement. She and her team are here to help both our individual members and our Registered Practices get the most from their membership of the LI. Naomi's favourite landscape is the view from Richmond Hill over the Thames.

Neelam Sheemar

Job Titles:
  • Head of Marketing, Communications, & Events
Neelam is a generalist with a wealth of experience in PR, marketing, communications, events, public affairs, community consultation, and media relations across the built environment. At the LI, Neelam is the strategic lead for the development and delivery of marketing, communications, and events to drive awareness, growth, and engagement both internally and externally. She oversees the brand identity, content, and messaging across all channels, ensuring alignment with the LI's vision, mission, and values. As a member of the senior leadership team, Neelam also contributes to the overall strategic direction and delivery of the LI. Neelam's favourite landscape is Mayfield Park in Manchester.

Nicola Phillips CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Chartered Member

Oliver Ryan

Job Titles:
  • Communications Officer
Oliver has a background in performing arts and geography. He was the first ever apprentice at the Landscape Institute. He was responsible for supporting events and competitions and lead the operational delivery of LI webinars and Masterclasses. He is now the Communications Officer at the LI and is responsible for supporting internal and external communications. Oliver's favourite landscape is Rendlesham Forest. The forest is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is great for long walks especially on the UFO trail to try and recapture the moment of the famous UFO sighting in December 1980.

Rachel Wallace

Job Titles:
  • Interim Project Manager

Rishi Sunak

Job Titles:
  • New Chancellor
New Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed his first Budget yesterday (Wednesday 11 March). Policy Manager Theo Plowman covers which policies will most affect the landscape sector

Robert Hughes - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive Officer
Rob took up the role of Acting CEO at the Landscape Institute in June, after serving as Commercial Director and Interim CEO from November. He has brought a wealth of commercial experience with him from a career spent largely in the Education and Technology sectors, across the last 20 years. He has built a solid reputation for building inclusive and successful management teams. As family orientated man he is a father of two busy growing boys and in his spare time likes to mess around with honey bees for rest and relaxation.

Rowena Lovell

Job Titles:
  • Secretary of the Board
Rowena joined as a member of the senior leadership team in February 2024 with a background in strategic planning and governance within professional membership organisations. She leads the governance of the organisation including the team responsible for supporting the Board and Advisory Council.

Ruhela Begum

Job Titles:
  • Events Lead
Ruhela works within the events team to lead and manage the LI's online webinars and CPD events. She also delivers our annual CMLI graduation ceremonies and provides support for LI Awards and branch webinars. She works closely with our events apprentice, helping them learn how to run events. Ruhela's favourite landscape is Covent Garden.

Ruth Holmes FLI

Job Titles:
  • Chartered Member

Ruth Shelton CMLI

Job Titles:
  • Branch Representative, South East

Tim Byford

Job Titles:
  • Membership Services Manager

Tom Jenks

Job Titles:
  • Marketing & Campaigns Manager
Tom manages the marketing element within the team, highlighting the great work of the Institute and its members. He works with the other departments to ensure that their offerings, such as training, policy and events, are effectively communicated to both members and non-members alike. He achieves this by ensuring there is clear and consistent messaging across the website, social media and mailings. Tom's favourite landscape is the town centre in Stevenage once the regeneration plans have been completed a couple of years from now.

Tracy Whitfield

Job Titles:
  • Technical & Research Manager
Tracy is passionate about the environment and horticulture with a keen eye for detail and technical aspects. Part of her decision making when previously managing the installation and design of projects was incorporating sustainability, wellbeing and biodiversity. Tracy's management of the Technical and Research function ensures our Members and Colleagues have the materials they need to raise standards and meet future needs. She works with Committees, Experts and Partners in delivering Technical Guidance and Tools, Training, Research and Advice. Her work includes promoting environmental goals and technical skills for our Members and those outside the LI, to grow connections and take initiatives so that the LI is considered the go to Resource. Tracy favourite landscape - London and Bath skylines. "from their hills you can see the past and present in landscape design and architecture plus the natural forces that shaped them. Then getting really close and looking at the cracks in the walls and pavements where it is teaming with life, all fascinating and ever changing!"

Vanessa Ross FLI

Job Titles:
  • Education and Membership Committee Representative

Will Sandy FLI

Job Titles:
  • Chartered Member

Yvonne Matthews

Job Titles:
  • Executive Assistant to CEO & President
  • LI President and Chief Executive
As the first point of contact for both the LI president and chief executive, Yvonne manages meetings, engagements - both external and internal - invites, and day-to-day diaries.