President’s view

Chris Russell

BGANZ is changing

The BGANZ governance review process took an exciting and historic step at the Special General Meeting held on 28 May with unanimous support provided by voting institutional members Chris Russell to transition our incorporated association to a company limited by guarantee overseen by a Board. Member representation and professional group involvement remains a strong focus through the Member Committee, with the change designed to strengthen our capacity to grow, and be more effective at achieving our objectives and service member needs. I am delighted that Lucy Sutherland will be our Initial Board Chair, given her extensive and varied experience in our sector and as a botanic gardens Chief Executive. My sincere thanks to the outgoing council for their contributions to the significant body of work involved along this journey, ensuring that member’s views were heard and incorporated. The Board will come into effect from 1 July 2022. More information is detailed by our CEO Eamonn Flanagan in this issue.

7th Global Botanic Gardens Congress, Melbourne 25–29 September 2022

The call for abstracts has closed, the keynote speakers are ready to go. All that is left is for BGANZ members to register and find their way to Melbourne for the last week of September. It is a truly rare opportunity having an international gathering of botanic gardens professionals from all disciplines in our region coming together to explore the most pressing needs of our planet and plant communities – all under the banner of Influence and Action: Botanic Gardens as Agents of Change. The organising committee is thrilled with the calibre and diversity of our presenters and will be posting the program later in June. It is worth emphasising that this is a gathering for those established in our sector, but also those closer to the start of their journey, or perhaps less connected due to working in a remote location. BGANZ is providing seven financial registration grants (applications close on 7 June) to assist members to attend and ensure there is opportunity for gardens of all sizes to participate. Early bird registrations close on 4 July, with a discount on member rates. I hope to see many of you there. For information and registration see www.7gbgc.org.

Australian Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens conference

I had the pleasure to represent BGANZ at the recent AAFBG biennial conference hosted by Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden (ERBG), just south of Batemans Bay on the NSW south coast. Many of you would be aware that the ERBG’s living collection was significantly impacted by the 2019/20 fires that swept through the region, followed six weeks later by extensive flooding, and then of course the pandemic. The conference theme Thriving Together: Resilience and Renewal in a Changing World could not have been more appropriate in the garden setting with the vivid red/green epicormic regrowth contrasting on the blackened trunks telling (some of) the story of recent experiences. It was a powerful, emotional and inspiring experience to hear first‑hand what ERBG management, staff and volunteers went through in responding to the series of crises, but also an opportunity to reflect on how BGANZ can better support gardens in times of need.

In closing

This will be my final BOTANIC GARDENer dispatch as President of BGANZ, so I take this opportunity to thank all members for the support and opportunity to contribute, and to my fellow council members and executive for the camaraderie and the collaborative approach to developing and improving this wonderful and important organisation. It has been fantastic to see the innovation and development in what we offer, most recently with the extensive program leading through May to our 7th Botanic Gardens Day activities. I will be continuing as a member of the Board so look forward to further involvement during this time of transition.

Stay well in nature. Chris