Botanic news: from home and abroad

Eamonn Flanagan, CEO, BGANZ Ltd

BGANZ News

After 11 years of dedicated service to Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand, CEO Eamonn Flanagan has announced the end of his term with the organisation. His last day will be 30 June 2023. It is expected that a new CEO appointment process will begin shortly.

See the CEO’s Report for Eamonn’s thoughts on his 11 years with BGANZ.

BGANZ member opportunities

BGANZ continues to promote grants, scholarships and training opportunities. Be sure to get the weekly eNews for all the latest details – and if you know of any grants or opportunities available to botanic gardens’ employees and our members, please forward details to us and BGANZ will circulate. Email the details to media@bganz.org.au, or if you would like to receive the eNews.

BGANZ Regional and Professional Groups

For more information on any of these groups – email media@bganz.org.au or the Chair/contact of each group linked below.

Regional Groups

BGANZ Regional Groups provide local member networks with mentoring, support and capacity building. There are four regional groups (NSW/ACT, VIC, QLD, and NZ), enabling networking and information sharing.

BGANZ Victoria Chair, John Arnott, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Cranbourne Gardens.

BGANZ New Zealand Chair, Wolfgang Bopp, Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

BGANZ Queensland Barry Meiring, Tondoon Botanic Gardens, Gladstone.

Both Barry Meiring and Cody Johnson (Bundaberg Botanic Garden) look after the BGANZQ Regional Group. Part of Barry’s role is to represent botanic gardens from across QLD at BGANZ Member Committee meetings.

BGANZ New South Wales/ACT Michael Elgey, Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan.

Mike Elgey is the NSW representative and Michael Anlezark, from Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden, is the Chair of BGANZ NSW/ACT.

Part of Mike’s role is to represent botanic gardens from across NSW and the ACT at BGANZ Member Committee meetings.

Professional Groups

Botanic Gardens Engagement Group (BGEN) Chair, Paul Swift, Auckland Botanic Gardens. BGEN is a professional development network for gardens staff and volunteers working in the areas of education, interpretation, visitor/public programs, adult learning and outreach and community engagement. Please visit https://www.bganz.org.au/bgen/ for more details.

BGANZ Collections and Record Management Group (BCARM) Chair, Sheree Parker, Geelong Botanic Gardens. BCARM aims to increase communication and information and experiencesharing between botanic gardens about plant records-keeping, assist with the development of standards and best practice and support staff training where appropriate. BGANZ has partnered with the botanical database software company Hortis to enable members to gain access to the latest technology, developed specifically for botanic gardens, at discounted prices for members. Please visit https://www.bganz.org.au/bcarm/ for more details.

Botanic Gardens Day Working Group Rebecca Harcourt, Tim Uebergang and John Arnott lead a small team that work on Botanic Gardens Day each year. The group aims to build and enhance the successful features of previous years, including #plantchallenge, webinars, forums and Botanic Gardens Day on the last Sunday in May.

BGANZ Arboriculture Pilot Working Group (BARB) is about to commence. Contact Ian Allan, from Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah, if you are interested in finding out more about this group devoted to all things trees.

We are always aiming to increase member opportunities and encourage members to take the next step in their professional development.