Greetings from IFLA President

Greetings everyone

It’s unbelievable that 7 weeks have passed by since IFLA delegates met in Gwangju, South Korea. It was great to see colleagues and friends after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m so sorry that not everyone managed to get to Gwangju for many different reasons.

There were many important things to celebrate at our last World Council and Congress. First, to see all delegates engaged in discussing the future of IFLA and contributing to delivering the key tasks and actions that form part of the business plan and operations. Second, the immense progress that each standing committee has made in regard to education standards, professional recognition, congresses, finances and sponsorship. Third, the reassurance that we are the most well-prepared profession to deal with global issues and, through that, see strong partnerships with global bodies emerging. Forth, each region’s active agenda in raising the profile of the profession and contributing to a united yet robust voice. On this note, I’d like to express my gratitude to the outgoing ExCo for their commitment, persistence and hard work, and the wonderful hospitality of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architects for putting together such a relevant and well-organised event.

As we move along, I would like us to focus on raising the profile of the profession and IFLA globally. For that, we need to continue to work under a business plan that sets goals, actions and timelines. Every delegate should contribute to this exercise, and I’ll be contacting each one of you to arrange individual zoom meetings to discuss key priorities and issues that IFLA should be addressing. This will enable the ExCo to set relevant priorities for the near and far future. Keep an eye on your inbox!

I also had the opportunity to meet in Brussels with the president of the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP), Pietro Elisei. ISOCARP is a member-led global organisation with the vision of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. IFLA has an MoU signed with ISOCARP since 2004, and we used this opportunity to discuss future collaborations and events to promote the work of landscape architects and planners around climate change, health and wellbeing and green infrastructure.

Last but not least, I’d like to bring to your attention the IFLA 2022 Global Task Analysis Survey in partnership with the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB). This survey aims to understand the practice of landscape architecture better worldwide. If you have not forwarded the information to your member association, colleagues and friends, please do so! The data will allow us to expand the role and relevance of the profession and be better prepared to tackle global, regional and local issues.

Regards,
Dr Bruno Marques