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Our Team

Jakobi is a Djab Wurrung and Dhauwurd Wurrung man, cultural ranger, and storyteller with over eight years of experience, collaborating with Traditional Owners and First Peoples throughout Melbourne in cultural education and tourism. He is an Aboriginal Learning Officer at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and is studying Plant Science (B-SCIEXTD) at the University of Melbourne. His passion for storytelling embeds cultural knowledge and the connection to Country as an avenue to link his audience to landscapes and waterways.

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Harrison is a Graduate Landscape Architect who is passionate about the role of ecological design working alongside Traditional Owners in developing the urban fabric of the future. He is interested in community driven projects, where he volunteers, and has a broad educational background from architecture to landscaping. He is a member of the Vic AILA Environment Committee and is enthusiastic about site specificity and endemic species to drive decision-making and design.

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Maria is an Architecture Graduate with experience in landscape-driven projects with the Urban Ecology and Design Lab at the University of Melbourne. Her research has focused on the Darebin and Merri tributaries, exploring water-sensitive urban design, biodiversity and habitat support. These projects delve into the material and political legacies of site and its interconnections with the larger living river system, advocating for changes that support ethics of landscape practice on sensitive ecosystems.

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Gina is a MNAL registered architect (National Association of Norwegian Architects) whose work focuses on public space strategy, urban resilience, and climate adaptation, driven by community-led and culturally informed design. As part of the Bower Studio team at the University of Melbourne, Gina contributes to projects that integrate Indigenous knowledge and promote social and environmental sustainability.

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Recent News

18.02.26
Victorian Biodoversity Conference 2026.

Jakobi and Harrison presented on the topic; advocating conservation through first peoples storytelling and landscape design. Building on research between WWCHAC, Royal Botanical Gardens, Petrchor and University of Melbourne on the Short-finned Eel.

15.10.25
Weekend at Gariwerd

Exploring Brady Swamp’s wetlands, discovering seasonal orchids, and visiting the Sturgeon House conservation program.

10.10.25
Darebin Creek Management Committee Habitat Management and Conservation Course.

Harry has recently completed his four-month course on habitat management and conservation with the Darebin Creek Management Committee. The first of nine site visits was out to the reserves and parks of the Dandenong's. On the edge of suburbia, they face many pressures imposed by neighbouring uses, but still simultaneously provide the homes for many amazing animals such as lyrebirds, platypus, yellow bellied gliders and wombats.

Harry recently received the Ryan Robertson Scholarship to take DCMC’s Habitat Management and Conservation Course, that has been running for over 40 years with a steeped history in ecological restoration in Victoria and Melbourne. With field trips across various bushland, regeneration sites and conservation reserves, it has been a thoroughly eye-opening and educational experience.

25.06.25
Swimmable Cities Summit
2025 - Rotterdam

Whilst in Europe, Maria had the privilege of attending the Swimmable Cities Summit 2025 in Rotterdam, where over 200 water advocates from around the world gathered to celebrate the Right to Swim and the Rights of Nature as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Highlights included insights from water envoy Henk Ovink, conversations with global leaders in river and ecosystem governance, and hearing powerful commitments and practical steps being taken to restore urban waterways across a range of countries. From hands-on water quality testing to the uncanny joy of swimming in a city river flanked by industrial buildings and cargo ships, it was an inspiring moment to be part of a global movement reclaiming rivers, canals, and harbours as public, swimmable spaces.

As we strive for a healthier Birrarung, we draw inspiration from Regen Melbourne's mission to make the Birrarung swimmable. We hope this international momentum fosters renewed hope, energy, and meaningful commitments to enhance health, access, and uphold First Nations’ rights concerning the Birrarung and its tributaries.

05.06.25
AILA Victoria Future Leader Award

Harry was awarded AILA Victoria’s future leader award at last month's ceremony for his early contributions to the industry, nominated by the University of Melbourne.

“Harrison Baxter is a values-driven emerging leader shaping the profession through research, advocacy, and practice. His thesis on Royal Park explores the profession’s role in civic stewardship and has informed ongoing public-facing advocacy. Harrison leads with curiosity, intellect, and integrity, building strong collaborative relationships across disciplines and communities. Through his ongoing work with Traditional Owners, teaching contributions, and peer mentorship, he inspires the next generation while actively shaping a more inclusive and culturally grounded profession.”

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24.04.25
Venice Architecture Biennale 2025
/ Venice Lagoon Research Trip

Earlier this year we were incredibly fortunate to spend some time together in the Venice lagoon. Alongside the excitement of seeing our work with the Unimelb UEDLAB come to life as part of the Venice Architecture Biennale and being inspired by the incredible work on show throughout the exhibition, we also had the chance to spend time beyond the beautiful city of Venice, in the surrounding wetlands that help sustain the lagoon’s dynamic ecology. We met with local entomologists, land managers, and even managed to squeeze in some quality one-on-one time with the crickets.

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26.03.25
Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2025

Over the past two weeks, we have been fortunate to volunteer with the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWCHAC) on the co-designed Wurundjeri biik baan project.

The garden told the story of Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung water Country, interwoven with the tale of Iuk, the short-finned eel.

It was also great to be involved in a panel discussion with Suzannah (SKL Gardens), Jakobi (Royal Botanic Gardens) and Jack (Royal Botanic Gardens) about how the multiple aspects of the garden came together through the continued working relationship established with WWCHAC from the previous year's Wururndjeri biik garden, as well as the sourcing of over 100 plant species and working with artist David Wong.

20.03.25
AILA Shop Talk on Royal Park

Last week AILA Victoria hosted Harrison Baxter (Petrichor Collaborative) in conversation with Kaye Oddie a long-term contributor and community figure with @friendsofroyalpark.parkville for a shop talk on Royal Park.

Harrison has been involved in advocacy surrounding the new City of Melbourne Master Plan slated for the park in 2025, supporting the calls of the Royal Park community to greater leverage the designed history of the park as a method to inform a more considered approach.

15.12.24
Eel Tagging at Bolin Bolin Billabong

Last December, the Royal Botanic Gardens were invited by the Arthur Rylah Institute, in collaboration with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung's Narrap Rangers, to an eel test and tagging day at Bolin Bolin Billabong. Fike nets, a passive trap, were set overnight in the shallow reaches of the billabong, and a multitude of eels were pulled up along with both eastern longneck and Murray River shortneck turtles. After collecting eels of mature size, they were moved through a bath of anaesthetic and had an acoustic tag surgically inserted. These tags will provide further insight into when the eels will migrate, what conditions they require and how this can be further enhanced and supported into the future of this cultural productive landscape.

This is an aspect of some work Harrison Baxter is involved in through the University of Melbourne, with the Royal Botanic Gardens and their population of short-finned eels.