Honorary Members

Dr Ronald Wood is director of Innovative Plant Technology Pty Ltd and has more than 30 years experience with all aspects of interior/exterior landscapes, in Australia, North America, Europe and Japan. He is an environmental scientist, acknowledged for pioneering research in the role of plants in the indoor environment for the reduction of air-borne volatile organic contaminants. He has advised on a number of major office buildings including the refurbishment of Grosvenor Place.

Adj. Prof. Margaret Burchett has 40 years experience as a plant scientist, with special research expertise in the use of plants, both outdoors and indoors, as indicators and remediators of pollution, in air, soil or water. Margaret is now an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Science at UTS. For the last 15 years she has led the Plants and Indoor Environmental Quality group, researching the benefits of indoor plants to building occupants.  She sees collaboration with the industry as a vital part of keeping the research not only scientifically interesting but also of relevance to the industry and to community health.  She is also a member of the UTS interfaculty Centre for Environmental Sustainability & in 2009 was Chairperson.

Adj. Prof. Mark Thomson is an Ecological Architect and Adjunct Professor of the QUT School of Design, who has been reappointed as President of the Australian Green Development Forum and is the Corporate Sustainability Principal for Schiavello. As a researcher and practitioner, Mark Thomson leads the development and practical implementation of innovative solutions to improve people’s lives. Mark is a regular judge to national and international industry awards and regular presenter at conferences and Forums.

Kathy Fediw is an internationally-known interior plantscape consultant, author and speaker with over 35 years’ experience. She is a LEED Accredited Professional, a Landscape Industry Certified Professional and Landscape Industry Certified Technician.  Her company, Johnson Fediw Associates, provides consulting services, training workshops, and educational resources for the interior plantscape industry world-wide.

Kathy is the author of “The Manual of Interior Plantscaping” published by Timber Press; “Green Plant Care Tips for Techs”; and numerous other manuals, online courses, videos and other resources.  She is the developer of the Green Earth—Green Plants® certification program for eco-friendly horticulture businesses, products and projects; and is a frequent speaker at conferences and for private companies.   Kathy is the editor and publisher of I-Plants online magazine and is a respected resource on interior plantscaping.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the non-profit Green Plants for Green is an accomplished artist in her spare time. She and her husband live in The Woodlands, just north of Houston, Texas.

For more information visit Kathy’s website at www.InteriorscapeConsultant.com

Christine Johnson, The Container Connection (TCC) has grown with the plantscaping industry over the past 40 years and has strongly promoted the Interior Plantscape Association with membership, sponsorship, donations, research and financial backing.

The plantscaping industry in turn has also been a long term supporter of The Container Connection nationally and TCC are thankful for the support. Christine worked tirelessly on many IPA management committees and helped to grow the industry association.