We're pleased to announce the return of the NZILA International Speaker Series for 2026, proudly supported by Urban Group.

The series brings practitioners, thinkers and leaders from around the world into conversation with our members, sharing projects, ideas and experiences that are shaping the future of landscape architecture and related fields.

Our thanks to Urban Group for partnering with us to relaunch the series and helping make these conversations accessible to members across Aotearoa.

Urban Group is a long-standing New Zealand manufacturer and supplier of landscape and infrastructure solutions, working across projects that shape our public spaces, streetscapes, parks and communities. As a business that works closely with landscape architects every day, Urban Group recognises the value of professional learning, knowledge-sharing, and exposure to new ideas. Their support of the International Speaker Series helps bring global perspectives and practical insights to practitioners across Aotearoa.

The programme will feature speakers from landscape architecture and allied professions, exploring topics such as climate-positive design, biodiversity, public realm, infrastructure, urban transformation, Indigenous knowledge, leadership, and the evolving role of design in creating better places and communities.

We're particularly interested in hearing from practitioners, researchers, and leaders who are doing interesting work, challenging conventional thinking, testing new approaches, or bringing fresh perspectives to the issues shaping our profession and our places.

And we'd love your help identifying them. Who should we be talking to?

Is there someone whose work you've been following? A project that's changed the way you think? A practitioner, researcher, or leader you'd love to hear from?

Send your suggestions to events@nzila.co.nz and help shape the 2026 programme.

Keep an eye out for speaker announcements in the coming months.