With over 30 years of experience managing horticulture, parks, and open spaces across Singapore and Australia, I have worked in very diverse sectors including tourism, ornamental plant production, landscape construction, municipal and military facility open space maintenance, golf course, university campuses and local government. I’m very passionate about urban forestry and green infrastructure, I bring deep expertise in the parks sector, community engagement, and strategic planning. My strengths lie in fostering customer-centric solutions, driving organisational change, and providing leadership coaching to inspire teams and enhance operational success.
You can contact me for help with
- Procurement, tender evaluation, and contract management
- Service reviews for parks and open spaces, arboriculture, sports fields, and infrastructure management
- Quality assurance and auditing of parks and open spaces
- Open space capital works and renewal projects
- Tree policies, operational procedures, and management
- University and institutional campus grounds management
- Community and stakeholder relationship management
- Asset management and green infrastructure planning
- Project management and strategic planning
- Reserve and park management planning
- Operational support and service delivery
- Community engagement, stakeholder workshops, and capacity building
My expertise
With extensive industry experience across both temperate and tropical climates, I have developed a deep appreciation and understanding of horticulture and park management across diverse cultural and societal landscapes. My career spans a broad spectrum of roles, including managing a horticultural tourist attraction, overseeing a flower production business, running an indoor plant nursery, and leading large-scale interior and exterior plant display projects. I have also managed landscaping initiatives, municipal and military base maintenance contracts, championship golf courses and resorts, university campus grounds, and parks and open space management in local government.
Over the past eight years in the local government sector, I have had the privilege of working with both an inner-city council (Merri-bek Council) and a rapidly growing peri-urban council (City of Whittlesea). In these roles, I have managed parks and open spaces under two distinct service models—one fully in-house and the other entirely outsourced. These experiences have been invaluable in broadening my industry perspective and deepening my appreciation for the vital role that well-managed parks and open spaces play in communities.
In addition to my professional roles, I have been instrumental in establishing the Melbourne Park Managers Forum (MPMF)—a local government network designed to foster collaboration and support among park leaders across the sector. I also serve as a Councillor with Parks & Leisure Australia Victoria/Tasmania (PLA VicTas) and have contributed as a board member for both the Merri Creek Management Committee and the Darebin Creek Management Committee, advocating for sustainable waterway management and the preservation of healthy creek ecosystems.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science majoring in Biology, National University of Singapore
- Graduate Certificate in Arboriculture, University of Melbourne
- Specialist Certificate in Green Roofs and Green Walls, University of Melbourne
- Diploma of Management, Chifley Business
Accreditations
- Certified Parks & Leisure Professional, Parks & Leisure Australia
- Certified Arborist (Cert No AU-171652), International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), USA
- Region Awards of Excellence Judge, Parks & Leisure Australia (PLA) – 2018-2025
- Jury member, Landscape Architecture Awards 2022, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Victoria chapter
- IAP2 Australasia’s Certificate in Engagement – 2020
Xyst in action
My journey with Xyst began as a client, leveraging their Yardstick Parks benchmarking platform for over seven years to enhance service delivery, redevelop our parks contracting model, and implement effective parks auditing. This firsthand experience has given me deep insight into what is truly essential for successful park management.
I led a comprehensive review and procurement project for parks service contracts, resulting in the development of new agreements—one of the City’s largest procurement initiatives. These contracts were designed to elevate service standards and deliver substantial benefits to the community.
Xyst’s commitment to improving parks, open spaces, and community facilities aligns seamlessly with my passion for ensuring these spaces remain vibrant, well-maintained, and integral to the urban fabric.