Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand Annual Report 2024-25

WELCOME

On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the Annual Report for 2024–2025.

This year, we have continued implementing our strategic priorities, extending our reach and offering great value to members With a refreshed brand, new services, redefined membership categories and continued strong support from our members, we have grown our membership base and attracted new sponsors and partners – IrisBG, Andrea Proctor Landscapes and Sparke Helmore Lawyers – for which we are most grateful.

Fostering collaboration and innovation across the sector has been a priority Our new website has allowed us to develop and deliver member exclusive content through the resource hub. And our new member directory provides members easy access to expertise across the network supplementing our program of online and inperson events We have also strengthened our relationships with the Council of Heads of Botanic Gardens (CHABG) and the Australian Seed Bank Partnership (ASBP), the Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens (AFBG) and the Australian Plant Conservation Network (ANPC) By working collaboratively, we have supported both the Australian and New Zealand Governments in understanding and refining their plant conservation and biosecurity policy objectives

2025 marked the 10th anniversary of Botanic Gardens Day, and following feedback from our members, we successfully expanded the day to encompass a full week, increasing opportunities for gardens to get involved We supported the week with a more advanced media kit and initiated our first fundraising campaign, an important step in our journey to expand our funding streams and build capacity to deliver more member benefits

Our work would not be possible without the very generous support and leadership of our Diamond Sponsors, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Gardens & Parks Authority, Botanic Gardens of Sydney and Royal Botanic Gardens of Victoria Additionally, I’d like to say a very special thank you to all our donors for supporting our work.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Cassandra, Rebecca Harcourt and the Board of BGANZ for their work in supporting BGANZ’s purpose. We sadly said goodbye to Peter Byron from the Board and Rebecca Harcourt, who both have made a significant contribution to steering the growth and development of BGANZ over many years I will miss their wisdom and guidance.

Our work is currently focused on the biannual Congress, hosted this year by the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra I am looking forward to meeting many of you there

MARIANNE CULLEN PSM CHAIR

WHOWEARE

BGANZ is the peak body representing 155 members, including 89 botanic gardens and arboreta, along with allied organisations such as councils, nurseries, zoos, cemeteries, and educational institutions.

Since its establishment in 2004, BGANZ has worked to unite and strengthen this diverse network, all committed to a shared vision: a future where plants are valued and protected, supporting a greener, healthier, and more resilient world for generations to come.

Botanic gardens play a unique and vital role in plant conservation They maintain scientifically documented living plant collections used for research, education, public engagement, and biodiversity protection

As trusted public institutions, they are on the

frontline of tackling global challengesbiodiversity loss, climate adaptation, food security, and pest and disease management They also serve as cultural, heritage and community spaces, enhancing well-being and promoting environmental awareness.

BGANZ advances its mission through five strategic priorities: Elevate sector skills and best practice, Advocate for policy and funding support, Educate the public on the value of plants and gardens, Celebrate member achievements, and Activate partnerships and organisational growth

By connecting members and amplifying their collective impact, BGANZ ensures botanic gardens and associated institutions remain powerful leaders in conservation and sustainability - helping communities thrive alongside nature

We have 155 Institutional, Associate, Associate Friends and Individual Members, 89 of which are botanic gardens and arboreta.

Operating since 2004, our membership is not limited to botanic gardens but has expanded to allied institutions that share our vision including zoos, councils, cemeteries, nurseries, educational institutions and other parks and gardens.

STRATEGICPRIORITIES INACTION

Elevate

Sector Capability |

Industry Knowledge

Educate

Community |

Data-driven Research

Advocate

Voice | Influence |

Representation

Celebrate

Awards | Congress | Member Comms

Activate Partnerships | Sustainability

25 online forums

2 in person regional meetings

9 online specialist forums

2 professional development partnerships

1 Trans-Tasman awareness-raising campaign

4 public webinars

Industry wide visitor report

NSW/ACT threatened species data collection

“Growing Victoria’s Botanic Gardens Collective Impact” report

Attended invitation-only global Nature Positive Summit

Met with Australian Threatened Species Commissioner

NZ Government consultation on Plant Import Reform

Supported member garden submissions to council

Attended BGCI Conference in Singapore

2 Professional Development projects supported

2 magazines published

Celebrated “Growing Victoria’s Botanic Gardens” Grants program with ministerial event

2 new inductees to the Honour Roll

3 supplier partnerships offering member discounts

First fundraising campaign completed

New alliances established

Refreshed brand and updated website to provide exclusive member benefits

2024–2025

BOTANICGARDENSWEEK

GUARDIANS OF THE GREEN - PROTECTING OUR FUTURE

In 2025, BGANZ celebrated a significant milestone ten years of Botanic Gardens Week. This year’s theme, Guardians of the Green – Protecting Our Future, shone a spotlight on the vital conservation, education, and outreach work undertaken by our member gardens across Australasia

The campaign ran throughout May, culminating in an official celebration from 19–25 May Inspired by the success of zoos in raising awareness of wildlife conservation, this year’s theme positioned botanic gardens as the “zoos for plants” - havens for rare and threatened species and important places where communities connect with and learn about nature

Participating gardens showcased their Big 5 Plants - species that tell powerful stories of

resilience, rarity, and uniqueness

The campaign emphasised the strength of the botanic gardens network, highlighting the collaboration that takes place across institutions to combat plant extinction

Participation reached record levels, with more than 54 botanic gardens across Australasia taking part - up from 34 in 2024 and our collaborative reach was over 800,000

Highlights included four webinars featuring world-class speakers and expert discussions on key themes in horticulture, conservation, and public engagement. Member gardens also produced a highly successful “X-Files” style video series that achieved strong engagement across social media channels

“Wenoticedmorevisitors andanenthusiasmamongst thevisitorsforBotanic GardensWeek. Manypeoplementionedit eventhoughweourselvesdid notholdanevent”

We thank the voluntary members of the Botanic Gardens Week Working Group for their assistance in planning and promoting

The success of the 2025 campaign reflects the growing momentum behind Botanic Gardens Week and the collective power of strong storytelling.

The comprehensive media kit, training webinars, and engagement direct with garden marketing personnel all contributed to the success

Each year, more gardens are realising the value of participating in Botanic Gardens Week deepening public awareness, strengthening connections, and inspiring greater support for the essential work of our sector

Our First Fundraising Appeal

This year marked an important milestone with the launch of BGANZ’s first fundraising appeal The campaign represents a significant step forward in building a culture of giving around our work. It has laid the foundation for future donor engagement and helped us begin developing the systems, messaging and relationships needed to grow philanthropic support Expanding and diversifying our funding streams is essential to strengthening our financial sustainability and enabling greater investment in sector initiatives

2024–2025

OURIMPACT

MOMENTUM GROWS FOR LIVING COLLECTIONS TOOLKIT

Launched to BGANZ members in 2024, the Living Collections Toolkit is continuing to build strong momentum across the botanic garden sector, with 55 gardens now signed up It gained significant international attention when launched in August 2024 at the BGCI conference

This web-based tool is designed to support any botanic garden or arboretum no matter its size, resources, or stage of development to plan and manage its living plant collections more effectively It ensures that gardens, even small ones, have access to professional standards

The Toolkit offers a structured step-by-step approach based on sector best practice, helping gardens assess their current collections and plan for the future with confidence.

Beyond assessment and planning, the Toolkit is a practical governance tool A documented collections plan strengthens funding proposals, improves communication with stakeholders such as local councils and donors, and supports long-term decision making around staffing and infrastructure needs It also helps gardens meet BGCI (Botanic Gardens

Conservation International) accreditation and other external standards.

In a time of increasing climate pressures, biosecurity challenges, shifting visitor expectations and tightening budgets, the Living Collections Toolkit provides a practical, forward-looking framework to help gardens build resilient collections for the future.

Access is free for BGANZ Institutional and Associate members

CELEBRATING VICTORIAN BOTANIC GARDENS

In February 2025, BGANZ marked the completion of the Growing Victoria’s Botanic Gardens Grants (GVBGG) Program with a special event at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne.

Over four years, the Victorian Government invested $3 9 million into the state’s regional botanic gardens, to boost conservation, education and community wellbeing.

This landmark program supported 42 projects across 29 gardens, driving innovative initiatives that enhanced environmental outcomes, community engagement and local tourism

More than 90 guests attended the celebration, including The Hon Steve Dimopoulos, Minister for Environment, Tourism, Sport and Major Events, and Outdoor Recreation Attendees heard inspiring case studies from Jill Burness (Wildlife Art Museum Australia), Athol MacDonald (Gargarro Botanic Gardens), and Loraine Callow (Williamstown Botanic Gardens), highlighting the program’s impact on regional economies, environmental protection, and community wellbeing and education. A further ten projects were showcased at the Victorian network meeting that followed

The event concluded with a guided tour of the Australian Drylands Garden. Minister Dimopoulos planted a Banksia prionotes (Acorn Banksia) grown in the RBGV nursery and selected for its climate resilience as a symbolic gesture to mark the program’s legacy and commitment to future-proofing Victoria’s botanic gardens.

The Growing Victoria’s Botanic Gardens –Collective Impact Report 2025 is available on the BGANZ website via the Resource Hub

SUPPORTING BEGONIA HOUSE REFURBISHMENT

In 2025, BGANZ proudly advocated for the protection and refurbishment of the iconic Lady Norwood Begonia House at Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā The Begonia House is an icon within the garden and plays a critical role in global plant conservation, public education, and cultural heritage

A public consultation held by Wellington City Council and a campaign led by the Friends of Wellington Botanic Gardens, against the demolition of this significant landmark, led to successfully securing funding for the restoration

A major project now underway, led by Wellington City Council in collaboration with the Friends of Wellington Botanic Garden and other partners, will restore and upgrade the 65-year-old conservatory, ensuring it remains a vibrant, accessible, and muchloved space for generations to come.

The improvements will include essential structural repairs, upgraded visitor facilities, and enhanced plant displays, while preserving the site’s heritage value.

NEW ZEALAND PLANT IMPORT REVIEW

Our submission to the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries consultation on the Nursery Stock Import Reform has led to BGANZ New Zealand’s ongoing involvement in workshops and consultations. The initial reform proposed changes that would have inhibited the vital conservation work of botanic gardens

A big thank you to Wellington Botanic Gardens, especially Megan Ireland and Cindy Telford, who represented the network at the initial workshop They highlighted the role of botanic gardens in conservation, climate change response, and protecting endangered species, providing powerful examples that sparked considerable interest. Many stakeholders, including the Ministry, had limited awareness of the sector’s role in conservation and plant importation Our presence was an important step in raising this awareness and ensuring the sector’s expertise is recognised.

New Zealand gardens have continued to be involved in additional workshops and responding to further feedback requests.

ADVOCATING OUR ROLE IN CONSERVATION

BGANZ CEO and Chair met with the Australian Threatened Species Commissioner in November 2024 to advocate for the contribution botanic gardens make to preventing extinction not just via seed banks, but via living collections

We emphasised the significance of regional gardens, which collectively hold many of Australia’s threatened plants and presented the results of the NSW/ACT membership survey Results demonstrated 665 of the NSW 689 listed threatened taxa (97%) are held in NSW/ACT botanic garden collections. This exceptionally powerful statistic showcases the value of botanic gardens to species preservation We also drew attention to the need for a national database of threatened-species living collections held in botanic gardens. This would significantly aid the delivery of Target 13 of the Threatened Species Action Plan and enable more effective recovery planning across jurisdictions

This meeting was an important step in elevating the sector’s role and positioning botanic gardens as essential infrastructure in national threatened species recovery

GLOBAL NATURE POSITIVE SUMMIT

In October 2024, BGANZ CEO attended the inaugural Global Nature Positive Summit in Sydney an exclusive, invite-only event hosted by the Australian and NSW Governments. The summit brought together environment ministers, Indigenous leaders, scientists, NGOs and business leaders from nearly 50 countries to accelerate action under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

BGANZ attended to forge new partnerships and advocate for the vital role of botanic gardens in achieving nature-positive outcomes, raising awareness of their conservation and restoration contributions. Our presence strengthened recognition of botanic gardens and increased visibility and value among key government, policy and industry stakeholders. Botanic Gardens of Sydney played a key role with hosting a field trip to Australian Botanic Garden, Mt Annan

The summit reinforced the importance of embedding nature into economic and policy decisions and aligning with net-zero goals. Key announcements included expanded marine protection areas, new conservation investments, and company commitments to report on nature-related risks

2024–2025

BOTANIC GARDENS VISITOR STUDY

Botanic gardens have significant tourism value and consequently, adequate facilities, accessibility, environmental education and cultural heritage are important factors contributing to visitor satisfaction BGANZ partnered with University of South Australian’s CERM Performance Indicators research team to establish an industry benchmarking report for visitation and to understand the sectors audience on a deeper level

The objectives were to create a profile of botanic garden visitors and to understand:

1) how visitors perceive botanic gardens

2) what motivates visitation to botanic gardens

3) what products and services should botanic gardens prioritise to increase visitation.

PRIMARY VISITOR PROFILE

Women 30+ years

Domestic, but not local resident

Small groups visiting without children

Visit duration 1-2 hours

Seventeen gardens, including capital city gardens and regional botanic gardens from across Australia and New Zealand partook in the research, with a total 2,208 visitors surveyed

The highlights report can be read here.

Results indicate BGANZ gardens continue to deliver exceptional experiences and play a vital role in community wellbeing, learning, and nature connection. 96% of visitors were satisfied, 94% would recommend the garden to others and 91% will visit again.

BGANZ sincerely thanks UniSA’s C-EDGE for awarding a grant that enabled BGANZ members to partake in the survey at a heavily discounted rate. Each garden received their own organisation visitor insights report

TOP MOTIVATORS FOR VISITING

View/ Exe Learnin

VISITORS VALUE

Feel safe when vi

Peaceful and Tra

Diversity of Pla

PERCI OF BOTA

Provide a place o Place to en

Place to view plants

A STRONGER BRAND. A SMARTER PLATFORM.

This year, BGANZ proudly unveiled a refreshed brand identity and a new website designed to better reflect who we are, what we do, and the impact we have The rebrand aligns our image more closely with our purpose and ensures we are recognisable to audiences beyond our existing membership. The logo icon represents a combination of a network hub plus the New Zealand Rātā and Australian Myrtaceae

Our new website gives us the power to spotlight our members like never before, featuring a dynamic member map and individual profile pages that showcase each organisation Member services have been enhanced with the introduction of a new

exclusive member portal providing access to an expanded resource hub and a searchable member directory, making it easy to find and connect with experts across the network The site also supports professional development through dedicated spaces for our Professional Development and Regional groups, hosting meeting recordings and specialist resources in one central location

Additionally, the platform acts as a sectorwide hub to advertise jobs and promote Botanic Gardens Week and the events our members our hosting From a strategic perspective, it enables donations and fundraising campaigns and highlights key partnerships strengthening our visibility and connectivity across the sector.

2024–2025

CELEBRATINGMEMBERS

BGANZ funded 3 professional development awards this year Applications reached a record high and it was an extremely competitive with outstanding entries

BGANZ extends its sincere appreciation to all applicants The calibre of submissions reflects the strength and professionalism of our sector, and we commend the significant effort and commitment demonstrated by all.

BGANZ Professional Development Award winner: Megan Hirst, Research Scientist - Seed Ecology at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Meg undertook training at the Singapore Botanic Gardens Her project focused on novel approaches to building ex situ living collections of rare and threatened flora through collaborative training, knowledge sharing, and access to advanced laboratory resources. By developing her skills in micropropagation techniques, Meg aims to enhance conservation outcomes and strengthen the capacity of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria to safeguard Australia’s plant biodiversity.

Read more about Meg’s experience here

BGANZ Early Career Award winner: Juan Lucas, Horticulturist, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney.

This award was used by Juan to support his work in enhancing the Garden’s fern collections

His project focused on increasing the representation of New South Wales native ferns, with a particular emphasis on endangered and threatened species

Through this opportunity, Juan developed specialist skills in propagating wild-collected ferns, contributing to both his professional growth and the conservation efforts of the Gardens

Read more on Juan’s experience here.

BGANZ Regional Garden Award Winner: John Carabott, Macedon Ranges Shire Council

Due to the exceptionally high calibre and diversity of applications this year, the judging panel chose to recognise an outstanding finalist from a regional garden.

John Carabott - responsible for the Kyneton, Gisborne, and Malmsbury Botanic Gardens was awarded $750 to support a study tour of multiple gardens across New South Wales

This opportunity allows John to expand his horticultural and operational knowledge, and explore new approaches to enhance and diversify the gardens under his care 2024–2025

PARTNERS

BGANZ would like to thank all partners and sponsors for their ongoing support as we work to promote the aims of BGANZ members, botanic gardens and arboreta across Australia and New Zealand.

PARTNERS 2024/2025

DIAMOND SPONSORS

ALLIANCES

Australian Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens, American Public Gardens Association, Australian Network for Plant Conservation, Australian Seed Bank Partnership, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Climate Change Alliance of Botanic Gardens, Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens

LOOKINGTOTHEFUTURE

As we look ahead, I’m excited by the opportunities we have to keep strengthening our community and amplifying the impact of botanic gardens across Australia and New Zealand

We will continue to grow the resource hub and a key focus will be to expand and enhance the Member Directory - ensuring members have access to practical, high-quality tools that support their work Professional development remains a core priority, with new opportunities planned to build skills and leadership across the sector

We’ll bring the network together at our biannual Congress, a highlight on the BGANZ calendar, and continue to advocate strongly to ministers and government officials about the value of botanic gardens

We are fostering new partnerships and building strong alliances across the industry with like minded organisations including Australian Network for Plant Conservation, Council Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens, Arboriculture Australia and the Wheen Bee Foundation.

Finally, we will build on the success of Botanic Gardens Week, keeping momentum strong with the 2026 theme - Health and Wellbeing

Imagine if we normalise green prescriptions and a walk in a botanic garden was the medicine? Visitors already feel the benefitsnow let’s share the science behind it and the diversity of experiences to be explored

CASSANDRA NICHOLS, CEO

THANKYOU

Donors

A very warm thank you to all our inaugural donors for their generous support

Botanic Garden Week Ambassador

A heartfelt thank you to Costa Georgiadis for his support and time towards making Botanic Garden Week such a huge success

The BGANZ Board:

Marianne Cullen, Chair

Katherine Zhang, Chair of Finance and Risk committee

Dr Leonie Scriven, Chair of Member Committee, FRC member

Wolfgang Bopp

Peter Byron (resigned 14/02/2025)

Chris Russell, Chair of Member Committee (resigned 12/09/2024)

Rohan Butler (resigned 30/11/2024)

John Siemon (elected 09/12/2024)

Michael Anlezark (casual vacancy 03/03/2025)

Committees

The Board extends it’s gratitude to all committee members and thanks them for the contributions towards the network.

BGANZ gratefully acknowledges the huge contributions to the organisation from the Regional and Professional Development Group chairs:

Tex Moon, BGANZ VIC

Michael Anlezark, BGANZ NSW & ACT (until February 2025 )

Felicity Skoberne, BGANZ NSW & ACT (began March 2025)

Wolfgang Bopp, BGANZ NZ

Barry Meiring, BGANZ QLD

Joel Cohan, BGANZ QLD

Paul Swift, BGEN (retired December 2024)

Ben Liu, BGEN (acting Dec 2024 to May 2025)

Emma Simpkins, BGEN (from June 2025)

Sheree Parker, BCARM

Ian Allan, BARB