International Federation of Landscape Architects President's Award 2024

The IFLA President’s Award is presented by the IFLA President as recognition of an outstanding individual who, through their voluntary efforts within IFLA, made a fundamental difference to the global profession of landscape architecture.

This award celebrates excellence and acknowledges the profound difference that a dedicated individual can make in our global community. The recipient may not always be in the international spotlight, but their contributions to the field are nothing short of extraordinary.

This year, we bring an exceptional individual whose work has spanned continents, bridging gaps and fostering collaboration in the pursuit of sustainable and biodiverse urban landscapes. Her tireless efforts in research, education, and practice have left an undeniable mark on our profession.
Dr. Maria Ignatieva is a Professor of Landscape Architecture at the School of Design, University of Western Australia. Her research interests have been urban biodiversity and design with nature, urban green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, history of landscape architecture, and garden restoration. She worked in five countries (Australia, Sweden, New Zealand, the USA, and Russia) where she taught landscape architecture, led interdisciplinary urban ecology research projects, implemented several biodiversity-positive designs in botanic gardens and university campuses and restoration projects in historical parks and gardens. Maria’s most recent interdisciplinary research is dedicated to urban lawns an ecological and social phenomenon and searching for sustainable solutions in the time of drying climate. Maria has been the co-President of URBIO (International Network Urban Biodiversity and Design) since 2019.

This award is a testament to her voluntary dedication and the profound difference she has made within our organisation and beyond. From leading interdisciplinary landscape architecture and urban ecology research projects to implementing biodiversity-positive designs in practice, and spearheading the IFLA World Congress in St Petersburg in 2015 as well as numerous international/national conferences, she has consistently championed the principles of sustainability and the integration of nature into our urban fabric.

In the award presentation in Istanbul, Bruno Marques mentioned: The intent of the IFLA President's Award is to celebrate those individuals who embody the spirit of IFLA and who exemplify the values we hold dear. In Maria Ignatieva, we have found such an individual—a true champion who has dedicated her career to creating a more sustainable and biodiverse world through landscape architecture.

Maria’s commitment to education is equally remarkable. She has inspired countless students across five countries, sharing her knowledge and passion for landscape architecture. Her leadership as a chair of landscape architecture programs and development of PhD education in landscape architecture, exemplifies her dedication to nurturing the next generation of landscape architects.

Professor Maria Ignatieva in her IFLA President's Awardee Speech expressed her heartfelt thanks to the IFLA President, Bruno Marques, and the Executive Committee for their consideration and appreciation of her contribution to IFLA and the landscape architecture profession. She felt very touched by this honour and thanked IFLA and her colleagues at universities she worked for as well as her collaborators around the world for enabling her to contribute to landscape architecture, the noblest profession that will help save our planet.