We are delighted to announce that Linda has been awarded the distinguished title of Professor Emeritus by the University of NSW. The title recognises the outstanding contribution that Linda has made to the University and particularly the Faculty of Built Environment over a period of twenty one years. The award follows Linda’s decision to accept a voluntary redundancy offered by UNSW as part of a strategy to address the severe financial challenge that it faces. Linda joins a distinguished group of approximately 250 retired academics who retain an ongoing relationship with UNSW.
Dean of the Faculty of Built Environment Professor Helen Lochhead noted that “Professor Linda Corkery joined UNSW Built Environment in 1999 and has played a pivotal role in establishing the reputation and ensuring the success of the Landscape Architecture program ever since. Linda has held multiple leadership positions in FBE, which include: Head of School; Associate Dean International; and Program/Discipline Director (3 times). Alongside her dedicated input into the UNSW program, Linda has maintained her commitment to practice as a registered landscape architect. She has held influential positions in the profession including the immediate past National President and Chair of the nationally-elected Board of Directors of Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture (AILA, the peak body for the landscape architecture profession).
Linda has been a consistent advocate for landscape architectural education nationally and internationally. She chaired the AILA National Education Committee (2015-2016), led the review and revision of the AILA National Accreditation Standards and Procedures, by which all Australian Landscape Architecture programs are assessed and accredited (2015-2016), and was the Australasian Director on the US-based Council of Educators of Landscape Architecture (2011-2017), representing all 11 university Landscape Architecture programs in Australia and New Zealand.”
As Professor Emeritus Linda will maintain her involvement with on-going research projects and PhD supervision, which will enable her to keep up to date on current research in various aspects of landscape architecture.
As a Director of Corkery Consulting Linda will dedicate more time to consulting activities to which she will apply her depth of knowledge and familiarity with current research to inform projects that are undertaken by the practice. Linda’s research is broadly focused on issues around people and place, and is focused on how landscape planning and design can mitigate the impacts of climate change and increase both human and ecological resilience. Linda has recently co-edited a book titled, Designing Cities with Children and Young People: Beyond Playgrounds and Skateparks. She was also chief investigator on a recent federally-funded research project called “Smart Social Spaces” that uses technology installed on and around street furniture to collect data on how people engage with each other and with these public places. This work will assist local government by providing real-time data to inform their strategic decision making and assist planning current operations.
