Spencer Quirk

2024 | Horticulture

“I want to explore the different ways that industry leaders are making positive changes to our cities, by building industry connections with people from global companies.”

Spencer’s scholarship relates to these UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs):

Goal for the Scholarship

My goal was to reach a global spectrum of industry leaders across urban greening in horticulture. This was made possible by visiting and meeting with leaders in our own backyard to meeting with amazing leaders and places internationally.

Vancouver, Canada

At VanDusen Botanical Gardens, I was taken around the garden by two fabulous volunteers who are locals who work at these prestigious private botanical gardens. I learnt about the history of these amazing gardens just outside the CBD of Vancouver.

At the Grey to Green, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Conference 2025, I got to hear about up-and-coming projects in Canada while hearing from leading architects and other urban greening professionals in the industry. Industry-leading greening companies were also there showcasing their products and services and informing us how these products are positively benefiting our cities through improving green spaces, biodiversity, reducing stormwater pollution and slowing stormwater to reduce flooding. Vancouver is a very wet city, and it was fascinating to learn about the many environmental returns a green roof can provide.

A day spent with Architek was a highlight. I got to visit an office making positive changes not just to Vancouver but delivering projects across Canada as "Canada's leader in living building and architectural solutions". The team there was very professional. I spent most of the day with fellow Aussie Mitch Dennis, their Operations and Project Manager and Architectural Technologist. After meeting in the office to discuss Architek and their urban greening projects, we drove around the city to visit some of these sites.

Melbourne, Australia

At Evergreen Infrastructure, I met the team and in particular Michael Casey, who has over 30 years in the industry and has applied himself to urban greening projects across the commercial, private and educational sectors. He is an award-winning horticulturist and green infrastructure expert who I was so glad to spend time with. I was honoured he made the time for us to discuss the challenges we face with green infrastructure and how he and his highly experienced team make these amazing projects possible in our own beautiful country. It was a great day visiting different projects, and I was thrilled to spend this time with him and privileged to now call him a friend.

Singapore

At Gardens by the Bay, one of the most famous gardens in the world, I was lucky enough to shadow Principal Horticulturist Anton Steven Van Der Schans and his team. We visited all parts of the gardens and got to see behind the scenes. I was also fortunate to meet the founder of Gardens by the Bay, Dr Kiat W. Tan, which was an absolute privilege and highlight.

At the National University of Singapore, I visited senior lecturer Dr Terrence Tan in the Department of Architecture. We connected through our shared interests in urban greenery. Dr Tan's knowledge was incredible, and I was honoured to learn from someone who has worked on major research projects with the Singapore Government and industry leaders in green infrastructure. His research interests include urban greening, green walls, green roofs, urban climate mapping and landscape design optimisation.

Spending a week hands-on with NParks was thrilling. Travelling between almost all areas of NParks allowed me to gain a holistic understanding of the work involved in maintaining and operating Singapore's public green spaces. Meeting workers, team leaders and managers across the different sites was so much fun, and I learnt a great deal from all of them. A true standout was visiting the Pasir Panjang Nursery and spending the day with fellow and proud plant nerd Zaki.

I also spent time with the leading horticulturalists at Mandai Wildlife Reserve and Bird Paradise. They showed me around the facilities and explained the importance of greening within the animal enclosures. The newly opened Bird Paradise has received international recognition for its design and sustainability, and it was truly amazing to see how thoughtfully the project had been designed and planted.

Switzerland

At Jakob Rope Systems, I met with Heinz, Head of Architecture, and Elžbieta Bortkevič from Architecture Sales. I learnt about the company and the importance of its products in supporting innovative urban greening projects by providing structures for plants to grow, thrive and live within built environments. This led me to visit MFO Park in Zurich, which demonstrates how green spaces can be created even within highly urbanised business districts, providing both environmental benefits and valuable green spaces for people.

At RICOTER Erdaufbereitung AG, I learnt about sustainable growing media production. It was inspiring to see how potting mix is manufactured, bagged and distributed across Europe, as well as the company's ongoing product development and trials, including new green roof growing media.

Germany

I visited Frankfurt Botanical Gardens and was very impressed by the scale of the gardens and the number of glasshouses showcasing plants from many different climates.

Spain

Visiting the Real Alcázar de Sevilla had always been a dream of mine, and it did not disappoint. The paradise gardens remain absolutely stunning and continue to provide an incredible sense of royalty and tranquillity.

In Asturias, I reconnected with my old mentor and manager Maria. Working and staying with Maria and her husband Matt was a true gift. We worked together carrying out garden maintenance and visiting clients for garden design projects around San Esteban. On weekends we visited botanical gardens together, as well as retail and wholesale nurseries. Every day was brilliant.

Italy

I spent three weeks travelling by road, visiting landmarks and gardens along the way.

What I Learnt

From this experience I learnt so much and improved my knowledge across a broader area of horticulture, design, architecture and gained deeper understandings of different environments.

Sustainability is forever growing and evolving and can be done on the largest of scales and the smallest of scales. The most amazing thing was that everywhere I travelled it was a topic of discussion, with processes already implemented in workplaces, projects and even city guidelines and goals.

There were so many highlights. Just getting to travel was a true gift, but reconnecting and working with my dear friend Maria and her husband Matt was so wholesome. Seeing her at the airport, being invited to stay with them, and then feeling like the old band was back together as we worked alongside each other again was so much fun.

Overall Experience

The best thing about the scholarship was getting to test myself every day, whether that was in a meeting testing my knowledge or testing my skills simply getting to an airport on time. Every experience was a chance to learn, and that is the most exciting thing about this scholarship and about life. Learning is one of my greatest passions.

Meeting the people I met throughout the scholarship was incredible. Their knowledge was inspiring, and being able to surround myself with them, learn from them and build lasting connections is something I will always be grateful for and proud of.

The biggest takeaway is that it doesn't matter whether you live in Australia, Asia, Europe or the Americas—sustainability in our industry is a goal we are all striving towards, and it can be achieved across every industry.

In Three Words: Memories that last.

"Spencer is highly passionate and engaged with horticulture. He will learn an enormous amount and in turn can use that knowledge to the benefit green infrastructure in Australia. "
– Global Footprints Assessor Panel