Shaping a better future for the profession

The Winds of Change Garden. © Marko Yau

My role as a student representative on the LI Advisory Council and why volunteering is so important.

My connection to landscape started with my passion for plants. I have always been intrigued by nature. My hobby is identifying plants on the street and learning about their characteristics.

Whenever I have time, I like to explore the outdoors.

I arrived in Sheffield in 2019. Having been born and raised in Hong Kong, everything here was new and exciting for me. I made a great choice by enrolling in the University of Sheffield’s Landscape Architecture course, which has been a game-changer for me. I remember visiting the Peak District during the introductory week in my first year – it’s amazing to see such a picturesque landscape just beyond your doorstep.

Throughout my undergraduate experience at Sheffield I specialised in ecology, which gave me a wide range of opportunities to work on projects from bird survey reports to ecological masterplanning. The support from tutors and peers along the way has been invaluable.

I have always been keen on volunteering, frequently helping in Sheffield’s local gardens, as I believe it’s the best way to interact with plants and get to know the community better. It’s also about gaining a sense of belonging and giving back to the local neighbourhood. Similarly with the Landscape Institute Advisory Council; it enhances my understanding of the LI and allows me to contribute to shaping a better future for the profession.

I started my volunteer role as a student representative for the Yorkshire and Humber branch in 2022. This opened up the valuable opportunity to join the Advisory Council last year. My role as a student representative on the Advisory Council is to represent the student body and attend in-person and online meetings throughout the year. For example, I attended an in-person meeting in London this summer. The Advisory Council team was divided into small groups, discussing issues and exploring New Ways of Working from a governance perspective.

It feels great to give back to the LI with my perspective as a current landscape student, speaking up about our needs, and encouraging other students to get involved in different LI events. Student members are the future of the landscape profession and we make a vital contribution to LI life.

Marko Yau is a fifth-year Landscape Architecture MLA student at the University of Sheffield