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FEATURE

Inaugural talk by IFLA president Bruno Marques at the 2023 IFLA World Congress, where an MoU was reached to transform the perception of landscape architecture
across disciplines.
the Kenyans; how can we, with our limited
resources, manage, they asked. Sweden
came to the rescue and offered to co-host the
conference. Despite some glitches, namely
the challenges of co-ordinating a hybrid
world congress, virtual and real life, in both
locations, the event was a great success. I felt
inspired by the message projected on the
screens by both Pia and Ruth in Stockholm
and Nairobi respectively, to think ‘beyond
borders’ and ‘leave no-one behind’.

About the author
Jala Makhzoumi is
adjunct professor of
landscape architecture
at the American
University of Beirut,
and acting president
of IFLA Middle East
Region. She has
practiced for 40 years Jala Makhzoumi
in the Middle East and
Mediterranean, where
she pioneers a holistic developmental
approach that focusses on community
Concluding words of the 2023 IFLA World Congress by Pia Johnsson in Sweden and Ruth Wanjiku in Kenya well-being, environmental health and
heritage conservation. In recognition
of her outstanding contribution to
proof of a shift in IFLA and the jury of the dynamos behind the organisation of the education and practice in landscape
Sir Geoffrey Jellico Award, to consider not IFLA 2023 North/South collaboration, being architecture, she has received:
only professional accomplishments in the simultaneously held in Sweden and Nairobi. • the European Council of Landscape
economically developed world, but also Pia Johnsson, Sweden, and Ruth Wanjiku, Architecture Schools Award;
dedicated professionals in the Global South, Kenya, worked closely for over a year to • the Lifetime Achievement Award
who are pioneering landscape architecture make the collaboration possible. 2019; and
in a professional void. Once it had been agreed that IFLA 2023 • the IFLA Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe
The most powerful image of the Global would be hosted by Kenya, the enormity of Award 2021.
North/South co-operation is that of two preparing for the event was intimidating to
n
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