We are Rhizome.
We work at the intersection of people, place and ecology.
Rhizome is a landscape architecture, planning and ecology practice led by Simon Kilbane and Tam Hanson. Their work is driven by a strong respect for the natural world, with projects that cross multiple scales and form connections between ecology, people and place, through design.
Rhizome offers a human approach to the scientific. Projects are formed on a foundation of research and academic rigour, whilst being developed through an open, collaborative and positive approach that considers multiple perspectives. They are committed to creating a community around their work.
Rhizome specialises in five core skills and competencies:
Rhizome welcomes opportunities to work with government, the private sector, not-for-profit, research and academia.
Rhizome is well skilled across a range of large scale open space and protected area planning projects and excel in the delivery of creative work on time and on budget.
Rhizome has been nationally awarded for their Landscape Architectural research and for landscape planning on several occasions. This recognition was through the novel methods employed in their projects, namely, strong research basis, the use of GIS technologies, strength in mapping and illustration, community engagement charrette workshops and the practice of ground-truthing of ideas.
1. Green Infrastructure & Urban Ecology
Rhizome: combining design thinking + ecological functionality. Seamlessly integrating nature, our innovative team creates purposeful, sustainable spaces that reflect client vision.
2. Protected Area and Public Open Space Planning & Design
3. Urban Design & Planning
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5. Civic and Stakeholder Engagement, Education & Training
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Research and Strategy
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4. Ecological and Wildlife Research & Monitoring
Our service aims to provide individuals and organizations with a deepened understanding of ecological thinking and processes. Through a carefully curated program, we offer a transformative experience that combines education, exploration, and practical application.
What sets our service apart is our commitment to delivering a holistic and hands-on learning experience. We believe that true understanding of ecological thinking can only be achieved through a combination of theory and practice. Therefore, we offer not only classroom lectures and interactive discussions but also field trips, practical exercises, and collaborative projects.
Our service connects participants with leading experts and practitioners in the field of ecology, enabling them to engage in meaningful conversations and gain insights from real-world experiences. We encourage active participation, fostering a supportive learning environment that promotes creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, our service is designed to be inclusive and interdisciplinary. We welcome individuals from various backgrounds, whether they are scientists, policymakers, educators, or simply passionate about environmental issues. By fostering a diverse community, we believe in the power of collective intelligence and the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration to drive positive change.
In summary, our service offers an affordable, comprehensive, and hands-on approach to deepening one's understanding of ecological thinking and processes. Through a tailored learning experience, we strive to empower individuals and organizations with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complexities of the natural world and contribute to a sustainable future.
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Simon Kilbane
Simon Kilbane, AILA
B. Landscape Architecture (Hons), PhD,Grad Cert Higher Education (Learning+Teaching)
20 years experience
Project Manager, Landscape Planning
#0466 481 381
Simon brings a unique blend of contemporary skills and recognised expertise managing open space and protected area planning and design projects, green infrastructure plans and strategies, research and tertiary education.
Before establishing Rhizome, Simon had more than 20 years of diverse experience across private practice, state and local government in the UK, France, New Zealand, Peru and Australia.
He has led a wide diversity of projects across various scales, ranging from working closely with community stakeholders on small scale open space and urban design studies in Europe and Australia to regional master-planning of national parks with Indigenous people in the Pilbara and the south-west of Western Australia in close collaboration with interpretive site designers.
Simon has a PhD (UWA, 2017) and also possesses research and teaching experience across six different universities in Australia, New Zealand and the USA. He currently holds a position as a Senior Lecturer in Planning, Urban Design and Landscape Architecture at Deakin University in Geelong.
Landscape and Urban Lead
Simon brings a unique blend of contemporary skills and recognised expertise across landscape architecture and planning. green infrastructure, and urban and ecological design.
Simon's 20+ years of diverse vocational experience across private practice, state and local government in the UK, France, New Zealand, Peru and Australia has provided him with extensive experiences on a wide diversity of projects across various scales, including significant exposure to local and state governments. These range from working with community stakeholders on small scale urban design and open space studies in Europe and Australia to regional master-planning of national parks with Indigenous people in the Pilbara of Western Australia.
Simon's expertise and skills in Masterplanning and in Green Infrastructure1 are well recognised and he regularly speaks at international and national conferences. In 2018 his research on was awarded both the Australian Institute of Landscape Architect's (AILA) National Award of Excellence and the AILA Western Australia Award in the ‘Research Policy and Communications’ category for its diverse, creative methodology that included mapping and GIS; and ground-truthing of plans through engagement with community and local governance.
Simon also has teaching and research experience across five different universities in Australia, New Zealand and the USA and was responsible for establishing the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Honours) degree at The University of Technology Sydney as its inaugural Course Director (2014-2017).
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Tam Hanson
Tam Hanson
BBus, PGDip WilMan, Master of Science
20 years experience
Ecology, Engagement and Visitor Planning
#0466 481 380
Tam possesses a broad spectrum of skills relating to biodiversity and ecology; community consultation and engagement; and education and visitor recreation planning. She completed her Bachelor of Business (Environmental Tourism Mgt) 1999, a Post Graduate Diploma in Wildlife Management (University of Otago, NZ) in 2009 and Masters of Environmental Sc
ience (Murdoch University, WA) in 2011.
She has worked across a blend of ecology, community and stakeholder engagement and visitor planning roles and prior to Rhizome these skills were honed through working for National Parks departments in Australia (QLD, WA, NSW) and Canada, as well as universities in the USA and NZ. Tam possesses extensive experience in building stakeholder partnerships and community engagement, education and training in biodiversity and conservation management (NSW, WA & QLD).
Her strengths are in fostering partnerships and working closely with diverse stakeholders from project conception to delivery on ecologically and community-focussed goals. This includes the facilitation of visitor interpretive planning and storytelling, workshops and fieldwork to achieve conservation outcomes.
Lead, Ecology
Tam possesses a broad spectrum of skills from 15+ years working in biodiversity, wildlife and urban ecology; community consultation and engagement; and protected area planning.
Tam has a breadth of experience in fauna and ecological monitoring including NSW statewide monitoring of wildlife species; has researched the endangered Red Squirrel sub-species on Mount Graham, Arizona (USA); identified ecological corridors and hotspots in Kootenay National Park (Canada); investigated invasive mammal species at Lake Tekapo and has been involved in avian fauna reintroduction programs (New Zealand).
Connecting her ecological knowledge with human settlements and land-use, Tam has also led large and small scale revegetation projects across regional and urban landscapes in the Western Australian Wheatbelt and in Perth, WA.
Her strengths are in fostering partnerships and working closely with diverse stakeholders from project conception to delivery on ecologically focussed goals. This includes the facilitation of training, workshops and fieldwork to achieve conservation outcomes.
Work with us
“We welcome the opportunity to discuss who we can work together.”
— Rhizome
