Dr Saira Ali FLI - A New President and a Renewed Voice for the Landscape Profession

This week, I attended the Landscape Institute President’s Reception at Camley Street Natural Park, where Carolin Göhler FLI formally handed over the presidency to Dr Saira Ali FLI.

Yvonne Matthews (LI), Adam White, Jane Findlay and Carlin Göhler (Past Presidents), Dr Saira Ali (President) and Rob Hughes (LI CEO)

Camley Street was an especially fitting location for the occasion. Situated beside Regent’s Canal and surrounded by significant new development, this remarkable two-acre urban nature reserve provides a haven for plants and wildlife in one of the most densely populated parts of central London.

Created from a former coal yard in 1984 and now managed by London Wildlife Trust, the park contains woodland, grassland and wetland habitats supporting kingfishers, herons, mallards, coots, amphibians, insects, rare fungi and a rich variety of plant life. Once inside, it is difficult to believe that one of the country’s busiest railway interchanges is only moments away.
It is a powerful example of how landscape can restore nature, enrich people’s lives and create a lasting sense of place amid intense urban development.

It was therefore reassuring to hear Saira set out her vision for the years ahead, particularly her ambition to reach out and reconnect with the many individuals, organisations and disciplines working towards the shared goal of reconnecting people, place and nature.

At a time when the UK is responding to the climate and nature emergencies, delivering much-needed homes and infrastructure, and seeking healthier and more resilient communities, the expertise of landscape professionals has never been more important.

Saira brings more than 20 years of experience leading major regeneration, conservation and placemaking programmes. As Head of Bradford Council’s Landscape Design and Conservation Team, she has helped deliver award-winning projects that combine landscape, heritage and climate-resilient design to transform places and improve people’s lives.

Her work has demonstrated how rain gardens, urban greening and blue-green infrastructure can be integrated into regeneration projects, not simply as attractive additions, but as essential infrastructure capable of managing water, improving biodiversity, supporting health and wellbeing, attracting investment and strengthening local economies.
Saira is also a passionate advocate for inclusive placemaking and for inspiring the next generation of landscape professionals. She regularly speaks on climate resilience, design quality and the social value of landscape, while mentoring emerging practitioners and championing greater diversity and inclusion throughout the profession.

I remember meeting Saira for the first time and immediately recognising many of the qualities needed to become a strong spokesperson for both the Landscape Institute and the wider landscape profession: confidence, determination, passion and a clear belief in the transformative power of landscape.

Hearing her speak at the reception also prompted me to reflect on my own time as President. I recognised that same sense of possibility, responsibility and ambition that comes with being entrusted to represent such a diverse and talented profession.

As Convenor of the Landscape Institute’s College of Fellows, I was delighted to welcome Saira as a Fellow. Fellowship recognises an individual’s significant contribution to the profession, and Saira’s experience and commitment will undoubtedly help her as she takes on this important leadership role.

She succeeds Carolin Göhler FLI, whose presidency has overseen a significant period of renewal and revitalisation within the Institute. Saira now has the opportunity to build on that work, collaborating with members, government, industry and partners across the built and natural environment sectors.

Her priorities include championing members and professional excellence, promoting a landscape-led approach to planning and development, and ensuring that our profession’s knowledge and experience help shape national discussions around housing, infrastructure, climate resilience, biodiversity recovery and healthier communities.

I particularly welcome Saira’s commitment to telling the story of our profession with greater confidence. Landscape must never be treated as an afterthought. It is fundamental to the creation of successful places and an essential part of the solution to many of the greatest challenges facing society. As the Institute looks ahead to its centenary, LI100 provides an important opportunity not only to celebrate a century of achievement, but also to consider the profession we want to become during the next 100 years.

That must include helping people from every background and community to see themselves represented within the profession and to recognise that they belong. Talent exists everywhere, and landscape architecture will be stronger, more relevant and better equipped to serve society when it embraces a wider range of experiences, perspectives and voices.

I wish Saira every success during her presidency and look forward to supporting her, the Landscape Institute and our members as we work together to demonstrate the essential role of landscape in creating a healthier, fairer and more resilient future.

Adam White FLI PPLI
Past President of the Landscape Institute
Director, Davies White Ltd