Donna Ellis MAIH
Regional Committee Member - VIC

Donna Ellis has been employed in the horticulture industry almost continuously since 1983 and is currently the online Diploma of Horticulture Coordinator and a teacher educator at South West TAFE in Western Victoria, and was nominated as Victorian Teacher/Trainer of the Year, 2011. In 2010 she  launched her first book, Sustainable Gardening for Dummies. Donna also acts as a private consultant for various businesses and agencies.

Donna began her working life as a council nursery hand in 1983 and progressed through various roles in the horticulture industry before establishing her own landscaping and gardening business in 1990. She started her teaching career at TAFE in South Australia heading to South West TAFE in 2002 initially teaching horticulture apprentices then coordinating and teaching to both Certificate IV and the successful Australia wide online Diploma of Horticulture. Donna has completed diploma studies in both horticulture and vocational education, and her areas of teaching now include both horticulture and teacher training particularly in the areas of sustainability.

Donna has a regular timeslot as a gardening expert on ABC Radio South West Victoria, has been a presenter and developer for Greening Australia’s ‘Biodiversity in the backyard’ community engagement programs and is currently the principle presenter at Sustainable Gardening Australia’s ECLIPs Sustainable Parks Management seminars for local government.

Donna is currently a member of not only the Australian Institute of Horticulture; but also Sustainable Gardening Australia; Parks and Leisure Australia; Greening Australia; Encouraging Women in Horticulture Australia and Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand.

With her professional focus on the parks and gardens sector, she emphasises the sustainable management of public open space, both from an environmental and economic view point and believes the key to sustaining our industry through partnerships and education.