Our Team
John Hepper
/ Founder
An effervescent energy, a passion for outdoor adventure, a deep respect for the views of the community and the values they instil in their landscape and exceptional communications skills combine to make John our natural leader. John’s 35+ years of worldwide engagement in tourism, recreation and environmental planning are central to the shaping of the meaningful experiences of the landscape that residents and visitors yearn for.
Jerry de Gryse
/ Founder
A pioneer in landscape architecture in Tasmania, Jerry fuses his 40+ years of passion and expertise in planning and design for life outside with a deep understanding of the dynamic interactions between the physical, biological and societal processes that influence the landscape. At the heart of Jerry’s work is a commitment to the shaping of a sustainable future filled with healthy and diverse natural and built landscapes that support resilient communities.
Jordan Davis
/ Director
In his life, Jordan has been an explorer of wild places, an active sportsman, a craftsman and a designer of landscapes and small buildings – he is the office Renaissance person. Inspired by the power and beauty of the natural landscape, Jordan seeks to shape meaningful places in the designed landscape that nurture the community while addressing concerns for environmental performance, financial resourcefulness and technical resolution.
Adam Holmstrom
/ Director
Adam’s keen passion for the landscape, expressed through his volunteerism in land care, is at the heart of our practice’s concern to maintain healthy ecosystems and to re-nature the city and our suburbs. His focus on listening to and learning from the environment ensures that our projects are true to community and context, and alive to the potential for landscapes to inspire deep relationships between people and nature.
Sarah Bendeich
/ Senior Urban Designer
Sarah has recently returned to private practice following more than ten years in local government. She brings extensive client-side experience in strategic project development, open space, city and street design and community infrastructure, Sarah has delivered urban renewal, open space and streetscape upgrades from feasibility and planning through to concept development and delivery. Sarah is focused on delivering high quality outcomes for clients and helping communities shape positive change, recognising that each project contributes to the evolution of a greater whole.
Georgia Alexander
/ Principal Landscape Architect
Georgia has recently joined the team at Inspiring Place after working in NSW with both small, rural and larger commercial Landscape Architecture firms. She is passionate about designing functional and memorable landscapes, focusing on environmentally sustainable practices through site-specific design. She believes in the importance of involving and connecting with the community during the design process, to strengthen the sense of belonging between a community and their surroundings.
Emma Little
/ Senior Environmental Planner
Emma Little (nee Pharo) is an Environmental Planner and Ecologist with more than 30 years of experience researching landscapes and communicating to a range of audiences. Having worked in tertiary education since the mid-1990s, Emma is expert at gathering information from diverse sources and facilitating conversations about how to manage places for natural values and people.
Monica Wedd
/ Practice Manager
Monica is our dedicated Practice Manager, bringing a wealth of expertise in quality management and studio operations. Her diverse role encompasses a variety of administrative tasks and quality assurance, allowing our team to focus on creative design while maintaining high standards of efficiency and organization. Monica's keen eye for detail, commitment to excellence, and proactive approach make her an invaluable asset to our practice.
Dimuthu Jayakody
/ Community Planner
Dimuthu is expert in working with people and spatial data to understand place attachment and community resilience. She has a Master of Protected Area Governance and Management from the University of Tasmania (2019) and a Bachelor of Science from Bangor University, Wales, UK (2014). Di has a rich experience in stakeholder engagement in Australia, UK, Sri Lanka and the Seychelles.
Tash Burgess
/ Landscape Designer
Tash is a dedicated landscape designer with a strong foundation in horticulture and natural resource management. With a diverse professional background across both public and private sectors, she brings a holistic and sustainable approach to her work. Tash’s passion lies in creating landscapes that are not only visually compelling but also environmentally resilient, fostering biodiversity and ecological health.