Celebrating the 2026 ACT Landcare Award Winners
More than 100 community members gathered at the National Portrait Gallery this morning to celebrate the people, groups and partnerships making a remarkable difference for the environment across the ACT. The 2026 ACT Landcare Awards Breakfast recognised outstanding achievements in conservation, sustainable land management, community stewardship and environmental leadership.
We were honoured to hear from keynote speakers Rebecca Vassarotti MLA and Professor Jamie Pittock, whose reflections reinforced the importance of community action in caring for our landscapes and biodiversity. We also extend our sincere thanks to award presenters Jessica Mitchell, Bren Burkevics, Aunty Karen Denny and Karen Walsh, and to Uncle Wally Bell for his moving Welcome and Rite of Passage, which set a meaningful tone for the morning.
“This year’s winners reflect the diversity and strength of the Landcare movement. They include community volunteers restoring local parks, farmers demonstrating sustainable land management, researchers and citizen scientists protecting threatened species, young people leading environmental action and individuals whose decades of service have shaped conservation outcomes across the ACT. Together they show that meaningful environmental change happens when knowledge, collaboration and commitment are brought together in service of people, place and Country. We congratulate all award recipients and thank every nominee for their outstanding contribution.”
Dr Michael Robinson, CEO, Landcare ACT
The 2026 ACT Landcare Award Winners:
Australian Government Landcare Innovation Award Winner: Green and Golden Bell Frog Reintroduction Project Volunteers
The Green and Golden Bell Frog Reintroduction Project Volunteers were recognised with the Australian Government Landcare Innovation Award for their role in one of the ACT’s most ambitious conservation projects. Partnering with researchers from the University of Canberra, volunteers helped pioneer innovative frog “saunas” and “spas” to assist frogs in managing chytrid fungus, a major threat to amphibians worldwide. Their contributions to habitat restoration, monitoring and citizen science have laid strong foundations for the recovery of the Green and Golden Bell Frog in the ACT for the first time since the 1980s.
Australian Government Sustainable Agriculture Landcare Award Winners: Michael and Kay Shanahan
Michael and Kay Shanahan were recognised for their decades of leadership in sustainable agriculture at Tidbinbilla Station. Their restoration of Tidbinbilla Creek transformed a severely eroded waterway into a healthy chain of ponds system, delivering improved water quality, restored habitat and a healthier landscape while demonstrating that productive farming and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.
Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award Winner: Dr Maxine Cooper
Dr Maxine Cooper was recognised for more than 25 years of outstanding leadership and service to landcare, conservation and community stewardship. Through a range of professional and volunteer roles, she has helped shape environmental policy, strengthen Landcare organisations, improve catchment management and build lasting partnerships between governments, communities, farmers and Traditional Custodians.
Australian Government Community Partnerships Landcare Award Winners: Friends of Magpie Hill Park
Since forming in 2020, Friends of Magpie Hill Park have transformed a degraded and weed infested urban reserve into a thriving natural landscape. Their collaborative approach has united residents, government, ecological experts and community organisations to restore native vegetation, improve habitat and inspire greater community involvement in environmental stewardship.
First Nations Landcare Collaboration Award Winners: Richie Allan and Place Management - ACT Government
This partnership was recognised for its outstanding work protecting culturally significant trees and sites across Canberra. Through knowledge sharing, education and on ground collaboration, Uncle Richie Allan has helped build understanding of Cultural values in the landscape while strengthening culturally informed land management practices that will benefit future generations.
Women in Landcare Award Winner: Libby McCutchan
Libby McCutchan was recognised for her leadership in transforming Griffith Woodland into a thriving Box Gum Woodland habitat and community asset. Her collaborative approach has built a strong and resilient volunteer group, creating lasting environmental outcomes while inspiring others to become involved in caring for their local environment.
Junior Landcare Award Winners: Telopea Primary Eco-Délégués
The Telopea Primary Eco-Délégués were recognised for their inspiring environmental leadership at school and in the broader community. Through biodiversity projects, waste reduction initiatives, environmental awareness campaigns and fundraising activities, these young leaders have demonstrated how students can create meaningful environmental change and inspire future environmental stewards.
NextGen Landcare Award Winners: ANU Intrepid Landcare
For almost a decade, ANU Intrepid Landcare has connected young adults with hands on environmental action across Canberra and the surrounding region. Their work in habitat restoration, threatened species conservation and community engagement, including projects supporting the vulnerable Glossy Black Cockatoo, is helping build the next generation of landcare leaders.
Recognising Our Highly Commended Finalists
While only one recipient can receive each award, we also acknowledge the outstanding work of this year’s finalists and highly commended nominees, whose dedication is helping create a healthier, more sustainable ACT.
Congratulations to Fiona Buining and Ainslie Urban Farm, Dr Warren Bond, Sally Holliday, Ciaran Ernst-Russell, the Galilee School Gardening and Sustainability Elective, and Orana Steiner School & Unwin Street ParkCare. Your contributions demonstrate the depth of environmental leadership, innovation and community stewardship across our region.
Congratulations to all our winners, finalists and nominees. Winners of the State and Territory categories will now represent the ACT at the National Landcare Awards in Adelaide in 2027. Together, you are helping to protect, restore and enhance the landscapes, waterways and biodiversity that make the ACT the Bush Capital!
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