Announcing the jury for the AIPH World Green City Awards 2026
AIPH has announced the distinguished jury for the 2026 edition of the AIPH World Green City Awards. Bringing together leading experts from across urban planning, horticulture, environmental policy, and sustainable development, the Jury reflects the global ambition of the Awards: to showcase cities that recognise the power of plants for providing solutions to major urban challenges.
Initiated by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) and supported by its network of Green City Partners, the AIPH World Green City Awards champion ambitious nature-orientated approaches to city design and operation. The Awards demonstrate how plants and horticulture contribute to healthier, more resilient, and more liveable cities.
The Awards Jury is tasked with selecting the winners based on each entry’s capacity for influence, replicability, and scope to inspire change. Considering the transformational impact of the initiatives, the Jury will assess each of the Finalist entries selected by the multidisciplinary Technical Panel. From the 21 Finalists, the Jury will decide on the seven category winners. Of these seven, only one will be named Grand Winner of the AIPH World Green City Awards 2026 - an exemplar of visionary, nature-oriented urban transformation.
Representing a range of geographies and experiences, the Jury reflects the global nature of the Awards and ensures that diverse perspectives inform the evaluation of Finalists.
Members of the jury are:
Elisabeth Belpaire, President, International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP), Switzerland
Kobie Brand, Deputy Secretary-General, ICLEI, and Regional Director, ICLEI Africa, South Africa
Bill Hardy, Chair of Green City Committee, AIPH, Canada
Jennifer Jenson, Owner, Verdovia, UK
David Maddox, Executive Director, The Nature of Cities, USA
Dr. Bruno Marques, President, International Federation of Landscape Architects, New Zealand
Margaret Otieno, Chair, IUCN CEC, Kenya
Augusto Solano, Past President, ASOCOLFLORES, Colombia
Karen Tambayong, Chairperson, Indonesian Horticultural Professionals Association, Indonesia
Maria A. Villalobos Hernandez, Associate Professor, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Director, Master of Landscape Architecture + Urbanism, USA
Kotchakorn Voraakhom, CEO, Landprocess, and CEO, Porous City Network, Thailand
Commenting on the Jury, Tim Briercliffe, AIPH Secretary General, said: “Cities are increasingly recognising the role of plants as essential urban infrastructure – supporting climate resilience, biodiversity and health and wellbeing. The strength and diversity of this year’s Jury ensures that the Awards continue to highlight the most effective and inspiring urban greening initiatives worldwide.”
