Christian Eckardt is the Manager of Education and Community Programs at Greater Sydney Parklands, where he oversees large-scale, place-based learning initiatives connecting communities of all ages to nature across urban parklands. With a background as a secondary school teacher and outdoor educator, Christian designs participant-led programs that foster belonging, stewardship and wellbeing through sustained engagement with place. His work focuses on creating environments where children, young people and adults can engage meaningfully with natural spaces through exploration, contribution and shared responsibility. He leads the design and delivery of long-term programs that prioritise agency, relational learning and ecological restoration, supporting participants to develop a strong sense of connection to place and community. Christian collaborates with academic partners, including Western Sydney University, to support research examining the impacts of sustained nature connection on wellbeing, identity and pro-environmental behaviour. Working from the practitioner side, he bridges research and practice to inform program design and implementation in contemporary urban contexts. His approach integrates education, play and environmental stewardship, with a strong focus on participant voice and the role of urban green spaces in supporting connection, development and belonging across the lifespan.

David Kutcher is currently The Honorary Principal of The Venny and a board member at Play Australia. David has served as General Manager and Board member at The Venny Inc for 25 years. He has completed well over 10,000 hours of play work practice. He oversaw The Venny’s transition from a Co-operative to an Incorporated Association, obtaining full charitable and DGR status. David has facilitated the expansion and reach of Playwork across other public housing towers in Melbourne. He successfully managed The Venny’s funding to increase tenfold and acquired more land and spaces for children to Play. David has travelled extensively to study models of Play work in the UK, Germany and Scandinavia. Importantly he has a proven track record of building children's play spaces and putting children and young people front and centre of decision making and play.

Dr Gweneth Leigh is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Canberra’s Health Research Institute, dedicated to creating healthier, more inclusive outdoor environments for young people. With a background in landscape architecture and urban design, Gweneth’s work bridges research and practice, exploring how schoolyards and public spaces can foster mental health, equity and engagement for young people. She has published widely in professional journals, curated exhibitions on health and design, and contributed to national conversations on inclusive outdoor spaces. Through the Greenprint Project, she collaborates with schools and communities to reimagine outdoor spaces as catalysts for resilience and belonging, ensuring every child has access to environments that support their growth and wellbeing.