Michael Casey

Michael Casey is the founder and director of MJC Horticulture, a Melbourne-based horticultural and urban greening consultancy established in 1991. With more than thirty years of hands-on industry experience, Michael Casey has built a reputation for providing practical, independent advice that helps landscapes perform in the real world.

MJC

MJC consultancy works with architects, developers, councils and organisations across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and projects Australia wide.

Every project benefits from the knowledge Michael Casey has developed through decades of working directly in landscape construction, maintenance and consulting.

This practical background means advice is grounded in real outcomes. Landscapes must work not only on paper but also on site and over the long term.

You can explore more about the services delivered by the consultancy on the [Skills] page.

Michael Casey and the Vision Behind MJC Horticulture

From the beginning, Michael Casey established MJC Horticulture with a clear goal. Help clients create landscapes that are resilient, healthy and designed for long-term performance.

Urban environments are becoming increasingly complex. Landscapes are now often built on structure, integrated with buildings, or required to deliver environmental outcomes alongside visual design.

Through professional consultancy, Michael Casey helps project teams navigate these challenges with practical guidance that supports buildability, plant health and long-term asset performance.

The consultancy regularly assists with landscape specifications, technical advice and independent auditing both before and after construction. This work ensures landscapes perform the way they were intended and protects valuable landscape investments.

What MJC Horticulture Does

The work of Michael Casey and MJC Horticulture focuses on providing specialist horticultural and landscape consultancy for both residential and commercial environments.

Projects often involve landscapes that are technically demanding or located in challenging conditions. These may include rooftop gardens, podium landscapes, urban courtyards, therapeutic landscapes or biodiversity focused green infrastructure.

The consultancy supports these projects through detailed landscape specifications, design review and independent auditing. Advice often focuses on soil performance, drainage detailing, plant suitability and long-term maintenance planning.

This practical approach helps ensure landscapes are not only beautiful when installed but continue to perform for many years.

Industry Leadership and Contribution

Over the course of his career, Michael Casey has become widely recognised as a leader in urban horticulture and green infrastructure.

He has served in several important leadership roles within the horticultural sector. Most notably, Michael Casey served as National President of the Australian Institute of Horticulture from 2018 to 2022, helping guide industry standards and professional development across the country.

He also contributes to national discussions about urban greening and green infrastructure as a co-convenor of the National Urban Green Infrastructure Roundtable. This group works to strengthen collaboration and improve the long-term performance of green infrastructure across Australia.

More information about the horticulture profession in Australia can be found through the Australian Institute of Horticulture:
https://www.aih.org.au/

International and Media Recognition

The expertise of Michael Casey has also been recognised internationally.

He has served as a technical advisor for the World Green Cities Awards, providing practical evaluation of major global urban greening projects and city initiatives.

In addition, Michael Casey contributes regularly to Hort Journal magazine where he writes about urban greening trends, green infrastructure innovation and lessons learned from real-world landscape projects.

Through these contributions he helps share knowledge with the wider industry and support better outcomes for landscapes around Australia and beyond.

Awards and Industry Recognition

The work of Michael Casey has been recognised through several important industry awards.

In 2022 he received the Australian Institute of Horticulture Silver Gum Award. This award recognises his leadership and ongoing contribution to advancing sustainable horticulture, green infrastructure and urban greening in Australia.

His work has also been acknowledged with the Australian Institute of Horticulture Award of Excellence in 2018.

These recognitions highlight the commitment Michael Casey has shown to strengthening the horticultural profession and promoting best practice across the industry.

Projects Supporting Education and Community

One of the most meaningful areas of work for Michael Casey has been supporting educational environments through horticulture.

MJC Horticulture has partnered with Catholic Regional College to incorporate green infrastructure into the school environment. This work has included the design and installation of vertical gardens and planted environments that support both learning and wellbeing.

A recent project involved the design of a large green wall within a new study hall used by Year 11 and Year 12 students during examinations. The installation spans fifty square metres and includes more than twelve plant species.

Research increasingly shows that green environments can support improved focus, reduced stress and enhanced wellbeing. By incorporating living systems into learning environments, Michael Casey helps demonstrate the real-world benefits of horticulture.

Professional Affiliations and Industry Networks

MJC Horticulture maintains strong connections with key professional organisations that support best practice within the industry.

These include the Australian Institute of Horticulture, the Australasian Green Infrastructure Network and Therapeutic Horticulture Australia.

Through these professional relationships, Michael Casey remains connected to the latest research, industry knowledge and evolving standards that shape modern landscape practice.