ILASA - The Institute for Landscape Architecture in South Africa

What ILASA - The Institute for Landscape Architecture in South Africa does

ILASA - The Institute for Landscape Architecture in South Africa is a voluntary, non-profit professional membership organisation headquartered in Bryanston, Sandton, that represents landscape architects across South Africa. Founded in 2013 and registered with the South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession (SACLAP), ILASA operates through three regional branches (ILASA Cape, ILASA KZN, ILASA Gauteng) and is mandated to advance the profession and promote the concept of landscape architecture in both public and private sectors. Its stated goals include advancing professional dignity, uplifting previously disadvantaged societies, supporting sustainable ecological planning, and increasing the visibility of the profession to government and society.

The organisation delivers an integrated portfolio of services centred on six membership tiers (Professional R1,450, Associate R1,445, Graduate R1,360, with Fellow, Student, and Honorary memberships free), Category 1-validated CPD activities under the SACLAP CPD Policy, the annual Awards of Excellence, the biennial ILASA/IFLA Africa Conference, the ILASA Bursary Program supporting students at four SACLAP-accredited universities, and a job and bursary listing board. Technology is minimal: a static website hosted by VdW&Co, a third-party event registration platform (dash.vdw.co.za), email communications routed through the secretariat, and social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram). No proprietary systems or APIs are disclosed.

Revenue is generated through three streams: recurring annual membership subscriptions (largest), event attendance fees (largely free virtual, with R250 in-person Watch Party and R100 student rates), and job-advertising fees (free for members and sponsors, R2,500/month for non-members). Corporate sponsors (Corobrik, Just Trees, SAOTA, and others) supplement income via awards and bursary underwriting. Administrative, secretariat, website hosting, and event registration functions are outsourced to VdW&Co. With only five disclosed employees, ILASA operates as a lean association structure rather than a scaled commercial enterprise.

Name

ILASA - The Institute for Landscape Architecture in South Africa

Legal name

Institute for Landscape Architecture in South Africa

Website

https://ilasa.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ILASA is a voluntary, non-profit professional membership organisation registered with SACLAP that represents landscape architects across South Africa through six membership tiers, three regional branches, validated CPD activities, the annual Awards of Excellence, the biennial ILASA/IFLA Africa Conference, and a student bursary programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAKAC

Landscape Architecture & Site Design

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Architecture, Design & Planning Services

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Industry membership programs
• Continuing professional development
• Landscape architecture advocacy
• Industry awards programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bryanston, Sandton

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: ILASA generates revenue primarily through six categories of membership fees: Professional (R1,450/year), Associate (R1,445/year), Graduate (R1,360/year), with Fellow, Student, and Honorary memberships provided free of charge. Corporate sponsors automatically qualify for individual memberships for their staff.
2. Event Fees: Revenue generated from event attendance fees including awards ceremonies and conferences. Virtual attendance at the 2026 Awards is free; Watch Party attendance is R250 (R100 for students).
3. Job Advertising: Employment and bursary listing fees: Free for ILASA members and sponsors; R2,500/month for non-members. Ads are removed after 1 month unless otherwise arranged.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ILASA is a voluntary professional institute that represents landscape architecture professionals in South Africa through a portfolio of membership tiers (Professional, Associate, Graduate, Fellow, Student, Honorary), Category 1 validated CPD activities, annual Awards of Excellence, biennial ILASA/IFLA Africa conferences, a student bursary program, and a job and bursary listing service. The institute is registered with the South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession (SACLAP) and operates three regional branches covering Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Gauteng.

Product overview

ILASA is a voluntary professional institute representing landscape architects in South Africa, operating as a unified membership-based organization with regional branches in Western Cape (ILASA Cape), KZN, and Gauteng. The organization provides an integrated portfolio of services including professional membership programs across six tiers, CPD activities validated under SACLAP Category 1 standards, annual events and conferences (including the ILASA/IFLA Africa Conference), the Awards of Excellence program, a bursary program supporting students at SACLAP-accredited institutions, and an employment opportunities listing service for the landscape architecture community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Programs Annual membership across six categories — Professional, Associate, Graduate, Fellow, Student, and Honorary — open to SACLAP-registered professionals, graduates, students, and persons of distinction. Corporate sponsors automatically qualify for individual memberships for their staff. Memberships confer access to CPD activities, regional branches, Awards of Excellence, bursary programs, and industry advocacy.
• ILASA Awards of Excellence Annual CPD-accredited awards programme recognising innovation, creativity, and outstanding achievement in landscape architecture across South Africa. Features multiple award categories, with free virtual attendance and paid in-person Watch Parties in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
• Industry Conferences & CPD Workshops Biennial ILASA/IFLA Africa Conference and associated Category 1 validated CPD workshops for SACLAP-registered professionals. Events include hybrid physical and virtual attendance options and provide CPD credits accumulating over a 5-year cycle for professional registration maintenance.
• Employment & Bursary Listing Service Online job and bursary listing service connecting landscape architecture professionals with employment and study-support opportunities. Free for ILASA members and corporate sponsors; R2,500 per month for non-member advertisers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 31 students supported through bursary program since 2013
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IFLA AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025ILASA/IFLA Africa co-hosted a hybrid conference in Pretoria at the CSIR International Conference Centre from 25-26 September 2025, bringing together landscape architecture professionals from across Africa.
• SACLAP (South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerILASA is a voluntary organisation registered with SACLAP. SACLAP is the statutory body that registers landscape architectural professionals in South Africa. ILASA is a recognised voluntary association of SACLAP, mandated to run validated CPD activities under Category 1, Section 6 of the SACLAP CPD Policy.
• Just Trees (Pty) LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor providing generous support for ILASA's bursary program for landscape architecture students. Bursary has supported 31 students since 2013 at SACLAP-accredited institutions.
• VdW&CocoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSecretariat services provider for ILASA. Handles membership services, email communications ([email protected]), event registration (dash.vdw.co.za), and general administrative support. Hosts the ILASA website.
• University of Cape TownminorOthersSACLAP-accredited institution for landscape architecture qualifications. ILASA Bursary supports students at this institution.
• University of PretoriaminorOthersSACLAP-accredited institution for landscape architecture qualifications. ILASA Bursary supports students at this institution.
• Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyminorOthersSACLAP-accredited institution for landscape architecture qualifications. ILASA Bursary supports students at this institution.
• Tshwane University of TechnologyminorOthersSACLAP-accredited institution for landscape architecture qualifications. ILASA Bursary supports students at this institution.
• Corobrik (Pty) LtdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Corobrik-ILASA Awards of Excellence. Building materials company supporting excellence in landscape architecture.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA): New Zealand's national landscape architecture professional body, providing tiered membership, CPD validation, and an annual awards programme. Functionally equivalent to ILASA in scale and offering.
• Landscape Institute (UK): The UK chartered body for landscape professionals. Like ILASA, it operates tiered memberships, CPD validation, and awards programmes, and serves as the recognised professional voice for landscape architecture in its country.
• Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA): Australia's national peak body for landscape architects with membership tiers, CPD programmes, an annual awards programme, and advocacy role. Directly comparable structure to ILASA but operating in a larger and more mature professional market.
• American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA): The US national professional association for landscape architects. ASLA is the most direct functional analogue to ILASA, offering tiered memberships, validated continuing education, annual awards, and advocacy for the profession in a much larger market.
• Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA): Canada's national professional association for landscape architects, organised through provincial component bodies. Shares ILASA's regional-branch governance model, membership tiers, and CPD/awards programming.

Broad incumbents

• International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA): The global umbrella body for landscape architecture associations. IFLA is a strategic partner of ILASA (co-hosting the ILASA/IFLA Africa Conference 2025) and serves as the international convener of which ILASA is a national member.

Regional players

• South African Institute of Architects (SAIA): The South African national body for architects, operating as a voluntary association under a similar professional registration framework. SAIA is a sibling professional association in the same country, sharing regulatory and CPD dynamics with ILASA but serving a larger profession.
• European Federation of Landscape Architects (EFLA): The European regional federation of national landscape architecture associations. Comparable to ILASA's role with IFLA Africa, representing a federation of national bodies and providing continental-level advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ilasa.co.za
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ilasa-za
• Instagraminstagram.com/ilasa_za

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ILASA - The Institute for Landscape Architecture in South Africa