Dr Shoso Shimbo is a certified Ikebana teacher with over 30 years’ experience. He began studying Ikebana in the 1980s in Hiroshi Teshigahara’s Men’s Only Class at Sogetsu Headquarters in Tokyo, developing a deep understanding of the Sogetsu School’s distinctive philosophy and principles. His work has been recognised by Belle magazine as among Australia’s leading floral designers, and he has received numerous accolades, including Gold at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show and the Arnold Bloch Leiber Prize for Contemporary Sculpture. He has also published extensively with internationally recognised organisations and publishers, including Springer and UNESCO. As a CEO of Melbourne Ikebana Festival, he continues to share the art of Ikebana and Japanese culture with audiences worldwide. Shoso is also a qualified Japanese garden designer and Shinto priest. He has MA, MFA and PhD (RMIT University).