Shoso Shimbo PhD is a certified teacher of Ikebana and has over 30 years experience in Ikebana. He studied under the late Sogetsu Head Master, Hiroshi Teshigahara. Shoso was selected by Belle magazine as one of  six “Australia’s top floral designers” and has won multiple awards including the Gold Award at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. His sculptural works have been featured in some of the major contemporary art exhibitions including the Toyota Sculpture Exhibition, Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award Finalists Exhibition, Lorne Sculpture and the New Wave Art Festival at the National Gallery of Victoria. He won the Arnold Bloch Leiber Prize at the 17th Annual Yarra Valley Arts / Yering Station Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition & Awards in 2017. Shoso has an MA in Japanese Studies, a Master of Fine Art and PhD in Education. He is also qualified as a garden designer (Japan Horticultural Society) specialising in Japanese gardens.