B. Eng. Leeroy Begle

Curriculum Vitae


Title: Bachelor of Engineering
Date of Birth: September 25, 1989

Education

1996 – 2000 | Primary School Lochau
2000 – 2004 | Lower Secondary School at Federal Grammar School Gallusstraße, Bregenz
2004 – 2008 | Upper Secondary School, Science Branch at BORG Lauterach
Final Qualification: Matura (University Entrance Diploma)

Vocational Training / Further Education

2008 – 2010 | Apprenticeship as Horticulturist at Nemetz Tree Nursery, Hörbranz
2010 – 2014 | Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture (Focus: Landscape Planning) at Hochschule Weihenstephan-Triesdorf, Freising (Germany)

  • Research Assistant and Tutor in Botany and Special Plant Use
    Degree: Bachelor of Engineering
    Thesis: Conservation Importance of Green Roofs with Near-Natural Plant Communities

Professional Experience

  • Since 1995 | Intensive autodidactic exploration of local forests and their flora, fauna, and fungi

  • 2010 – 2015 | Part-time work at Nemetz Tree Nursery as horticulturist and landscape planner

  • 2015 – 2019 | Self-employed gardener and landscape architect: design, implementation, and maintenance of near-natural green spaces; consulting in biodiversity

  • 2019 (March–Sept.) | Horticulturist and planner at Nemetz Tree Nursery

  • Since 2019 | Active member of KUMOP – Art & Culture without Profit e.V., including work as a stage art designer for events

  • April 2020 | Tree Assessor at Gieselbrecht GmbH

  • 2020 – 2024 | Freelance artist in the KULTURSEKTOR ELEKTRA artist collective: action art, spalted wood carvings, mushroom-based dyes, and art using natural materials and pigments

  • Jan–Mar 2023 | Internship at Tyroler Glückspilze / MRCA Mushroom Research Center Austria

  • Since 2023 | Collection of mushroom genetics and strains in the forests of Vorarlberg/Tyrol for the MRCA Mushroom Culture Bank

  • Since January 2024 | Full-time mycologist at Tyroler Glückspilze / MRCA Mushroom Research Center Austria

Main Areas of Responsibility:

  • Nature guide/workshop leader:

    • “Mushroom Detectives: On the Trail of Fungi”

    • “We Become Mushroom Growers” (within the STEM/“Class Research” framework)

  • Lead for MYCORRHIZA products & consulting, including development

    • (Completed online training & certification in Plant Protection Advisory via AGES/BAES – Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety)

  • Speaker at events and conferences, e.g.:

    • MYCOTHERAPY – Rediscovering Ancient Knowledge with Mag. Eva Fauma (Fauma e Funga, E-Vita) in Vorarlberg (Platform V)

2024 (Feb): Founded MYCOFACTUM – Association for Mycology & Cultivation in Vorarlberg; acting chairman
2024 (May): Joined the Scientific Advisory Board of the Mycoverse Foundation
2024 (May): Completed online certification seminar as Myco-Consultant and Mycotherapy Practitioner

Outlook for 2024

Representation of Tyroler Glückspilze / MRCA / Mycoverse Foundation at national and international conferences:

  • ALPS Conference – Awareness Lectures on Psychedelic Science, Aarau, Switzerland

  • IMMC – International Medical Mushroom Conference, Bari, Italy

  • IG Fungi, Zurich, Switzerland

Skills & Expertise

Mycology, Landscape Planning, Landscape Architecture, Landscape Maintenance, Horticulture, Ecological Engineering, Biology, Ecology, Botany, Zoology, Environmental Education, Biodiversity Consulting, Nature Photography, Green Roof and Facade Greening, Urban Farming, Permaculture, Terra Preta, Species Protection (Red List), Protected Areas in Vorarlberg

Interests

Mushrooms, experiencing and preserving nature, inspiring others, gardening, hiking, mountaineering, cooking, fishing, nature photography, music, stage design, art.