Born and bred in Tasmania, Tino’s lifelong interest in plants and gardening stems from growing up on his family’s small vineyard and olive grove. He studied landscape design at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and has an Associate Diploma in Horticulture. He is involved in the Feeding the Future Coalition, conducting accredited training at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Garden, as well as working with the local Aboriginal Cultural Centre and various other community groups.