JULIE KRIEGER, LNA CEO

1. What is your background in the industry and what will you be bringing to the role of LNA CEO?

I have come to the LNA from a background managing and driving membership-based organisations. Most recently I was the NSW/ACT Commercial Director for the Property Council of Australia. Prior to that, I worked with tens of industry bodies and not-for-profit organisations, specifically on strategy and delivery of value to members. 

I am personally interested in landscapes and studied landscape design (in a previous lifetime) and I am very excited about bringing my skillset and experience together within an area that I find exciting and rewarding.

2. How do you view the status of the industry at the moment and what do you see for the future of the industry?

With the housing sector in a boom cycle and the cost of moving house high, the residential landscaping sector is experiencing a period of strong growth.  Homeowners are choosing to stay put and renovate rather than move and our members are benefiting from this.

The commercial sector, particularly in Sydney, is also strong with a lot of development taking place. This buoyant market is set to continue and we are seeing no sign of it slowing just yet.

3. What are your plans for LNA while you are in office? Are there any new exciting ventures coming up?

We will continue to focus on the needs of our members as our foremost priority. I will be spending a lot of time engaging with and listening to members to understand their needs and putting initiatives in place to help meet those needs and strengthen the industry.

Our plan includes the promotion of landscape contracting as a career choice for school-leavers to address the skills-shortage that currently exists, increasing education in the industry and tightening licensing requirements to raise standards across the board as well as providing outstanding networking and information sharing opportunities through LNA events. It is a big agenda and one I am looking forward to getting stuck into.