Looking ahead to 2023

By Glenn Fenton, GIA Chair
 

The past year has been a significant one for Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA), as we reported to members at the 2022 Annual General Meeting that took place on 28 November.

In February, we welcomed our new Chief Executive, Joanna Cave. Jo has a long track record in assisting organisations to reach their full potential and with this in mind, she has prioritised examining everything we do and seeking your opinions about what matters most. This work has been both valuable and illuminating, but it has also obliged GIA to confront the reality that, whilst we deliver a great deal for the benefit of industry, we urgently need to address some shortcomings to become the organisation that Australian greenlife needs and deserves. Changes have already commenced and will be progressed in earnest, in consultation with you, in the year to come.

Undoubtedly, the most important event of the year was the decision by the Nursery & Garden Industry Association (NGIA) to enter voluntary liquidation and to pass the baton to GIA as the national peak body for Australian greenlife. Whilst long anticipated, the delay of these plans was a source of regret to all concerned.

We are deeply grateful to the members of the NGIA board: Hamish Mitchell, Paul Lancaster, Ross Hooper, Peter Jong, David Howard, and Ben Grange, led by Chair Karen Brock, for getting the process back on track. I would also like to thank NGIA’s members for their unanimous support of the decision. An independent liquidator, Jim Downey, was appointed to manage the process, which is now complete, marking a historic moment for the greenlife industry.

Meanwhile, GIA continues to deliver world-class research and development programs across Australia for the benefit of greenlife businesses, extending our coverage to Tasmania and South Australia to guarantee that our extension work is truly national.

GIA also continues to play a unique and vital role in Australia’s response to biosecurity threats, ensuring you are kept fully informed of pest and disease incursions that threaten plant life, as well as leading industry’s response to such threats.

Turning to GIA’s finances: as the audited financial statements for the year ending 30 June 2022 illustrate, GIA maintained a steady financial performance this year, significantly reducing our budgeted operating loss from -$70k to -$4k which was pleasing. BDH Leader has been GIA’s auditor from the start and notwithstanding their excellent work, at the AGM members supported our proposal to run a competitive tender process to consider the appointment of new auditors, in line with best practice for not-for-profit organisations.

I want to take this opportunity to mention some changes we have made that indicate our new direction. Whilst GIA’s constitution permits directors to receive sitting fees, we have decided that all board positions should be voluntary and unpaid. Furthermore, the President and Vice President will now be referred to as Chair and Deputy Chair respectively. We feel these changes signal more clearly our not-for-profit status and reinforce our commitment to working in the best interests of Australian greenlife.

I need to pay tribute to my fellow directors. At times during the past 12 months, the seat of GIA Company Director has not been a comfortable one. Directors have attended many more meetings than is usually expected and have invested hours of time considering - with genuinely open minds - the best way forward.  We were pleased that members recognised the value of their commitment and the need for stability by reappointing three directors who were due to retire: Simon Smith has been appointed for one year and Ben Grange and Davina Boyd for a final term of three years each.

These appointments mean that next year, one third of board seats will be available for new candidates. As GIA’s constitution requires, a Nominations Committee will be formed in due course to fill these three spots. The existing Chair, Deputy Chair and Company Secretary will each retain their roles for 12 more months. However, next year all three of these positions will be vacated to provide opportunities for new board leadership.

Finally, but most importantly, I offer thanks and gratitude to our staff. The GIA team may be small, but its commitment is mighty. Australian greenlife is fortunate indeed. I wish all readers of our e-news a relaxing break. We look forward with great optimism to representing your interests in 2023.