From the CEOs

Megan Flower

Outgoing CEO

It is with a profound sense of gratitude and pride that I reflect upon my nine-year journey as the CEO of LVML. I am sure you can understand the mixed emotions that I write my final message with, as it marks the conclusion of my service to this remarkable community.

When I took on the role of General Manager nine years ago and started my journey at Landscaping Victoria, the members welcomed me with open arms, mainly! Some were a little sceptical about me, but I was not deterred. We had a strong membership base but there was room to expand and lots of challenges and opportunities to take on. I am pleased that one of my final activities to work on alongside the Membership Committee in recent months was to add a nonqualified maintenance category. The Association now truly stands as a united front, representing the depth and breadth of the industry and fostering a vibrant and diverse community of like-minded individuals and businesses which supports the core of the organisation’s Purpose Statement.

One of the key milestones of my time here has been the successful implementation of The Landscape Show. From a small, crazy idea generated in 2017 and supported by the Board at the time, this event has become a cornerstone of our industry, and is now even being emulated by other state bodies. It brings together industry professionals, fosters networking and learning, and serves as a platform for innovation. The remarkable success of the event speaks volumes about the dedication and hard work of our staff and continued vision of the Board.

To say that everything has been rosy over nine years would be a lie. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, brought unprecedented challenges to our industry. I am proud to have led LVML through those harrowing and dark days where we were a beacon of resilience and support for both our members and the broader industry. We provided critical information, resources, and advocacy, helping landscapers navigate through lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, and other hurdles. In my opinion our industry has emerged stronger as a result.

Through successive Boards, many creative ideas have been supported and I am very proud to have had a hand in ‘the Dome’, buckets at MIFGS (handing those out will become a lifetime memory!), lifting the professionalism of the publications, delivering online contracts and launching ‘The Front Garden’ podcast. Lots of other activities have come and gone but these will stay with me as fond recollections.

One final project I am finishing up is the WTIF grant which is a testament to our industry's potential and our vision for the future. This grant has set the industry on the path to recognising landscape designers with a class of registration, marking a significant milestone in the professional journey of not only our Members, but illustrating our open approach to industry-led outcomes for the betterment of everyone working in the industry.

People have asked about my fondest memory and it would be the Make A Wish project. To me, this personified who landscapers are at their very core. At a time when lockdowns were still an issue and everyone was stressed, a band of merry members gave up their time and resources to build a garden for a special little boy. I saw new friendships born and a community spirit that was inspiring. I will never forget that weekend and the people who made it happen.

In closing, I want to express my gratitude for the trust every member has placed in me and the unwavering support I've received throughout my time here. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve you, and I look forward to witnessing the continued growth and prosperity of the association from a new vantage point.

Ritchie Hinton

INCOMING CEO

The newest member of the executive team is incoming CEO, Ritchie Hinton. Originally a qualified lawyer in his native UK, Ritchie comes to us with a wealth of experience having held various CEO roles with NFP member-based organizations in Victoria. He is also currently Chair & Non-Executive Director at Vicsport, Victoria’s peak umbrella body for sports and recreation.

There is no doubt Ritchie has a busy time ahead of him getting to know the landscaping industry and the members. Please make him feel welcome over the coming months at the various events we hold or reach out to him via ceo@landscapingvictoria.com.au.

We look forward to sharing more about Ritchie with a comprehensive Q&A interview in the Spring/Summer edition of Earthstyle.