Spotlight on Awards of Excellence Judge, Georgia Harper

Georgia Harper, Georgia Harper Landscape Designs

You didn’t start your career as a landscape designer: what was your original profession?

I’ve been working in the Landscape Industry for 17 years now, but originally, I was a Marketing Strategist working for multinational companies on their strategic brand placement.

At 30, I felt the need to move on from working in a corporate situation. My grandfather had a market garden, and I used to help when I was little and suspect that the knowledge and experience of that helped to drive the change in career path. I studied at Ryde in NSW, as I had already moved to Sydney for work and had started the course prior to leaving my job. Burnley Horticultural College didn’t offer design anymore in Melbourne, so I made the choice to stay in Sydney and complete my studies. As it was difficult to get started in the Landscaping industry, when I came back to Melbourne I worked in nurseries whilst building a client list.

How do your initial consultations progress?

I have a 1 ½ hour meeting with the client, to obtain their brief and scope of the project. I then come back to them with an initial proposal. If a pool is part of the project, I get a pool builder or two involved early on to give the benefit of their experience. I like to work in a collaborative way with my clients.

All jobs are very different; some are super bespoke; some are $30,000 some are $500,000. The process is to get to know the client and what they will like or not like and what will work or not work. They are engaging us as a guide to work them through the process.

There is a lot of trust built through the design and execution process. My main objective is to ease them into the process so that they know what to expect when it comes to the construction side of things.

What are some of your proudest moments?

Showing at Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS) is a pretty big achievement. Just getting a garden up to exhibit is wonderful in itself. So being there and receiving awards is quite a high point for me.

The things I’m really proudest of is not so much personal, but as President for the past 3 years and on the Board for 6 years of LVML (Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers). Board appointments are for a maximum of 6 years and I will be finishing up in a few weeks - it has been fantastic to be part of the board and be part of the industry.

Launching the Master Landscaping brand has been a real high point for me and something I pushed for very hard. Most challenging was getting through last year and re-working how we could interface with our members during Covid. We have worked very hard on getting support and information across to members in this new and always changing environment.

MPBAA (formerly SPASAVIC) asked you to be a judge for their Awards last year and again this year, how are you finding the judging process?

The pool building industry is a world I work in a lot, but not exclusively. It is great to see the interesting things that MPBAA members are coming up with and how they are pushing the boundaries in both design and engineering.

There is so much skill involved in the execution of the projects. The judging day is intense but also very enjoyable.

What are your tips for keeping sane in the Covid world we find ourselves in?

Switch off all devices for 1 – 2 hours per day. I guess I’ve been trying to use it as a way to streamline how I do things. I’ve been able to tidy a few things up and chuck out the old and get in the new. Then I feel like I am doing something positive and it is something I have control over. That sort of work makes me feel like things are still moving forward.

Personally, having time out and going for a walk. Being kind to yourself occasionally, everyone is having a rough time, but it doesn’t mean you are doing it any better than anyone else. Eat well and look after yourself.

I try to call a couple of colleagues every week to see how they are going - we’re all in this weird situation together, and I intend keeping this going in my own practice moving forward.

Where to now?

I have set myself a challenge to learn something new every year. I am starting a ceramics class in October. I find that I need something to do with my brain. I find it is really important when running a business to have an outlet, as working 48 hours a day is not realistic.

If Covid has shown us anything it is that everything can change in an instant.