Outgoing 2022 President’s Message

As we start back at work for the promising New Year, I would like to briefly reflect on the achievements of IPA over 2022. Whilst it was another year of challenges, IPA Executive Management Committee were kept busy in our 40^th Anniversary year.

Vice President Graeme Reid held the second of his Indoor plant technician training sessions, this time in Brisbane – a free event for IPA members who overwhelmingly voted it as a success and highly informative. Lookout for a Sydney event this year.

Driven by our CEO Elaine Tunn and Treasurer Rob Shand, the Inaugural IPA Awards proved a great success not only for the Association but for all of the members who entered. With independent judges all exclaiming the very high standard of installations, there wasn’t much separating the winners from the other entrants. Now destined to be a permanent feature of IPA the Awards are already creating interest for 2023 and the competition is hotting up already.

It is timely to once again acknowledge the winners

Small Installation – Nerida’s Interior Plantscaping, Vic

Medium Installation – Green Design Indoor Plant Hire, NSW

Large Installation -Outside In, NZ

A great achievement for these businesses and their staff, but be aware you now have a target on your back as many other members prepare for the 2023 Awards trying to knock you off the top spots!

The Association continued its work informing members, providing mentoring as needed and raising relevant issue for today’s Interior Plantscape businesses. Surprisingly, despite many new and potential members speaking to Elaine and seeking advice, our membership has remained at about the same level for the past few years. I would encourage all interior plantscape business owners to join IPA and for any staff or interested parties to also join via one of the simple and cheap membership categories.

For those businesses who joined during 2020 – 2022 and benefitted from IPA’s lobbying to get us all Permitted Worker Status, it is great to have you still with us as we move into this next phase of post pandemic business, be assured that IPA will still be there to help you through the good times and the bad.

Finally as we start 2023 IPA will continue following our strategic plan looking at more ways to communicate to the membership and how to increase the already valuable services provided.

I wish the incoming Management Committee all the very best as I step down from the President’s role. I would also like to sincerely thank the CEO Elaine and fellow Committee members Rob Shand and Graeme Reid for their help, support and guidance plus the friendships forged.

Cameron Iddles- Outgoing 2022 President

Corporate Plants, Victoria

(M) 0418 543 312