Season 6 Episode 4 with Julian Simmonds

Season 6

Episode 4 with Julian Simmonds

In this episode of The Development Drum, Julian Simmonds reflects on his journey through various levels of public and private sector leadership roles, to becoming the CEO of Economic Development Queensland (EDQ). He explains how building his career from the ground up required navigating the distinct landscapes of local and federal politics, and how early transitions served as a pathway to deep industry engagement. Julian also provides a broader overview of the high-stakes complexities of planning systems, the operational resilience required to sustain development momentum during a housing crisis, and the strategic leadership behind driving customer-focused organisational turnarounds. Giving a light-hearted glimpse into his life outside of public service, he shares how he manages a busy household alongside his wife, tackles the unique challenges of modern parenting, and unwinds with hobbies like gaming and boating. It’s an insightful conversation on how Julian has focused on partnership-based solutions and market delivery with the same problem-solving drive he practiced throughout his career.