Interview with Adrian Puljich | S6EP10

In this episode of The Development Drum, CEO and Founder of GemLife, Adrian Puljich, sits down to discuss his mission to revolutionise the over-50s resort-style living sector across Australia. Adrian shares his journey from working alongside his family at Living Gems to founding GemLife in 2016 and expanding it into an industry-leading developer with a rapidly growing national footprint. He offers deep insights into the evolution of the land lease model, the crucial role of an "ageing in place" approach, and how GemLife is pioneering game-changing innovations, from securing the first development approval for a vertical land lease project to launching factory-built modular home construction. It’s an engaging, forward-thinking conversation on visionary leadership, navigating sector regulations, and solving Australia’s housing challenges through community-driven design.

Guest Bio: Adrian set out to revolutionise over-50s resort-style living with GemLife, redefining and elevating the seniors housing space with a fresh, dynamic approach driven by the pursuit of excellence and innovation.

His vision to create premium resort-style communities for Australia’s downsizer cohort draws upon years of industry experience within the family business, Living Gems, where he worked as General Manager before founding and taking the helm of GemLife in 2016.

Since then, Adrian has spearheaded GemLife’s rapid growth across Australia, expanding the company’s property portfolio of communities in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia, with several more scheduled for launch in 2026 and beyond.

Adrian holds a Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws and has previously held Board positions across multiple not-for-profit community organisations.

Connect with Adrian Puljich:

• Website: https://www.gemlife.com.au/

About Your Host: Kirsty Chessher-Brown is the CEO of UDIA Queensland, a role she has held since 2018. She brings extensive experience in policy, stakeholder engagement, and research, and has played a key role in shaping state and local government policy. Kirsty is passionate about driving positive change in the development industry to create greener, smarter, and more resilient communities.

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Recorded and Produced at our The Podcast Boss podcast studio in Brisbane