Speakers
Future-proofing the industry: Expert speaker lineup for Horticulture, The Conference
The HTA has announced the first confirmed names in an impressive lineup of speakers for Horticulture, The Conference. The event will feature award-winning speakers who will cover topics such as global foresight, economics, policy, and communication, all aimed at helping environmental horticulture businesses prepare for the future.
Pippa Goodman
A global foresight expert and Co-founder and Managing Director of strategic foresight consultancy, Next Up.
Pippa Goodman will delve into practical foresights for environmental horticulture businesses, covering sociological, technological, legal and environmental analysis.
As a long-term partner to senior teams at some of the world’s best-known brands, Pippa helps businesses navigate change and build capabilities to support sustainable growth and resilience. From consumer behaviour to geopolitics, Pippa examines emerging trends to offer leaders an actionable strategy for making more confident decisions amid uncertainty.
Dr Tim Leunig
A multiple international prize-winning economist and policy expert.
Dr Tim Leunig will return as a featured speaker at this year’s Horticulture, The Conference. Following his highly praised appearance in 2023, Dr Leunig will unpack what the current economic climate means for UK environmental horticulture businesses.
Tim Leunig is a multiple international prize-winning economist who taught at the London School of Economics for 25 years. He served as an economic adviser to two UK Chancellors and was a key architect of the Government’s COVID-19 furlough scheme. Currently, he works with NESTA, the UK’s social innovation agency, and Public First Consulting. Beyond economics, he is a keen gardener who has opened his garden to the public through the National Gardens Scheme many times.
Ben Hanlin
An award-winning speaker who specialises in creating engagement and connection to boost business performance.
Ben Hanlin will round up the programme as the keynote speaker. An award-winning speaker, TV magician, and entertainer, Ben helps businesses boost performance through better communication, stronger human connection, and unforgettable engagement.
Best known for his appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Celebrity Juice, and as a semi-finalist on ITV’s Dancing on Ice, Ben’s innovative approach to magic and content creation has earned him over 2 million followers on social media. He is a true expert at creating engagement and building a connection with any audience. As a speaker, he distils this knowledge into key areas: Engagement & Connection, Mindset, Confidence, Resilience, and Dealing with Failure.
During the session, conference delegates will learn from Ben about using communication to drive performance and culture, storytelling that helps environmental horticulture cut through and how to create connections across generations and teams.
Headline Evening Host
Ed Byrne will be the evening host and after-dinner speaker at Horticulture, The Conference 2026. Ed Byrne will also host this year’s prestigious Grower of the Year Awards, which celebrate excellence, innovation and achievement across UK environmental horticulture, recognising growers and businesses helping to shape the industry's future.
Ed Byrne
In a fitting connection to the sector, Byrne originally studied horticulture in Glasgow before becoming one of the UK’s most recognisable stand-up comedians and television personalities.
Known for his sharp observational humour and engaging presentation style, Byrne will bring wit and warmth to the annual dinner, which follows a day of expert discussions, strategic insight and valuable networking opportunities for professionals from across the environmental horticulture industry.
