Future-proofing the industry: HTA announces expert speaker lineup for Horticulture, The Conference

23 April 2026

The Horticultural Trades Association (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.

The annual conference, a key event in the industry calendar, will take place on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at the iconic Barbican Centre in London.

Delegates will also be among the first to hear about and pick up a copy of the HTA’s new report, The Value of Green Spaces, following the previous publications of The Value of Plants and The Value of Gardens.

Among the speakers confirmed so far:

• Pippa Goodman, a global foresight expert and Co-founder and Managing Director of strategic foresight consultancy, Next Up.
• Dr Tim Leunig, a multiple international prize-winning economist and policy expert.
• Bronwen Maddox, a former journalist, political commentator and current Director and CEO of Chatham House.
• Ben Hanlin, an award-winning speaker who specialises in creating engagement and connection to boost business performance.

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 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.

Bronwen Maddox will facilitate the political session on the needs of the UK’s environmental horticulture sector, what the Government can realistically deliver, and opportunities for collaboration.

Bronwen started as an investment analyst in the city and on Wall Street, and as a director of Kleinwort Benson's media team. She moved into journalism to head up the Financial Times investigation into Robert Maxwell, before joining The Times as Washington Bureau Chief, US Editor, and finally Foreign Editor. She was also the former Director and CEO of the Institute for Government, the think tank that aims to improve the effectiveness of government and previously served as Editor and CEO of the influential current affairs magazine, Prospect.

Ben Hanlin will wrap up the conference programme with the keynote speech. As an award-winning speaker, he helps businesses boost performance through better communication and a stronger human connection. His content creation has earned him over 2 million followers on social media, and he is a true expert at engaging audiences.

As a speaker, Ben breaks down his knowledge into key areas: Engagement & Connection, Mindset, Confidence, Resilience, and Dealing with Failure. He demonstrated this in his TEDx talk, ‘How to Instantly Create Engagement and Connection’, by sharing actionable techniques for building rapport and making an impact in any interaction.

During his keynote speech at Horticulture, The Conference, Ben will address how to use communication to drive performance and culture, how storytelling can help environmental horticulture cut through, and how to create connections across generations and teams.

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), said: 

“The sessions we are announcing today will provide us with invaluable insights as our sector continues to face challenging times. Understanding the economic and political issues affecting UK environmental horticulture businesses will not only be enlightening but also unmissable.

“We want our programme for Horticulture, The Conference to inform and support delegates on their professional journeys, inspiring them to take action and continue to grow. This lineup is just the beginning; there is still so much more to come. Over the coming weeks, we will announce more engaging speakers, details on the evening programme and the Grower of the Year Awards.

 “The HTA is committed to progressing change, building confidence in the sector and giving businesses the tools they need to unlock growth. Our green industry has so much to offer, so I hope you can join me at the conference to build on the successful momentum and secure the future of UK environmental horticulture.”

HTA Members are invited to take advantage of exclusive early-bird rates, with group discounts available for bookings of three or more from the same company, starting at just £109.00 per person. The early bird offer is available until 30 June.

To keep updated on the full programme and to secure a place at Horticulture, The Conference, visit: hta.org.uk/conference.