New Panel Announcement for Horticulture, The Conference!
18 July 2025
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced that a panel of experts, chaired by BBC Breakfast presenter Jon Kay, will take part in a 'Business Leaders and Business Efficiency' session at this year’s Horticulture, The Conference, on Thursday 25 September at the Barbican Centre in London.
Today’s horticulture leaders need to strike a balance between resilience and reinvention, so panellists Alan Roper - Managing Director of Blue Diamond Garden Centres, Natalie Boynton - Sales Director at Happy Plants, and Colin Stephens - Managing Director of Evergreen Garden Care, will explore what makes a modern leader effective, from strategic thinking and infrastructure planning to people management and communication.
The panel will be chaired by BBC Breakfast presenter Jon Kay, who has been a journalist for more than thirty years. In that time, he has covered a wide range of stories from crime scenes to courtrooms, riots to red carpets. He has worked as a correspondent in Los Angeles and Washington and has interviewed the Prime Minister inside 10 Downing Street.
Elia Johnston, Director of Marketing at the Horticultural Trades Association, said:
“This panel looks set to offer real insight into how businesses can navigate both growth and challenge with clarity and purpose. We look forward to hearing a range of perspectives and practical experiences from across the industry.
“We’re also delighted to have Jon Kay facilitating the session; his thoughtful and engaging approach will help bring the discussion to life.”
Alan Roper, Business Leader panellist and Managing Director of Blue Diamond Garden Centres, commented:
“I am looking forward to explaining that success is achieved through clear, simple principles delivered through a focused consistency, and that failure is often born of ignorance and corporate time-consuming processes that slow down decision making."
The HTA has already confirmed other conference speakers, including:
- Dr Tim Leunig, Economist and Policy expert
- Josh McBain, Global foresight expert
- and Jeremy Vine as the After-Dinner Speaker
More speakers and details about Horticulture, The Conference will be announced in the coming weeks.
Early bird pricing and group discounts:
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 £99 per person. The early bird offer is available until 31 July.
For more information and to secure tickets, visit hta.org.uk/conference.