The HTA appoints new Non-Executive Directors to its Board
26 September 2025
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced the appointment of three Non-Executive Directors who will join the HTA Board and help shape the strategic direction and governance of the member organisation at the heart of UK Environmental Horticulture.
During the HTA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held after Horticulture, the Conference at the Barbican Centre in London on 25 September 2025, Jacqui Prior, Brett Avery, and Martin Rowe were successfully ratified as Non-Executive Directors. They will serve a three-year term on the board.
Jacqui Prior is a finance professional with over 30 years of experience. She ran her own accountancy practice for 18 years before holding senior finance roles in various sectors, including legal, international engineering, and global customer engagement. Since 2013, Jacqui has worked for Farplants, one of the country’s largest outdoor plant growers, supplying garden centres and major retail chains. In 2022, she was appointed as a director, a role in which she has strengthened financial reporting and controls, supported operational changes, led Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) implementation, and overseen legal, HR, and company secretarial matters.
Brett Avery has more than 25 years of experience driving business growth and success across various sectors. Originally from New Zealand, Brett became Managing Director of Farplants after relocating to the UK. During this time, he also played an active role within the HTA, previously serving as Vice President, a representative on the Ornamental Management Committee, and Chair of the former Retail Suppliers Group, as well as a member of the former Commercial Committee. He was the Managing Director of Hall Hunter Partnership, one of the UK’s leading soft fruit growers and suppliers. More recently, Brett was appointed Group CEO to develop the Arboraco Group and lead the transformation of Alba Trees, the UK’s largest supplier of cell-grown trees.
Martin Rowe is the Director of HortiNet, a specialist consultancy service for growers, retailers, and investors. He has more than 40 years of horticultural experience across numerous sectors of the industry, including cut flower and plant production, consultancy and research policy, e-commerce, garden centre transactions, and warehouse management. In 2011, he co-founded the online garden retailer YouGarden.com, growing it into a £40 million turnover business within 10 years and gaining extensive knowledge of UK and European supply chains. He has since served as a Director and Adviser to several food and drinks brands.
Will Armitage, HTA President, said:
“I am delighted that Jacqui, Brett, and Martin have been appointed to the board as Non-Executive Directors. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, along with a deep understanding of the sector's opportunities and challenges. With their individual and combined expertise in leadership, growth, business development and finance, I’m confident they will make a positive impact and help ensure the HTA remains a trusted and effective voice for our members.”
The HTA represents more than 1,400 businesses across garden retail, growing, landscaping, design, manufacturing and supply and is a leading voice for a green and growing industry. It delivers political representation, insights, commercial support, and collaboration for members, alongside running the National Garden Gift Card scheme, which secures around £40 million of consumer spend in the sector annually.