FutureGrow Expo 2026

Andrey Ivanov is a Director at Wilkin & Sons Limited, based in Tiptree, Essex, where he leads operations and contributes to the business’s long-term strategic development. As a grower, he will focus his talk on improving business resilience through the commercial adoption and application of technology, and on connecting innovation to return on investment and operational resilience.

Dr Minshad Ansari, the CEO and Founder of Bionema Group, is recognised as one of the leading voices in global biological crop protection. His talk will focus on biological control and plant health in ornamentals, why product formulation and delivery determine performance, cost and consistency and what the industry needs to do next to accelerate adoption.

Highly creative, innovative and not afraid to push the boundaries, he recently got married at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in the garden he designed, the RHS & Eastern Eye Garden of Unity, the first-ever wedding to take place at the event. Manoj is an RHS Judge and their first ambassador for diversity and inclusivity.

Prof. Lorenzo Cotrozzi is an Associate Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Pisa and Co-Founder of NURSY. His expertise combines AI, plant science, hyperspectral sensing and digital agriculture. His talk will focus on AI and the digital transformation in horticulture to create resilient nurseries of the future, early detection of plant stress, and precision crop management.

Michael Perry – Mr Plant Geek – is known for his enthusiasm and expertise in horticulture. He shares insights on plant trends, new breeds, and developments in the plant world.

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.

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.

With over 15 years of experience in industrial engineering, automation, and robotics, Monardez has been at the forefront of AgriTech innovation. Since leading the creation of AgriTech WMG in 2022 and co-founding Warwick AgriTech in 2023 at the University of Warwick, Monardez has collaborated with businesses, technology developers, and organisations across the UK.

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.

Elected to Parliament as the MP for Cambridge in May 2015, and has been serving on the Labour frontbench as Shadow Minister for Farming, Food, Fisheries and Rural Affairs for the last three years.

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. 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.

Multi-international prize-winning economist. Served as economic advisor to two Chancellors of the Exchequer, and Senior Policy Adviser to the Defra Secretary of State.