The 2020 conference program has been finalised with a fantastic line up of keynote speakers confirmed to deliver valuable information on the conference theme including:
- Championing plant health from growers to consumer;
- Implementing responsible production and retail practices;
- Encouraging the adoption of research and development outputs;
- Focusing on solutions to environmental impacts and climate change; and
- Looking at international trends and highlighting economic opportunity of greenlife in Australia's growing economy and how your business can benefit.
Damon Gameau - Director, Writer, Producer, Presenter
Damon’s new film, 2040, is an innovative feature documentary that explores what the future would look like by the year 2040 if we embraced the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet. It was released in April 2019 and is already in the top 5 highest grossing documentaries of all time in Australia at the cinema.
- Topic: 2040 and the greenlife industry. Setting the scene for an industry with answers.
- Date: Wednesday 4 March 2020
- Time: 9.10am – Ballroom 1
Dr Charles Hall - Professor and Ellison Chair International Floriculture, Texas A & M University
Dr. Hall currently serves as the Chief Economist for AmericanHort and Co-Chair of the Advisory Council of Seed Your Future. He is former President and Past-President of the board of directors for America in Bloom.
Charlie has been working on a 4 Part literature review “An update of the literature supporting the well-being benefits of plants.” He is also presenting at the AIPH Conference in Miami, March 2020 and so is joining the conference LIVE through the magic of the internet where delegates will hear observations on international trends and the economy as it relates to trees, plants and shrubs.
- Topic: International Trend and the greenlife economy
- Date: Wednesday 4 March 2020
- Time: 9.50am – LIVE to Ballroom 1, from Miami, FL.
Lyn O’Connell - Deputy Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Water & Environment
Lyn O’Connell started as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Agriculture in October 2015 where she is responsible for Australia’s biosecurity system and chairs the National Biosecurity Committee.
Lyn has been invited to present an overview of the UN Food & Agriculture Organisation and IPPC’s International Year of Plant Health and share information on plant health activities to ensure the health of greenlife in Australia.
- Topic: Australia’s contribution to International Year of Plant Health
- Date: Wednesday 4 March 2020
- Time: 4.30pm – Ballroom 1
Ben Peacock - Republic of Everyone
Ben has had the pleasure of working with the nursery industry since 2013, over which time his plant life balance has improved considerably. Ben and his team of amazing all-stars, designs and delivers the nursery levy funded, Greener Spaces Better Places program, formerly known as 202020 Vision as well as other award winning programs that make community, health and environment something that everyone wants to get involved in
- Topic: Greener spaces make better places. An overview of nursery levy marketing campaign to grow and improve urban green spaces.
- Date: Thursday 5 March 2020
- Time: 9.05 – Ballroom 1
Matt Brand - CEO, Hort Innovation
Matt joined Hort Innovation as CEO in September 2018. He is driven by his passion to achieve the very best for Australia’s horticulture growers and the sector as a whole. Matt has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Systems) Agriculture from Hawkesbury Agricultural College and a Master’s in Business (Marketing) from Monash University.
Hort Innovation is the Principal R&D Supporter for the Healthy Plants Healthy People conference and Matt will be providing an overview of the Horticulture RDC and encouraging the adoption of R & D outputs.
- Topic: Hort Innovation update and strategic plan progress including levy overview.
- Date: Thursday 5 March 2020
- Time: 9.40am – Ballroom 1
Gihan Perera - Futurist, Author, Consultant
Gihan Perera has a formal background in science and technology, with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Western Australia. But he’s always been interested in people and the way they communicate.
He is a futurist, author and consultant who gives you a glimpse into what’s ahead – and how you can become fit for the future, in your professional and personal life.
- Topic: Fit for the future
- Date: Thursday 5 March 2020
- Time: 3.30pm – Ballroom 1
Dr Craig Challen - 2019 Joint Australian of the Year, Veterinary Surgeon, Cave Diver
Craig Challen is a veterinary surgeon by profession, an enthusiastic helicopter and aeroplane pilot and notably an Australian cave explorer and member of the Wet Mules diving group. In July 2018 Craig participated in the Tham Luang cave rescue of 13 people in Thailand. He has been named as the 2019 Australian of the Year for Western Australia and the joint 2019 Australian of the Year with his dive partner Richard Harris. Be inspired, when Craig delivers the firsthand account of this incredible story of survival.
- Topic: An impossible task: The inspirational story of the cave rescue of the Wild Boars
- Date: Thursday 5 March 2020
- Time: 4.10pm – Ballroom 1
Read the full profiles for our keynote speakers here.
For more information:
Greenlife Industry Australia
T: (02) 8861 5100
F: (02) 9659 3446
info@greenlifeindustry.com.au
www.greenlifeindustry.com.au