2025 Fellows
Edgars Kneksis
Horticultural Technical Sales Specialist, HL Hutchinson Ltd
Since May 2023 Edgar’s role has been a Horticulture Technical Sales Specialist at HL Hutchinson Ltd, a leading provider of horticulture products and technical services. His day-to-day tasks include visiting growers with crops as varied as ornamentals, cut flowers, protected vegetables, soft fruit and top fruit providing technical advice across all areas of crop production. He helps to plan and implement Integrated Crop Management strategies for growers, focusing on inclusion of biological controls. He also provides guidance on growing media, nutrition, plant material input and crop protection programs and delivers technical updates to the production teams to keep them up to date on industry innovations.
Before joining Hutchinsons, Edgars worked at an ornamental plant nursery as Nursery Manager where he oversaw all aspects of production and day-to-day tasks, ensuring timely and cost-effective delivery of high-quality products.
With over 18 years of experience in the industry, he has gained a deep understanding of horticulture and a passion for helping growers succeed.
“I hope that the LSA Fellowship Scheme will help to continue to expand my technical knowledge and understanding of the horticultural industry. It is important than I can deliver the best technical advice based on the latest innovations and a wide knowledge base. I also want to develop my professional skills to enhance my credibility in the industry. Through this, I want to strengthen my leadership skills facilitating the drive to inspire people to engage with horticulture and wider issues surrounding it.
Meeting with horticultural experts from different sectors through the LSA Fellowship Scheme and gaining insight into trade body operations will help me to achieve these aims. I also hope that the networking opportunities from involvement in the scheme will help to expand my connections within the industry.”
Gina Panduru
Biological Control Specialist, Brinkman UK
Gina is a Biological Control Specialist at Royal Brinkman UK whose main focus is on biological control and integrated pest control.
She works mainly with soft fruits, and ensures that the beneficial insects, mites and nematodes are delivered in the best quality to customers and used accordingly.
In the future Gina aspires to become a leading woman in the fresh produce industry specializing in sustainable and regenerative production methods.
“I aim to develop technical expertise and comprehensive understanding of the horticultural industry needed to support growers in meeting global food demand while navigating evolving regulations.
I aspire to inspire young people to have the courage to follow their dreams and pursue their passion fearlessly.”
Henil Vashi
Horticultural Advisor, Robin Tacchi Plants
Henil started his role as a Horticultural Advisor at Robin Tacchi Plants in 2022 after graduating with a M.Sc. degree in Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement from the University of East Anglia/John Innes Centre. He also holds a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Horticulture from Navsari Agricultural University, India.
Henil, in his role as a Horticultural Advisor, focuses on all the aspects of ornamental pot plant production to produce top-quality plants for the UK landscape and amenity sector. In his day-to-day job, he is actively involved in crop husbandry, plant nutrition regimes, potting scheduling, plant propagation, developing compost recipes and integrated pest management. Henil manages all the horticultural trials on the nursery and is currently working on the company’s smooth transition to peat-free plant production. Henil is also responsible for actively maintaining the Plant Healthy status of the company.
His previous industry work experience consists of time spent at his ornamental plant nursery family business in Gujarat, India. Henil was also recently awarded a 2024 HTA Young Grower under 35 award. I am delighted to join the fellowship and look forward to gaining more knowledge of the UK horticultural industry. I am excited to meet like-minded peers on the fellowship and for the opportunity to network with people from various sectors of the industry. I am keen to advance my understanding of the work done by trade bodies in the industry. I hope that the knowledge and skills I acquire through this program will contribute to the growth and development of Robin Tacchi Plants and the broader ornamental horticulture industry.
Dr Lauren Hibbert
Research and Development Manager, MM Flowers Ltd
Lauren’s role at MM Flowers Ltd (within the APEX Horticulture Ltd research and development element of the business) sees her focus on developing innovative agronomic and post-harvest solutions to challenges predominantly in the cut flower industry, but research projects will also cover other business interests such as house plants.
Prior to this she was a Senior Research Associate at GrowUp, a leading UK vertical farming company. This followed a Vitacress-sponsored PhD identifying new watercress varieties for improved phosphorus use efficiency; a project split between the University of Southampton and the University of California Davis. These 4 years offered invaluable opportunities to better understand agricultural systems in both the US and UK.
Through the LSA Fellowship Scheme, Lauren looks forward to expanding her horticultural knowledge beyond leafy greens and CEA. She is eager to make the most of this opportunity by connecting with like-minded individuals in different sectors of horticulture. She hopes this network will provide her with diverse perspectives and exposure to innovation, enriching her understanding of wider food production systems and facilitating collaboration. Additionally, Lauren is keen to better understand the role of trade bodies as advocates for their industries.
Rebecca Hoyle
Horticultural Knowledge and Innovation Executive, David Austin Roses
In 2016, at the age of 31, Rebecca changed careers from Law and Real Estate to Horticulture. She started by volunteering part-time with Small Woods and the National Trust to build experience before gaining full-time employment as a Gardener at Country Garden Roses, a small family-run nursery and tearoom, set in landscaped grounds selling roses and herbaceous perennials. Over time, she progressed to become Head Gardener.
Rebecca began with David Austin Roses in 2019. Her current position is Horticultural Knowledge and Innovation Executive where she looks to improve and innovate their production practices in alignment with their ESG strategy BLOOM, through theoretical and practical research and development. This includes sharing knowledge and providing training to staff, which is very important to her and one of her favourite parts of the job.
Their business, while a monoculture, covers a broad cross-section of horticulture including breeding, glasshouse, field and container growing, an international partner network, marketing, retail and wholesale sales and dispatch, plant centre and gardens to name a few.
“Through participation in the LSA Fellowship Scheme, I hope to build long-term relationships with other growers across the industry and investigate the potential for collaboration in knowledge transfer partnerships with universities. My areas of interest include soil health, weeds, digital agronomy and automation/robotics.
I look forward to attending the committee meetings of our trade bodies to see how they are shaping industry strategies and collaborating to ensure the best future for horticulture.”
Megan Beard
Technical Agronomist, Cambs Farms Growers
Megan’s role as Technical Agronomist for Cambs Farms Growers covers Conventional Celery and Organics (Celery, Lettuce, Beetroot and Onions). She is part of a team of three internal agronomists who manage the ‘whole farm’ agronomy considering everything in the rotation and sharing the responsibilities for introducing Regenerative Farming practices, Sustainable Intensification, Increasing Biodiversity and Soil Management.
“The scheme provides a great opportunity to keep up to date with the latest industry trends, demands and requirements. Showcasing new cutting-edge technologies and opportunities which may not be readily accessible or available within my workplace, enriching my expertise. This should allow me to gain a better understanding of the horticultural sector as a whole and how valuable cross-sector interaction and knowledge sharing can be. I want to be able to gather my learnings and apply them to my area of work, injecting passion and education as I go.
Meeting like-minded fellows and expanding my professional network through this scheme will provide multiple avenues for collaboration, research and learning. Having the potential to showcase what horticulture has to offer, engaging with a wider audience, I can play a role in inspiring others to explore careers in this field. Demonstrating the beauty, innovation and importance of horticulture, we can help attract new talent and cultivate a greater appreciation for the industry.”
Edward Murphy
Farm Manager, Herbs Unlimited
Edward’s role as Farm Manager at Herbs Unlimited sees him managing the outside endeavours of the farm, ensuring the day to day outdoor operations run smoothly. Herbs Unlimited grow seasonal fresh herbs and speciality products in polytunnels and in the fields, directed to the wholesale and processing market.
Edward’s previous experience is fairly varied in the sense that it has not always been focused on horticulture. He has had the opportunity to experience different roles and sectors. His previous employment was as the Assistant Farm Manager on a sweetcorn, pumpkin and squash farm in Essex.
“I hope to learn and explore the diversities of the horticultural sector with like minded people.”
2024 Fellows
Lydia Aaron
Food Technologist & Agronomist, Marks and Spencer
Lydia is currently a food technologist in the M&S agronomy team. She is responsible for the food safety, quality and sustainability aspects of the vegetable product areas she looks after. Lydia has been at M&S for approximately 18 months but previously spent 15 months in the fruit team during her university placement year. She considers herself lucky enough to look after roots, premium veg, some exotics and herbs. Within this she is responsible for ensuring that the Select Farm standards and pesticide policies are adhered to, to packaging changes and approving marketing messaging going out to stores or customers. She really enjoys seeing a product go from being harvested to packed and onto store shelves, whilst being able to appreciate how much time and effort it takes to grow great quality produce.
“My week is usually split across working in the Paddington office in London, visiting stores, suppliers and growers. Field visits are one of my favourite parts and definitely a perk of the job. I hope that the LSA Fellowship Scheme will allow me to build a network in the commercial horticulture world along with offering the chance to understand and see what the other fellow’s day to day roles look like. I am excited to get stuck in!”
James Blore
Product Developer & Open Field West Sales, Sakata UK Ltd
James has worked at Sakata UK Ltd for the past five and a half years as a Product Developer and has more recently also taken on the additional role of Open Field Sales.
Sakata UK Ltd is part of Sakata Vegetables Europe, a subsidary of Sakata Seed Corporation (Japan). They breed, produce and market high quality vegetable seeds, offering over 900 varieties of broccoli, cauliflower, tomato, squash, watermelon and cabbage amongst many others across EMEA.
“I have experienced many parts of the agriculture and the fresh produce sector from farm work to fresh produce procurement. Since joining Sakata UK Ltd I have really found my place within the industry. My work is very varied and when working for a seed company you have to wear many hats. Predominately I am responsible for the product development and trials of new vegetable varieties. We have to check the performance of each new variety to ensure that once they reach the point of seed sales that they consistently perform for our customers, the growers.
Our industry faces many dangers and challenges in the future, I hope that once I have completed the LSA Fellowship I will be in the best position to tackle them. Whilst on the fellowship I hope to build a network of people who I can lean on when advice and expierience is needed to overcome hurdles that we will face within our respective businesses.”
Alice Bourne
Agronomist, C Donkin Ltd
Alice has been employed as a junior horticultural agronomist at C Donkin Ltd for a year following a previous role as an arable agronomist after finishing her masters degree in Sustainable Crop Production at Warwick University.
The majority of crops Alice advises on include asparagus and protected herbs, however she has recently become involved in speciality vegetable production and ornamental cut flowers. Alongside her practical agronomy role, she manages and monitors various crop trials in herbs and rhubarb as well as planning herbicide trials for strategic improvements in asparagus. In the background, she also assists with research on EAMU regulations for niche crops in foreign countries. A big part of her role involves building and maintaining valuable relationships between growers, breeders and other horticulturalists.
“I am excited to extend my network as part of the LSA Fellowship Scheme and meet a strong cohort of like-minded individuals for collaborating and sharing innovative ideas within horticulture of which I am currently less familiar with. I also aspire to eventually be a fountain of agronomic knowledge for other young horticultural agronomists who wish to be involved in the industry and be a port of call for technical queries on asparagus and herbs.”
Claudia Carvalho
Senior Fruit Agronomist, Blue Skies
Claudia’s role as Senior Fruit Agronomist at Blue Skies sees her oversee and enhance fruit crop production through advanced agronomic practices. She is responsible for conducting research, implementing sustainable farming techniques, and providing technical guidance to ensure optimal fruit yield and quality. The role requires strong expertise in soil science, plant nutrition, pest management, and climate adaptation strategies.
Prior to this, Claudia was an Agricultural Engineer at Berry Garden Growers Ltd. She has a PhD in plant physiology and postharvest, with more than 18 years of agricultural experience. She has experience in trials of agrichemicals, spray quality, postharvest and plant breeding.
“I am always in the look to assess new technologies that may improve the function of the BGG Trials Area and positively impact fruit production, quality and sustainability of commercial production on BGG members’ farms.”
Esme Fairhurst
Grower, Dyson Farming
Esme’s current role is as a Grower for Dyson Farming, having previously worked for The Summer Berry Company for 5 years. At Dyson, Esme manages the day-to-day running of the glasshouse optimising climate irrigation and other factors to ensure high quality fruit is grown on site all year round.
“I studied agricultural business at Newcastle University, a course I chose because I was keen to learn about how our food is grown and marketed: all the stages from field to fork. After university I worked as a member of the quality assurance team in a vegetable processing factory in Nottingham for a year before discovering the diverse world of horticulture. I am looking forward to finding out about other crops and speak to like-minded individuals during my time on the LSA Fellowship Scheme. I hope to discover innovations that will help the Horticultural industry to be more resilient to future challenges.”
Jenna Gove
Grower Supervisor, Bransford Webb Plant Company
Jenna joined Bransford Webbs Plant Company as a Grower two years ago after a longstanding enthusiasm for horticulture motivated a career change into the industry. The 11 hectare nursery supplies garden centres throughout the United Kingdom with a selection of high-quality shrubs and herbaceous perennials. Bransford Webbs strives to be a leader in environmental and sustainable innovations in the commercial ornamental sector with technical, biological, peat-free and variety trials ongoing across the nursery as well as regularly cultivating relationships with other nurseries and suppliers by facilitating workshops on topical subjects.
Having recently progressed to the position of Grower Supervisor Jenna is now responsible for overseeing the production of container plants in two of the nursery’s growing areas, working with a team to ensure that approximately 300,000 of the two million plants produced annually by the nursery reach the expected high standard. Her day-to-day supervisory tasks include organising the cultural care of the crops, monitoring for pest and disease and planning potting space.
Jenna has previously been awarded a place on the IPPS Six Packers Scheme which enabled attendance to the organisation’s 2022 conference in Germany, an experience that further demonstrated the benefit of learning about different businesses in the industry and the sharing of the different approaches to navigate challenges faced by all in the sector.
She is broadly interested in where the commercial ornamental horticultural industry is heading and ultimately how it might be possible to be more sustainable yet retain a high standard of product to supply the nation of gardeners. Specifically, how the reduction of waste, the targeted application of products intertwined with a holistic approach to pest management, the development of environmental solutions and the adaption of growing methods to incorporate these innovations can all contribute to an efficient and workable system. Jenna is also curious about the identification and trial of new trends and plant traits to inform a selection of crops and varieties that are both resilient and relevant.
“I hope that the Fellowship scheme will allow me to continue my development and enable me to gain access to a variety of industry discussions. I am looking forward to meeting like-minded individuals who are enthusiastic about the future of horticulture and to bring those insights back to my workplace.”
Robert Watson
Crop Manager, Sandfields Farms Ltd
Robert started with G’s Fresh on their management training scheme in 2016 after graduating from Harper Adams University with a BSc (Hons) degree in Agriculture. Throughout the two year scheme, he had placements in Kent, Warwickshire, Senegal and Spain, working with a range of different crops. Upon completion of the scheme in 2018, he took up the offer of a full time role with Sandfields Farms Ltd, (part of G’s Fresh), based in Warwickshire. Since then he has progressed to Crop Manager for Salad Onions, and has been able to complete BASIS Field Vegetables, FACTS and Soil and Water courses.
In his role as a Crop Manager, he is responsible for all aspects involved in growing over 20 million bunches of salad onions in the UK season. This includes agronomy, irrigation scheduling, land selection and preparation, seed purchasing and harvest. He also supports other crop managers in the business growing pumpkins and peas, and deals with the farms SFI and Mid Tier applications and LEAF and Red Tractor audits.
“I am looking forward to joining the fellowship, and hope that I can use it to build on my existing experience and knowledge. The opportunity to visit and network with people who are in similar areas of the industry to me, as well as those in slightly different sectors will be invaluable. As an industry we are all facing similar challenges, so by sharing experience between the different sectors, we can hope to overcome these!”
LSA CT Fellowship Scheme 