Judging Panel
Behind the scenes, a rigorous judging process ensures that every finalist and winner is chosen on merit. Our judging panel is made up of experts with decades of experience, representing a wide range of perspectives across floristry and beyond. Each category is carefully assessed, with judges’ scores combined with the public vote to decide the outcome.
The BFA would like to express a huge thank you to all the judges of the Industry Awards 2026, who have given their time freely to support this great event, helping to highlight the excellence in our industry.
Meet the judges...
Anthony Hart
Smithers-Oasis UK Ltd
With over 40 years in the floral industry, Anthony is a Marketing Director specialising in brand growth, strategic marketing, and customer engagement. Passionate about floristry and innovation, he is proud to represent
a company that creates innovative floral products that inspire a sustainable future.
Corrine Heck
Details Flowers Software
Corrine Heck, PFCI, AAF, is a recognized leader in the wedding and event industry and a florist-turned-software developer with more than 26 years of experience helping floral professionals grow and scale their businesses. Known for bridging creative vision with business execution, she guides designers toward greater profitability, efficiency, and operational excellence.
Corrine is the Founder of Details Flowers Software, recognised as a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Top 100 Small Business and Small Business of the Year (Daytona Beach). She is a respected speaker and industry advocate, committed to elevating standards and supporting innovation across the global floral community.
Fiona Knowlton
COM:POST - The Better Environment Company
Fiona Knowlton is Co-Founder and Commercial
Director of COM:POST, the UK’s leading floral waste composting service. With more than 20 years of experience building and growing businesses, she combines commercial expertise with a passion for sustainability and innovation.
Alongside co-founder and florist Hannah Martin, Fiona has developed a closed-loop system that transforms floral waste into compost for UK growers, helping florists reduce their environmental impact while supporting business growth.
Working closely with florists, growers and industry partners, Fiona is committed to driving positive change across the sector and is proud to support the British Florist Association Awards as a judge.
Helena van Achterberg
Marginpar
Helena van Achterberg is Brand Manager at Marginpar, an international grower of distinctive cut flowers. Based in the Netherlands, she leads brand, content and communications, translating complex topics such as sustainability, cultivation and innovation into engaging stories for florists, buyers and industry professionals worldwide.
With a background in television, events and marketing and with a passion for floriculture, Helena works closely with Marginpar farms, breeders and floral designers to connect people with the stories behind the flowers. She is particularly interested in authentic storytelling, brand building and creating meaningful connections between flower farms and the floral industry.
Jennifer Pheasey
Horticultural Trades Association (HTA)
Jennifer Pheasey has 20 years’ experience working in policy
and government affairs roles in leading membership organisations. Jennifer has been Director of Policy and
Public Affairs at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) since 2022, where her role involves working with government to champion the interest of the sector, developing the sector’s policy work and managing PR and media relations. The HTA represents over 1400 businesses
across the UK’s environmental horticulture sector from garden centres to growers. Jennifer is a passionate advocate for the value of plants, flowers, gardens and green spaces to the economy, environment and local communities.
John Brewin
Flower Industry Consultant
A lifetime in love with flowers - from market gardening within the walled grounds of an old Manor House , to production and distribution in Holland - on to the world
of floristry in London, flower shops in Cambridge and regional wholesaling, and in more recent years as a flower
industry consultant advising and helping florists to develop their businesses.
John has always been excited by flowers, and says it’s a joy to meet and listen to other florists.
He loved his time as a director and as consultant to two major relay companies, experiencing and responding to the fast changing retail environment. What mustn’t change is the need for enthusiasm and the desire to succeed.
John is never far from his passion for flowers!
Julia Ryde
UK Floristry Judges Guild (UKFJG)
Julia has worked in floristry for over 30 years, primarily in
education; teaching, assessing, and examining at both FE and HE levels. Julia has supported many students to achieve their potential and develop worthwhile careers within this amazing industry. She has now returned to her roots and works as a retail florist and freelance on other projects of interest. Julia was delighted to work with Lynda Owen as part of the team to write the BFA Professional Florists’ Manual.
As a UK Floristry Judge, Julia has judged a
wide variety of competitions for the BFA and Interflora, with the honour of being invited to be an RHS Judge for RHS Chelsea Flower Show for many years and to judge at other RHS events.
Karen Lindsay
Flowers By Karen
With over 35 years of industry expertise, Karen Lindsay is the
visionary owner of the multi-award-winning Flowers By Karen, Kilmarnock. Under her leadership, the shop has been
crowned UK Retail Florist of the Year three times, alongside
numerous prestigious accolades, such as 4 times Scottish
Funeral Florist of the year.
As a respected florist, Karen serves as an Ambassador for
Oasis Floral Products and an Associate for Floral
Fundamentals. Her deep-rooted knowledge and passion for
excellence make her an invaluable addition to this year’s
judging panel, where she looks forward to celebrating floral
innovation.
Nigel Jenney
Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC)
Nigel Jenney is the Chief Executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) and one of the most influential voices in UK horticulture and fresh produce today. Named in the HortWeek Power List 2025, Nigel has led FPC’s transformation into the authoritative voice of the UK’s fresh produce, cut flowers and plants industry.
Under his leadership, over the past twenty-two years, FPC has been at the forefront of tackling the sector’s most urgent challenges; from exposing the inefficiencies and escalating costs of the UK’s post-Brexit border regime, to
securing vital easements on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks.
These are not abstract policy victories; they protect margins, safeguard supply chains and strengthen the competitiveness of British businesses.
Under Nigel’s governance, FPC’s work has positioned the organisation as a trusted partner to government and industry alike. Through strategic advocacy, practical
guidance and flagship events such as the FPC Fresh Awards, he has ensured FPC delivers tangible value to its members.
Today, Nigel leads an organisation that is far more than a trade association — it is a powerful, credible and united voice at the heart of the UK fresh produce and
floral supply chain.
Richard Eagleton
Claridge's Flowers
Richard Eagleton is CEO of Claridge's Flowers - a partnership between his company Burjen Limited and the Maybourne Hotel Group that launched in 2023. With a 30-year career working for international luxury brands, Richard established Burjen Limited to partner with luxury hotels to develop and run a complete suite of floral services including retail shop and flower school using the hotel's brand name and reputation.
Prior to launching Burjen, Richard was CEO of McQueens Flowers employing almost 100 people in London, Seoul, New York and Beverly Hills, and held senior management and board director roles at some of the most famous British luxury brands including Dunhill, Waterford Wedgwood, AGA and Fired Earth. He's lived and worked in Sydney, New York, Los Angeles and, most recently, Mexico City, before returning to London in 2014.
Sarah Horne
Sarah Horne Flowers and Botanicals
Sarah Horne is an internationally renowned floral artist
with more than 46 years of experience in the floristry
industry. A three-time Chelsea Gold Medal winner, she
was awarded the prestigious title of Chelsea Florist of
the Year in 2011.
While her career has taken her around the world, Sarah
is most proud of continuing to lead her successful flower
gallery and floral academy in the heart of Royal
Leamington Spa, inspiring both customers and aspiring
florists alike.
Always at the forefront of innovation, Sarah recently
established a flower farm at Moreton Morrell College,
championing sustainable British-grown flowers while
helping to inspire the next generation of industry talent.
Tracey Griffin
Westflor Uk Ltd.
With a career spanning every corner of floristry, Tracey
Griffin is recognised for her extensive knowledge, practical expertise and commitment to supporting florists.
Growing up within retail floristry, she developed an early
passion for the industry before building a successful career across weddings, event and corporate floristry, education, consultancy, wholesale and marketing.
An RHS Chelsea Gold Medal winner, international educator and industry consultant, Tracey has taught, demonstrated and worked with florists around the world.
With a decade of TWIA judging experience and a track record of multiple award wins, she brings valuable insight, experience and perspective to the judging panel.
Tickets
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