OUR EXPERT SPEAKERS
Queensland Garden Expo offers the largest speaker program of any gardening event in the country. Visit us on any of the three days of the event and you will find free talks on a variety of topics running on 8 live stages.
More than 100 presentations from over 40 speakers promises to deliver anything you need to know about gardening…and more!
Speakers for 2021 will be announced early next year. In the meantime check out our fantastic speakers who took the stage in 2019, many of who will be joining us again this year.
2019 Gardening Experts included….
PAUL WEST
PAUL WEST
Paul West is a cook, food grower who loves to celebrate the power of food to transform our lives, environment and communities for the better.
Paul is best known for his role as the host of “River Cottage Australia”, a lifestyle program that aired on Foxtel and SBS. The show followed Paul’s journey as he transformed a small farm on the south coast of New South Wales from an empty paddock into a thriving hobby farm.
Paul also contributes to Gardening Australia, Backroads and Catalyst on the ABC.
Paul is now living in Thornbury, Melbourne with his wife, two sons and his cheeky dog Digger. He is currently writing a book, due for release in 2019, about how to grow food in the city and build a food culture of your own.
ANNETTE MCFARLANE
ANNETTE MCFARLANE
Annette is an educator, garden writer, author and broadcaster based in Brisbane.Recently awarded the Australian Gold Laurel for Horticulture (2018) and inducted into the Horticultural Media Association Australia Hall of Fame, you may know her from books such as Successful Gardening in Warm Climates and Organic Vegetable Gardening. You can also hear her on ABC Radio Brisbane from 6-7am each Saturday morning for Gardening Talkback and don’t miss her weekly gardening page in the U on Sunday magazine in the Sunday Mail.
JERRY COLEBY-WILLIAMS
JERRY COLEBY-WILLIAMS
Jerry Coleby-Williams is a horticultural botanist, writer and Director of the Seed Savers’ Network. He is the Patron of the National Toxics Network and of H.O.P.E. Australia. Jerry is also the popular Queensland presenter on ABC’s Gardening Australia.
Initially trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (UK), Jerry is qualified in horticultural estate management, soft landscape design, arboriculture, horticultural and botanical sciences.
Jerry has managed nurseries, urban forests, heritage parks, a garden centre and he helped establish Mt Annan Native Botanic Garden (NSW). For twelve years, Jerry managed the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. His design of the Rare & Threatened Plants Garden launched a career in radio and television.
SOPHIE THOMSON
SOPHIE THOMSON
Sophie Thomson, ABC television’s Gardening Australia South Australian presenter, is a captivating and engaging speaker, author, broadcaster, horticulturalist and trained naturopath. Her enthusiasm and passion for plants and gardening inspires people of all ages. Sophie is a strong advocate for sustainable gardening practices, growing organic food, cooking from the home garden and creating backyards where kids can play freely and develop a lifelong connection with nature. She is also passionate about Horticultural Therapy and saving the world with gardening.
ARNO KING
ARNO KING
Best known for his articles in Subtropical Gardening Magazine, Gardening Australia and Garden Drum, Arno King is a Brisbane based registered landscape architect and registered horticulturist. He works on a varied range of landscape projects and teaches horticulture and landscape design in both Australia and overseas. Arno’s passion is planting design and the innovative use of plants in subtropical gardens.
DR TIM HEARD
DR TIM HEARD
Dr Tim Heard is an entomologist, ex-CSIRO research scientist, and also a long term stingless bee keeper and promoter of native bees. Tim completed his university doctoral studies on using these bees for crop pollination. He has since published 60 research papers and popular articles on bees and pollination. He transferred his first hive from a cut down tree into a wooden box in 1985 and now manages hundreds of hives of three species around south east Queensland, obtained by rescuing threatened wild hives and dividing existing hives.
Tim has developed new hive designs that allow for easy propagation and sustainable extraction of honey, without harming the colony. He has presented workshops and seminars for more than 20 years on bees in general and keeping stingless bees in particular.
Tim is also the author of The Australian Native Bee Book (best seller and multi award winner), and regularly speaks on radio, in particular ABC Radio Brisbane and Radio Sydney.
CLAIRE BICKLE
CLAIRE BICKLE
Claire is well known for her enthusiastic presenting, writing, broadcasting and educating on her favourite topics; gardening, chooks, children and all things related to sustainability and nature.
You can read her regular articles about these topics in Earth Garden and Good Organic Gardening Magazines plus her regular gardening ‘Ask an Expert’ page in the Courier Mail’s Qweekend. Claire is a regular presenter of gardening and sustainability topics on ABC Radio Brisbane.
Claire has also recently become one of the esteemed garden tour leaders for Ross Garden Tours and she is a current member of the Horticultural Media Association Qld.
On her 2 acre garden in the western suburbs of Brisbane, Claire takes pleasure in creating, enjoying and working her eclectic productive yet ornamental garden for herself, husband and 3 children. This is all combined to blend in with the surrounding native habitat.
And there is of course her collection of various poultry, from chooks to ducks, plus geese and turkeys.
PHIL DUDMAN
PHIL DUDMAN
Phil Dudman is the Horticultural Editor of ABC Gardening Australia magazine, a gardening talkback host on ABC Local Radio, TV presenter and author for ABC Books. A trained horticulturist and landscape designer, Phil’s true passion is in organic gardening and teaching others how to enjoy the greatest success when growing their own food. Born and bred in Brisbane, he now lives in Lismore, Northern NSW.
ADAM WOODHAMS
ADAM WOODHAMS
Life-long gardening enthusiast, horticulturist by trade and communicator by profession Adam carries with him the sort of wealth of knowledge and depth of expertise that can only come from being a passionate, hands-on person.
Adam takes great care to communicate his passion and knowledge in a manner that is approachable, accessible, inclusive and empowering.
Since early 2010 Adam has operated his own specialised communications business. His freelance editorial and photographic work has appeared in quality magazines such as Handyman Australia, Better Homes & Gardens, Gardening Australia and Burke’s Backyard to name a few. He has a strong social media presence across many platforms and his YouTube channel.
NOEL BURDETTE
NOEL BURDETTE
Now redising in New Zealand, Noel has been a long standing contributor for several inspiring horticultural publications over the years including Subtropical Gardening magazine, (Searles) About the Garden , Rural press (QLD smart farmer), Gardening Australia magazine and Garden Gurus magazine. Now redising in New Zealand, Noel has been a long standing contributor for several inspiring horticultural publications over the years including Subtropical Gardening magazine, (Searles) About the Garden , Rural press (QLD smart farmer), Gardening Australia magazine and Garden Gurus magazine.
Apart from being an avid gardener since the age of five and collector of the rare and unusual , Noel is passionate about naturalistic gardening practices that uphold the creation of and continual sustainability of urban habitats and healthy ecosystems within the backyard.
DR KEVIN REDD
DR KEVIN REDD
Dr Kevin Redd grows a wide range of edible plants at his boutique nursery and demonstration gardens on the Sunshine Coast. Equally passionate about harvesting and using these amazing culinary ingredients, he will share some recipes and techniques for cooking and enjoying the seasonal abundance!
DAVID FURNESS
DAVID FURNESS
Primarily employed in the apparel industry for over 40 years covering senior management roles in sales and marketing David found his way to the horticultural sector in 2009.
Working with a leading Phalaenopsis Orchid and Indoor Foliage grower based in Queensland David used his skills to develop a strong network of successful retail partners.
A new opportunity sees David working with a leading succulent and indoor foliage grower with the strategic aim of introducing new varieties of plants to the Australian market. He has presented “How to Grow Phalaenopsis Orchids “to customers of the Brisbane City Council and looks forward to learning from the strong network of horticultural professionals that belong to the Horticultural Media Association of Australia.
‘PROFESSOR FRUIT FLY’
(Prof Richard Drew)
'PROFESSOR FRUIT FLY' (Prof Richard Drew)
Professor Richard Drew is the leading world authority on pest fruit flies of the Asia-Pacific Region and has recently developed, from years of research, a new insecticide-free synthetic lure that mimics the odour of ripening fruit and attracts mature egg-laying female fruit flies. This breakthrough has been commercialised by AgNova Technologies in Melbourne, making the trap and lure technology available.
Further to many research publications he published in 2018 a new book titled ‘The Fruit Fly Management Guide – Understanding and Managing Fruit Flies’. This is tailored to the home gardener, farmer and commercial producer. It is simply presented and beautifully illustrated.
Professor Drew has conducted research on fruit flies for five decades, and has established a clear understanding of their biology and pest management. He has received many awards including the Clunies Ross National Science and Technology Award, Australia’s most prestigious science award. In 1995 was awarded an Order of Australia for contributions to fruit fly research and management.
FRANCES MICHAELS
FRANCES MICHAELS
Frances Michaels is a horticulturalist with over 40 years’ study and practice focusing on edible plants, organic garden management and permaculture. Holding an Advanced Certificate of Horticulture and Diploma of Permaculture she is a writer, educator and business CEO of Green Harvest Organic Gardening Supplies.
CATH MANUEL
CATH MANUEL
Cath is the Qld representative for Therapeutic Horticulture Australia and has been providing therapeutic gardening programs in Qld since 2014 after training as a horiculturalt therapist and has been running programs through my business ‘Soil to Supper’ since then. She has recently joined with THA as the representative in Qld to look at ways to raise awareness for therapeutic horticulture through the state.
LEONIE SHANAHAN
LEONIE SHANAHAN
Leonie Shanahan is an educator, author and presenter with over 20 years experience in horticulture and permaculture. Leonie is the founder of the Edible School Gardens Program, author of “Eat Your Garden – Organic Gardening for Home and Schools” book, and presenter of “Edible School Gardens” DVD, and writes for Organic Gardener Magazine.
Leonie is passionate about growing healthy people through nutrient rich food which starts with the soil. Whether you are growing in a pot, your backyard or acreage, there are positive solutions for your family’s health.
ALSO TALKING GARDENING….
But wait there’s more! The following speakers also shared their knowledge with us in 2019
Alex Zar
Anne Gibson
Bill Haszard
Bob Lutteral
Carol Kerkin
Chris Bond
Darryl Baptie
Helen Schwencke
John Robertson
Linda Brennan
Lindy Saunders
Morag Gamble
Myah Bahloo
Natasha Odgers
Nigel Thomson
Paul Hains
Peter Heaton
Peter Young
Pia Dowling
Robin Clayfield
Sally Douglas
Sandie Johnston
Sean Morrow
Spencer Shaw
Stacy Harris
Stephanie Reif
Tim Adams
Tom Farmer
Tyron de Kauwe
Vanessa Cougan
Warren Bennett
