Discover the Learning Theatre at GLAS
The Learning Theatre will provide informative talks from the industry's leading professionals
Print21 June 2017
The newly-expanded Learning Theatre at GLAS 2017 is proudly supported by Bord Bia this year.
Successful professionals sharing the same market and business model as you will provide their key insights and advice on how you can grow and develop your business.
This year’s speakers will host talks on safe, smart and sustainable pest control, 7 ways to get more customers from the internet and 21st century non-intrusive drainage solutions, as well as the results of Bord Bia’s very latest Behaviour and Attitudes research from their extensive, national consumer gardening study. Check out the presenters below:
Dr Clare Sampson
Dr Clare Sampson has over 25 years’ experience in developing practical integrated pest management programmes in protected crops.
Whilst working for two biological control companies in research and development, she has worked directly with growers to implement cost-effective, biologically-based control programmes in protected ornamentals and food crops in the UK, Holland, and Spain.
After completing her doctorate on the management of the western flower thrips in strawberry, she became the KTP Associate with Russell IPM and Keele University, tasked with developing improved coloured and scented sticky traps for thrips and whitefly control.
Russell Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a leading manufacturer of pheromone based semiochemicals; monitoring and controlling products in the UK as one of the largest in Europe.
Their vision is to offer ever-evolving environmentally-friendly pest control through pheromone, biorational and digital innovations. Sampson now works as Horticultural Development Manager at Russell IPM and is presenting on the improved sticky traps and on some of the traps in development.
Neil Helyer
Neil Helyer will join Dr Clare Sampson on-stage to discuss pest management systems. Helyer has more than 40 years experience as an entomologist/IPM specialist. He currently works for Fargro Ltd. and makes regular advisory visits to horticultural growers throughout the UK and Ireland to develop and monitor IPM programmes.
Edwin Meijer
Edwin Meijer, founder of online marketing agency Garden Connect, will give you 7 ways how to get more customers by improving your online marketing!
Garden Connect is currently serving over 300 garden centres in 5 countries across Europe. Since 2002 the company has been working for independent centres and groups and so Meijer will give you his first-hand insights from the industry.
Apart from visiting garden centres, Meijer likes to challenge his team and customers: do you have what it takes to make the next step? Do you believe you can stand out online, even if you’re not the next Amazon? And do you think independent garden centres are capable beating online competitors?
Meijer is convinced garden centres have a future in the era of e-commerce but they have to adapt to the new way of shopping. This presentation will be your starting point!
Grace Binchy
Grace works as an Insight and Innovation specialist with Bord Bia. Grace worked for many years in the field of advertising working with the Grey Group in London and New York as well as spending a significant period of time with the Publicis Group in Dublin.
Her love of insight led her into research, working for Lansdowne, now Lansdowne MRBI. Grace’s role in Bord Bia involves working with food and drinks companies from start ups to more well established companies, working with them to understand the importance of the consumer and how best to develop their brand for the marketplace.
Grace will discuss the recent Gardener of the Future report from Bord Bia’s Insight. This national and extensive gardening study conducted in conjunction with Red C set out to explore consumer behaviour, attitudes and influences which are driving decision making around the purchase of plants and garden products in Ireland today.
The study explored in detail typical gardening habits and spending patterns. It also set out to evaluate who the gardeners of the future are and looked at key trends and market forces that are likely to influence gardeners, potential gardeners, and the garden of the future. You can read about the report here
Joe O’Meara
In 2012 Groundwater Dynamics introduced a three dimensional way of dealing with groundwater management.
Instead of using conventional piped drainage to move nuisance storm water from one area to another, this vertical drainage system exploits the sub-soils natural characteristics deals with surface saturation and standing water at source.
With over 100 successful installations in some of the UKs most prestigious sporting venues, Groundwater Dynamics is working with consulting engineers to further develop the capabilities of the EGRP System.
Joe O’Meara will provide a presentation on how Groundwater Dynamics was utilised on the Gleneagles Queens Course – a high profile venue – with localised saturation and standing water issues that required a 21st Century sustainable drainage solution; dealing with storm & run-off water at source.
Attendance at the Learning Theatre talks – supported by Bord Bia – taking place during GLAS at Citywest on July 20th, are free, but pre-registration is required as places are limited. When you pre-register you can also put forward any questions you would like our speakers to answer.
For more information on the timetable, speakers and topics, as well as pre-registration to book your seat visit: http://www.glasireland.ie/theatre/
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