Who to See at Hort Connections 2019

Author: Kate Cook

Who to See at Hort Connections 2019

If you’re anything like us then you have already got your tickets for Hort Connections 2019 all lined up. The next step is selecting which sessions you’ll attend, so we’ve put together a diverse range of recommendations to help you choose.

This year, Hort Connections is being held in Melbourne, and as always there is an amazing line-up of speakers who will be giving us the latest news, trends, and innovations for Australian and International Horticulture. There is something for everyone at Hort Connections, and we have picked out the following 6 speakers because of the diverse and important topics they will be covering.

Thomas Hertel — Fair Farms (Tuesday 25th June, 2:00–2:20pm)

As the program manager of the Fair Farms Training and Certification Program, Thomas Hertel’s session will focus on how the horticulture industry can respond to the complexity and difficulties around labour compliance. In light of the recent changes to the Horticulture award, the issue of ensuring that fair and responsible employment practices can be implemented across the industry in a considered and productive way is an important one.

Thomas Hertel - Fair Farms

David Cox — CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (Wednesday 26th June, 9:20–9:50am)

If you are a parent then you have probably faced the issue that David will be addressing in your own home, although likely in a smaller capacity. David’s discussion of Growing Future Demand: Tools and Interventions for increasing Children’s Vegetable Intake will be taking a look at the child consumer and strategically approaching children’s vegetable intake.

Lauren Scott — Produce Marketing Association (Tuesday the 25th June, 2:40–3:10pm)

Lauren’s talk on Global Consumption Trends in Fresh Produce is so widely applicable across our entire industry that it is definitely one of the sessions at the top of our list. With her extensive marketing experience and her significant position as the Chief Marketing Officer of the PMA, the information she provides on the consumer products industry will be helpful for anyone attending this conference.

Lauren Scott - Produce Marketing Association

Andrew Steele — GS1 Australia (Wednesday 26th June, 8:10–8:40am)

You can learn a lot from a title, but Andrew’s talk on No common data standards; no blockchain traceability solution! seems to prompt more questions than answers. It’s also the reason why you should listen to what he has to say; in a time where transparency and tracking seem widely accepted, it will be interesting to see how fully Andrew will oppose these trends.

Andrew Steele - GS1 Australia

Richard Macchiesi — Visy (Wednesday 26th June, 10:10–10:40am)

With a title like Sustainability and Surviving the New Supply Chains it seems like Richard Macchiesi won’t be shying away from the hot-topics, and will be engaging with the future of the horticulture industry from a sustainable viewpoint that is much needed. As the General Manager of Insights and Innovation at Visy, Richard’s talk will surely give the diverse businesses that make up the horticulture industry a better insight on the strategic initiatives that can be expected in the coming years.

Tim Gentle — Think Digital (Wednesday 26th June, 9:10–9:40am)

This talk is for the tech savvy; Tim will be looking at Immersive Technologies in Horticulture and how things like Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technology can be integrated into the way that horticultural industries work. If you are interested in how these technologies can be used strategically and practically, then this talk and Tim’s showcase of the tech will be something you should definitely check in on.

Tim Gentle - Think Digital