Greenlife 'Stronger Together' 2025 Conference Program Highlights
We're excited to share the program highlights for the 2025 national conference. The Brisbane event is bringing together growers, retailers, suppliers, state association members and other important stakeholders from around the country to strengthen and celebrate the greenlife sector.
This is your chance to access a range of expert guest speakers, industry representatives and exhibitors, and discover cutting edge research and trends to inform your personal development, business strategies and advance the greenlife sector.
Wednesday February 19
Nursery tours
Option 1 - South
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Marlborough Nursery – an expansive production nursery supplying the retail trade with large volumes of high-quality containerised indoor flowering and foliage plants
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Rocky Point – designing custom growing media for each individual grower’s specific requirements
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Digga – Australia's largest manufacturer of planetary gearboxes producing world-class machinery for some of the world's leading companies.
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Redlands Research Facility – generating breakthroughs and cutting-edge practices in Australian agriculture.
Option 2 - North – two more tours to be announced soon!
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Dracaena Farm Nursery – 3.5 acre nursery combining shaded growing areas with hail-guard zones for sun-loving succulents
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Quality Plastic Products – supplying nursery products made from recycled materials to Australian greenlife growers.
Networking drinks
Enjoy drinks and nibbles as you cruise up the Brisbane River under the night sky – think music, bars and networking…
Thursday February 20
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AMPLIFY YOUR POWER AND INFLUENCE – Chris Hedler
Negotiation, leadership, communication and influence
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GEARING UP GROWERS – Neil Rechlin, Director, NextGen
Unlocking success in retail negotiations
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GROW NEXT LEVEL – A powerhouse panel facilitated by Joanna Cave, CEO, GIA
Sharpen your insights to thrive in a dynamic environment
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BOLDLY ENTERING NEW FRONTIERS – Brett Fifield, CEO, Hort Innovation
Opportunities, innovation and solutions for big hort challenges
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FUTURE GENERATION – Craig Taberner, CEO, NGIV
Introducing the Horticulture Centre of Excellence
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PLANT PROTECTION AND RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT – John McDonald, Director RDE and Biosecurity, GIA
Practical, hands-on info, tips, advice and activities
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INNOVATE | INTEGRATE | DOMINATE – four punchy and powerful presenters
From drones to barcodes – need-to-know intel on harnessing new tech in the greenlife sector
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YOUR LEVY, YOUR SAY – facilitated by Cath Botta, driven by YOU
An interactive session – we take you behind-the-scenes of funding decisions + you can have your say about how your levy is invested
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PROFITING FROM BEST PRACTICE – four real growers
Four real growers, four real on farm success stories – take away new ideas and genuine insights that you can apply in your nursery right now
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REIMAGINING PLASTICS – Patrick Driscoll, Owner, Quality Plastic Products
The future of plastic manufacturing
Gala Dinner
A next-level gourmet barbeque on the stunning Sky Deck at the conference centre, overlooking the city. Drink, eat, chat, dance – and join us for some very special presentations. Then party on into the night!
Friday 21 February
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BREKKIE AND BRAINSTORMING – Cath Botta, Independent Chair of the Investment Advice Panel Committees
Add a side of blue sky thinking to your eggs and bacon (and coffee!) and kick around some bold ideas for industry improvement. Registration for this breakfast event will open next week – seats are limited, so get in fast.
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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE– Julian Moore
How will AI change the Australian greenlife landscape and what does this mean for your business?
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NO NONSENSE MARKETING – Tanya Williams
Simplifying marketing for busy business owners
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HORTICULTURAL OLYMPICS - Treve Evans
World horticultural expos: greening the globe
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FUTUREPROOFING YOUR BUSINESS – Business wizards reveal their secrets
Lightning presentations on greenlife business basics – succession planning, staffing, diversification environmental, social, and governance (ESG), and more efficiency/less waste
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GREENLIFE TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES – Industry gurus Holly Jackson, Marketing Manager and Elyse Allum, Brand Manager, Hort Innovation, and Belinda Bean, Impact Strategist, Greener Spaces Better Places.
Data-driven industry insights to supercharge the sector – and your business
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HORTICULTURE – THE SALVE AND THE SOLVE –facilitated by Brett Fifield, CEO, Hort Innovation
A big picture look of why greenlife matters – info to help you sell more plants
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SMART FARMING
Tech meets plants for better decision making, improved production efficiencies, optimal labour use and environmental performance