Plenary speakers

With a career spanning 30 years in conservation, Paul joined BGCI as Secretary General in March 2015. Prior this, Paul was Head of the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank for nine years. Paul trained as a plant ecologist, and is a specialist in the plants and vegetation of southern Africa. He is a Trustee of the National Botanic Garden of Wales, Chairman of England’s Arboreta Advisory Committee and co-chair of IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Plant Conservation Committee.

Wyse Jackson has played an influential role as a leader in the international botanic garden community for more than 30 years.  He was a founder of the organization that became Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and led it as Secretary General from 1994 until 2005. He was a leader in the development of the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Strategy for Plant Conservation in 2002 and is Co-Chair of the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation and Co-Chair of the Council of the World Flora Online Consortium, an international project to present a Flora of the world online.

His publications include ten books and over 300 scientific papers and other articles. He has lectured on plant conservation and botanic gardens in 68 countries.  His recent research includes work on botanic gardens, plant conservation and Irish ethnobotany.

Then, János returned to his alma mater, and served as head of the Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology for more than ten years. His interest is focused on numerical ecology and systematics, with special attention to methods of revealing and visualizing different aspects of biological pattern. Most of his papers are devoted to community ecology and were published in international journals such as Ecology, Oikos, Ecography, and Journal of Vegetation Science, to mention only a few.

His book, Introduction to the Exploration of Multivariate Biological Data appeared in three languages. In the field of systematics, János has long been interested in the theory of phylogenetic classification and nomenclature. His papers appeared in Systematic Biology, Cladistics, and Taxon. Recent results of his methodological studies, related to the subject matter of his lecture, were published in Evolutionary Biology and Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae. A textbook, Evolution and systematics of plants (Archaeplastida) – Ordering without orders, received three editions in Hungarian, while the fourth, revised and updated version is in preparation.

His fields of research and teaching include: phylogeny, evolution and radiation of angiosperms with special focus on islands; nature conservation nationally and internationally; history, tasks and strategic planning of Botanic Gardens; and science education of botany. Michael Kiehn published more than 300 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals, books, or symposium reports.

He is member of the Austrian Biodiversity Commission and, since its foundation in 1998, the elected speaker of the Austrian Botanic Gardens Working Group. Currently he also serves in several international functions, such as Vice President of the International Association of Botanical Gardens (IABG), as elected Austrian representative for the European Consortium of Botanic Gardens, as chair of the IPEN-Coordination Group (International Plant Exchange Network), as Steering Committee Member of the European Native Seed Conservation Network (ENSCONET), and as member of the IUCN Seed Conservation Specialist Group.

As prior, his main task was to oversee the restoration of the buildings of the Archabbey for the Millennium of the foundation, which was celebrated in 1996. He also launched a new Abbey product line using old recipes contained in ancient manuscripts of the monastery. In the 2000s, he guided investments and directed developments of the Archabbey based on the concept of long-term tourism. He is a regular lecturer on ethical economy, sustainability, organisational development, and herbalism.

He promotes the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation within the network of French Conservatoires Botaniques Nationaux and was appointed French Focal Point for the GSPC in 2013.

Since 2017, Philippe is chairing the PLANTA EUROPA network that has implemented the first two European Plant Conservation Strategies between 2001 and 2020.

His first job was working as technical manager in a large nursery, where he used new original methods conditioning the roses.

In 1983, he left to work in landscape design and project manager in Saudi Arabia, near Riyadh. He learned the plants of the arid zones and how to save water adjusting the water irrigation systems.

In 1985, he returned to France and take up a position in the parks management of the city of Chambéry. In 1988, he became director of the parks and landscape services department in the City of Grenoble, where he was also in charge of the cleanliness dept. He developed a green master plan and implemented an important floral program, recognized in France with a special award.

In 2001, he joined the City of Lyon, where he is now the General Manager of the Open and Green Spaces Department. He is also in charge of the botanical and zoological gardens of the third city of France.

He is involved in many different national and international associations.

Daniel Boulens was a lecturer in many countries (France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Japan, …) to teach Sustainable Management in Parks and Gardens. He went especially in China (Changzhou, Shanghai, Hong Kong), to explain how his parks and gardens Dept include an eco-friendly management in the daily work, preserving a high standard of quality, which has been awarded the certification iso 14001 in 2005 and 2008.

He proposed to the World Federation of Roses Societies (WFRS) to host the world convention of this federation in Lyon in June 2015. The world Congress gathered more than 650 participants from 35 different countries. He was totally involved with this international event.

Daniel Boulens is a perfect choice to pay a tribute to the gardens, to the people involved in the creation and maintenance of parks and gardens, and also the citizens! He was the organizer of the French Congress of Directors of Public parks and Gardens held in October 2017 in Lyon, whose theme will be “Parks and green spaces, a contribution to a good health”.

He was a founding member of the new association WUP. He is still a member of the World Urban Park Association. He was graduated in 2017 as the first “Certified Park Professional International” in France from the Indiana University (USA).

October 2018, he was a speaker at Melbourne WUP congress. The theme of his lecture was about the rankings between the cities in the world according to “green” criteriae.

In the first months of 2022, he gave many lectures in France, Spain, Italy, about the evolution of the biodiversity, plants, animals, in relation with the climate changes. He promotes the development of urban forests and green canopy to reduce the urban heat island in the cities. He is also an expert in the field of heritage and historical gardens.

Smithsonian Gardens is a vibrant and vital part of the Smithsonian experience for more than 25 million annual visitors making it one of the most highly visited public gardens in the world. As living classrooms and urban sanctuaries, the gardens provide a memorable and relaxing destination while educating an international audience.  As part of the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, Smithsonian Gardens extends the Smithsonian’s museum experience with 13 public exhibition gardens often called the Smithsonian institution’s “museum without walls.” Staff also produces interior exhibits and horticultural displays around the Smithsonian, develops educational programing, and manages artifact, archival, and living collections.  James will share some of the successes and challenges of connecting people to plants among a diverse and sprawling urban campus.