As part of the criteria of this years awards we have a panel of members and a moderator.
This independent panel have agreed to work with the BFA to improve the awards in 2021 and will continue to feedback advice in order to further improve each year. So let’s meet the team.
Moderator: Nikki Meader, BFA Retail Director
Nikki owns and runs West Malling Flowers in Kent. Nikki has taken the shop from strength to strength catering for all aspects of floristry, retail, weddings and funeral work. Nikki and her team have gained a well deserved reputation for quality and service which has lead to multiple awards including BFA retail florist of the year 2015 and 2016.
Nikki is currently Retail Director for the BFA and plays a vital role in organising our large florist focused events such as Vision and FleurEx
Panel Judge: Konomi Yajima, Tutor and UKFJG Judge
Currently a member of UK Floristry Judges Guild. Konomi has been judging in various competitions for SoF, RHS Flower Shows in Harrogate, Tatton Park, Hampton Court, Chelsea, Chelsea Hub Heats, Worldskills UK and regional floristry competitions.
She has been teaching floristry and providing wedding flower services over 30 years. She was a college lecturer in floristry at Southwark College in London for over 10 years.
Born and brought up in Japan, Konomi, after graduating from a university, worked in the education and training section of a retail company. When she decided to come over to UK, her first encounter with floristry was at Southwark College in London in 1984.
Panel Judge: Siân Wild,The Flower Lounge
Lovingly known as ‘Boss Lady’ by The Flower Lounge team, Siân’s passion for flowers started as a child and she has been working in the floristry industry for over 20 years; running The Flower Lounge since 2009.
Siân is always pushing for creative excellence, which has won The Flower Lounge multiple industry awards, including British Florist Association’s Florist Shop of the Year 2018 and more recently, Siân has been part of the judging panel for the coveted Wedding Industry Awards.
Panel Judge: Jonathan Moseley, Demonstrator
Jonathan is an internationally celebrated floral designer based in Derbyshire.
After leaving university he decided to pursue his love of flowers and plants; he’s never looked back since. He has worked as a professional florist for over 27 years and has become renowned as one of the UK’s leading floral designers.
The world of flowers is a passion for Jonathan and he employs his love of nature and his garden as a focus for many of his designs. Jonathan is a huge advocate for seasonal flowers and is a UK ambassador for British flowers. He actively promotes British flower farming and growing at all the major UK shows and events when he is demonstrating or lecturing to the floral/horticultural industry.Â
We are incredibly excited to work with these industry professionals who are held in high esteem by all. We are sure it will make for an improved Industry Awards all round.
