World Federation of Rose Societies – Executive Committee
PRESIDENT
Sushil Prakash
INDIA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Derek Lawrence
UNITED KINGDOM
Derek Lawrence has an absolute passion for roses. He is an established author, lecturer, accredited show judge and regularly conducts his judging duties at various international trial grounds.
He is a founder Member of the Rose Society UK and a columnist for the Society’s newsletter.
He has been Executive Director for over 10 years and has always considers the role as his dream job. He is conscious that the Federation faces many challenges, but is confident that the organisation will achieve its goals through the collaboration of Officers, Members and Friends; working together in mutual respect and camaraderie for the benefit and advancement of the rose.
TREASURER
Martine LaBelle
U.S.A.
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Diane vom Berg
AUSTRALIA
VP – AUSTRALASIA
Gavin Woods
AUSTRALIA
Gavin’s journey with Roses began in the 1970’s when he began exhibiting at a local level. With the hobby now a self-absorbing passion, Gavin has immersed himself into the world of exhibiting, administration and promotion of the rose. Along with partner Kim, travel has become an important part of spreading the “Gospel of the Rose”.
Gavin is immensely proud to have been selected to represent Australians as a WFRS Vice-President for a second term and looks forward to working with the Executive to progress the Federation.
VP – AUSTRALASIA
Hayden Foulds
NEW ZEALAND
Hayden first joined the Manawatu Rose Society in Palmerston North while still at school in the mid 1990’s. He has held numerous positions at local and national levels in New Zealand with one of his main interests being the International Rose Trials in Palmerston North. He is currently Editor and Immediate Past President for the New Zealand Rose Society and is honoured to represent New Zealand on the WFRS.
Hayden has attended six World Rose Conventions and four Regional rose conventions including the 2013 Regional Convention in Palmerston North where he was part of the organising committee.
A trained horticulturist, Hayden is currently employed as a Propagation Manager for a wholesale native plant nursery near Palmerston North.
VP – NORTH AMERICA
Brenda Viney
CANADA
I have been very active in the Vancouver Rose Society since 1989 and on the Board of Directors since 1990, enjoying various roles as secretary, rose show chair, president in 1999/2000 and finally to membership & communications in 2005, which I still hold today. I thoroughly enjoy travelling the world as well as going to WFRS conventions where I started in 2003 in Glasgow. I have attended seven major conventions, two regional conventions and had the pleasure of co-chairing the 2009 convention in Vancouver. Going to conventions is the best way to travel with your hobby and with like-minded friends from around the world. Gardening has been my life and is my new full-time occupation since retiring.
VP – NORTH AMERICA
Robert Ardini
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Robert is a former advertising executive, has traveled to all seven continents, and is a Juilliard-trained pianist. In 2020 he ran for the U.S. Presidency. His campaign prevailed well into the Primary season, and was one of the last remaining candidates in the race. Roses are his passion. He is a Life Member of the American Rose Society, served on the Board of Directors, and Chaired the 1992 Centennial Committee. Robert joined his local rose society – the Long Island Rose Society – at the age of 17. His first World Rose Convention was in 1994 in New Zealand. He can be found on Facebook as Robert.Ardini and on Twitter as @RobertArdini. He resides in New York.
robertardini@yahoo.com
VP – SOUTH AMERICA
Inés Díaz de Licandro
URUGUAY
Board member of the Asociación Uruguaya de la Rosa and member of other national and heritage associations, Uruguayan delegate and Vice-Chairman (2019-2022) at the Heritage and Conservation Committee. Inés has a rose garden in Punta del Este with over 700 plants; she undertook a research about heritage roses in more than 50 Uruguayan cities where 2.000 rose bushes have been located. Honorary and volunteer advisor of the historic Rosedal Juana de Ibarbourou, in Montevideo.
She intends to spread the love for the rose especially among young people, to promote the preservation of rare rose varieties and to increase the participation of Southamerican countries in the activities of the WFRS.
inesdiazrial@gmail.com
VP – AFRICA
Vivienne Black
SOUTH AFRICA
I have attended conventions in South Africa, Beijing in China, Lyon in France and in India, and will be attending the convention in Copenhagen, Denmark in June 2018. I was invited by Spek Roses to attend the trials in The Hague. I have visited the Damascena rose farms in Bulgaria, and attended I.F.T.EX International Trade Expo in Nairobi, Kenya, where I visited many rose farms. I have attended the Chelsea Flower Show with Keith Kirsten to view David Austin Roses.
VP – EUROPE
Mireille Steil
LUXEMBOURG
Spending my childhood in the countryside of Luxemburg, in a garden full of flowers, I always loved roses. In 2009 I joined the Luxemburg Rose Society. I regularly participate as a judge in the European Rose-Trials. Elected President of the Luxembourg Rose Society in 2015, I was able to achieve, in 2017, our greatest dream with my association, a rose-garden for the old and new Luxemburgish Roses, the “Roseraie Château de Munsbach”.
VP – EUROPE
Angela Bokor
ROMANIA
Having been a member of the Romanian Rose Society for many years, after attending a few international meetings I realised that roses can make the world a better place.
Accepting the position of Vice-President of WFRS for Eastern Europe, I look forward to working with all rose enthusiasts to promote The Rose.
VP – EUROPE
Maria Hjort
SWEDEN
Born on November 12, 1954. After studies I pursued a career in librarianship for approximately 40 years, a profession that enriched my life with knowledge and afforded me the joy of serving the community. Currently retired, I find joy in my rose garden and in the world of roses.
For approximately 25 years, I have had the privilege of being a member of the Swedish Rose Society. Initially, my fascination was predominantly with old roses, which captivated me with their timeless beauty and rich heritage. The last 15 years my garden expanded to include modern roses and climbers, thus adding layers of complexity and charm.
For the last years I have had the privilege of being president of the Stockholm section of the Swedish Rose Society as well as co-editor of the SRS magazine “Rosenbladet”.
Topics that I find important and vital for the future of the rose community is to find a way / ways to contribute to the struggle to develop an ecological attitude, a non-toxic garden life.
VP – CENTRAL ASIA
Vijay Kant
INDIA
Vijay Kant hails from Hyderabad, India.
He has been a member in various capacities of the Hyderabad Rose Society (HRS) and Indian Rose Federation (IRF) for over five decades now.
He retired in incumbency of Deputy General Manager – Horticulture from a public sector defence organization in 2006. He currently serves as Secretary of HRS & IRF and consults for horticulture needs with various organizations.
He is thrilled and looks forward to the new role of Vice President-Central Asia of WFRS.
vijaykant2512@gmail.com
VP – FAR EAST
Shiwei Zhao
CHINA
Shiwei first met Helga Brichet in Beijing and began his relationship with WFRS. He attended all the world rose conventions and some regional and heritage rose convention since 2006 in Osaka. He was the director of Beijing Botanical Garden and the secretary-general of Chinese Rose Society. He was involved with the organizing of the regional conventions held in China. He is a professor of horticulture and is leading a team of rose breeding and research in Beijing Institute of Forestry and Landscape Architecture and a number of rose varieties were bred.
Chairmen 2022 – 2025
CONVENTION LIAISON
Henrianne de Briey
BELGIUM
Born in a rose bed, WFRS President 2018-2022, Henrianne is proud to continue to promote the rose around the world and looks forward to work closely with the country members to progress the WFRS in its approach of sharing knowledge about the rose.
AWARDS
Daniel Boulens
FRANCE
Member of the French Roses Society for many years, I was the director of the Department of Parks and Gardens of the City of Lyon, and its famous and awarded rose garden in Tete d’Or Park.
I was totally involved in the organisation of the WFRS LYON 2015 convention.
Judge in many international roses trials.
CLASSIFICATION & REGISTRATION
Markus Brunsing
Markus is a landscape architect and head of the Garden Department of the City of Baden-Baden. He has worked professionally with roses for about 20 years. He is responsible for the rose gardens “Gönneranlage” and “Rose Novelty Garden Beutig” in Baden-Baden and furthermore he is director of the International Rose Trials in Baden-Baden. From 2012 to 2018 Markus was Chairman of the International Rose Trials Committee. In 2022 he was appointed Chairman of Classification and Registration.
markus.brunsing@baden-baden.de
INTERNATIONAL JUDGES
Pauline Martin
Pauline is excited about being appointed as WFRS Chairman of International Judges. She has been involved with roses for over 50 years and latterly has been heavily involved in setting standards for judging at UK rose shows. She is an accredited judge both in the UK and the USA. Pauline and her husband Ray run the amateur shows in the UK and have been actively showing roses for over 45 years. She is looking forward to supporting members of the WFRS to establish some common standards.
paulinemartin50@hotmail.com
INTERNATIONAL ROSE TRIALS
Marga Verwer
During a holiday in the UK in 1987 I noticed the beauty of roses. Back home we decided to plant roses in our garden, for which my boss advised me to become a member of the Rose Society. After a few years I became a treasurer, and 12 years later a coordinator promotion. From then on I became more active internationally by attending WFRS conventions and I started judging at rose trials. This resulted in my so beloved WFRS job as chairman of the Trials committee.
marga.verwer@ziggo.nl
CONSERVATION & HERITAGE
Behcet Ciragan
SWITZERLAND
My interest in roses started with our own garden in 2003. As an honorary admin of HelpMeFind since 2007 I learned most of what I know about Heritage Roses, researching and adding content to this global website. In 2017, I was elected President of the Swiss Rose Society with its over 1500 members. We are working on the image of roses by actively propagating mixed rose and perennials gardens in publications and projects. Looking now forward to contribute to the understanding of Heritage Roses worldwide.
EDITOR
Steve Jones
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Steve and his wife Susie live on 2.2 ha in the gold rush country in California, United States. He grows over 450 roses of all types, especially ramblers and climbers. Steve is a past President of the American Rose Society and World Federation of Rose Societies. Currently he serves as the editor of the World Rose News.
PUBLICATIONS
Angelika Throll-Keller
Being appointed as Chairman of Publications at the World Rose Convention in Adelaide in 2022. Angelika is very happy to continue the successful work together with the Executive committee, the editor of the World Rose News and the social media team as well as with the other chairmen. She is graduated as UNIV Horticultural Engineer and is editor of several rose books.
Photo: © Nathalie Dautel, Baden-Baden/Stadt Baden-Baden, Germany.
a.throll@beste-natur.de
THE BREEDERS CLUB
Jean-Luc Pasquier
SWITZERLAND
I saw my appointment as Chairman of the Breeders Club at the 2018 World Convention in Copenhagen as a great honour. It is a huge pleasure to have the privilege of rubbing shoulders with these personalities who make the roses we love. My aim is to serve these men and women, so that their creations can shine within the competitions, and that their interests are best served by the Breeders Club. Photo: © Dom Smaz
www.jlpasquier.ch
pasquier@jlpasquier.ch
