Speakers

Confirmed Speakers

The 21^st World Rose Convention in Bhopal will feature distinguished speakers from across the globe, bringing in flavors of all regions of the world. Many more international speakers will be announced soon.

Ms. Yuki Mikanagi

Japan

Dr. Yuki Mikanagi is a Japanese researcher affiliated with the Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba, specializing in botany with a focus on roses, floral scents, and botanical research. She is actively involved with the WFRS, contributing to publications and guided tours of rose gardens in Japan. In 2001, she discovered a rose in Sichuan, China, later named "Yuki's Dream" in her honor. Her research covers anthocyanins in roses and the analysis of floral scent compounds.

Ms. Inés Díaz de Licandro

Uruguay

Inés is a Board member of the Asociación Uruguaya de la Rosa and maintains a rose garden with over 700 plants in Punta del Este. She undertook research on heritage roses across more than 50 Uruguayan cities, locating 2,000 rose bushes, and authored a book on her findings. She serves as a volunteer advisor for the historic Rosedal Juana de Ibarbourou in Montevideo and is passionate about spreading the love for roses among young people and promoting the preservation of rare rose varieties.

Ms. Mireille Steil

Luxembourg

Mireille joined the Lëtzebuerger Rousefrënn (Luxembourg Rose Society) in 2009 and served as its president from 2015 to 2021. Since 2018, she has been Vice President of the WFRS, representing Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Monaco, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Spain. She has attended World Rose Conventions in Lyon, Copenhagen, Australia, and Japan, along with Regional and Heritage Conventions across New Zealand, Germany, India, China, Uruguay, Slovenia, Belgium, and Sweden.

Mr. Narendra Kumar Dadlani

India

Mr. Dadlani is an eminent scientist with over four decades of experience in horticulture research & development and the seed sector. He has served as an international floriculture/horticulture expert for the UN-FAO, UNDP, and Asian Development Bank across several South Asian countries. His book "Indian Rose" (2021) is the only publication describing the Indian rose breeding scenario. He is Vice President of the Indian Rose Federation, President of the Bengal Rose Society, and a Governing Council Member of the Rose Society of India.

Mr. Wook-Kyun Kim

South Korea

Wook-Kyun Kim's interest in roses began in the second half of his life, drawn by their quiet yet generous beauty. This led him to study people–plant interactions, exploring horticulture from a human-centered perspective. Attending his first WFRS Conference in Sangerhausen in 2013 was a turning point, helping lay the foundations for the South Korea Rose Society. Together with his wife, he operates a nursing home set in the tranquil greenery of a rose garden, bringing the joy of roses into daily life.

Mr. Martin Stott

United Kingdom

Martin Stott is an author, blogger, former BBC journalist, and current co-editor of "By Any Other Name" for the World Federation of Rose Societies. He is an award-winning journalist who has written for most of the UK national press and reported from 21 countries for the BBC World Service and Radio 4. His storyteller garden history blog combines his passion for storytelling, gardening, and history.

Mr. Thomas Proll

Germany

Thomas Proll is a world-renowned rose breeder and head of the breeding department at W. Kordes' Söhne, a family-owned business spanning five generations. He qualified in Horticultural Sciences at the University of Hanover, with his thesis on resistance of Rosa species to Powdery Mildew. For over 20 years, Thomas and his team have focused on producing highly disease-tolerant roses, with successes at rose trials worldwide. He is a recipient of the Australian Rose Award 2022 for outstanding service to the rose.

Mr. Robert Ardini

USA

Robert Ardini served as Vice President for North America for the World Federation of Rose Societies (2022–2025) and previously held a full term on the National Board of Directors of the American Rose Society. He guest-edited the 108th edition of the American Rose Annual (2024) with the theme 'The Global Perspective.' By age 35, he had served as President of five different organizations. He is a vocal advocate for roses as the U.S. National Flower and is recognized as an expert by the American Rose Society.

Convention Highlights

Beyond the lectures and presentations, the convention will feature special sessions and interactive experiences.