New Chair for British Florist Association
The British Florist Association have announced that Nikki Meader is to be the new Chairman of the Association with immediate effect and will take over from Brian Wills-Pope who has now retired to the position of past chair in an advisory role.
Commenting on her new role Nikki said “Everyone at the BFA will be eternally grateful for all Brian's hard work during his years served on the BFA board. For me it is a great honour to represent our members and I look forward to supporting the whole industry and creating a welcoming Association for the next generation to come.”
Nikki, a long-standing member of Good Florist Guide, has been a director of the BFA since 2018. Owner of West Malling Flowers in Kent, which won BFA Retail Florist of the Year in 2015 and 2016, Nikki trained as an accountant but grew up immersed in flowers with a florist mother and greengrocer father.
She returned to her roots when she opened West Malling Flowers in 2011. As a family they have been in the florist trade for over 40 years and most recently Nikki played a large part in the organisation and new style of the successful BFA FleurEx trade fair last October.
Brian, who has had a long career in floristry and was both president and world President of Interflora when it was member owned, became BFA Vice President in 2007 taking over as Chairman of the BFA Board in 2013.
Brian first became involved in the floristry industry when he became a partner in a shop in Teignmouth in 1973 as a driver/ bookkeeper. He works in partnership with his wife Susan with several shops in the Torbay area.
Brian told us: “The BFA has some exciting plans for 2023 and beyond so it is a good time for me to hand over to Nikki who will have the energy and enthusiasm to drive with forward. I would like to thank every who has supported e during my near decade as chairman, it is very gratifying to look back and see what has been achieved for the benefit of our industry.”
A restructure of the BFA board directors will take place in the next few months which will include Kate Whelan taking the place of Vice Chair. There will also be opportunities for members to speak to the board in person over the following weeks and months as well as a clear board structure to be announced soon.
