Competitors

MATTHEW LANDERS, Australia

Matthew Landers is a powerhouse in the Australian floral industry, boasting over 23 years of experience. A child prodigy in the craft, he won over 50 gold medals by age 23, including seven consecutive "Junior Florist of the Year" titles.

After expanding a family retail empire and working alongside global fashion leaders internationally, Matthew returned to Perth to launch his eponymous high-end brand. Today, he is a celebrated International Master of Floristry, winning multiple gold medals at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Through his Matthew Landers Academy, he now mentors over 400 students annually, defining the gold standard for Australian floral design.

AKUANG, China

Akuang is a visionary floral artist and designer who is passionate about color theory and architectural floral art. Since founding her retail brand "HuaJian" in 2015—later recognised as the "Most Beautiful Flower Shop in China"—she has become a leading figure in commercial space design.

Her portfolio spans prestigious international exhibitions, including the Fleuramour Festival in Belgium and the 2023 Shenzhen Spring Festival Flower Market. A 2024 co-author of Colors in Floral Design, Akuang continuously refines her craft by studying under masters like Gregor Lersch and Tetsunori Kawana, merging structural precision with artistic passion.

RAFAELA PETRINIC, Croatia

Ela is a distinguished leader and educator in the Croatian floral industry, with a career spanning over two decades. Since opening her shop, Poppy, in 2004, she has risen to prominent leadership roles, including President of the Guild of Florists at the Chamber of Crafts Zagreb.

A dedicated advocate for the profession, Ela frequently serves as an expert at WorldSkills, a competition organizer, and a translator for international masterclasses. Her technical expertise is refined through training with global icons like Gregor Lersch and Natalia Zhizhko, specializing in large-scale forms and filigree work. Recognized with a Silver Plaque for her contributions to craftsmanship, Ela remains a vital bridge between international floral standards and the next generation of Croatian florists.

MAREK JAKOBI, Estonia

Since 2001, he has managed the Leeri Flower Salon, overseeing multiple locations and specializing in large-scale wedding and commercial spatial design.

As a long-standing Floral and Spatial Design Teacher at Räpina Horticulture College, Marek has shaped the industry for 15 years. His influence extends to national policy, having served on the Estonian Qualifications Authority's working group to develop the national florist curriculum. With a background in interior design and a commitment to professional seminars, Marek bridges the gap between traditional floristry and modern visual merchandising.

PIRJO KOPPI, Finland

With a career spanning nearly three decades, she has amassed an extraordinary list of accolades, including third-place finishes at both the Europa Cup and the Fleurop-Interflora World Cup. Her artistry was even immortalized on official Finnish postage stamps in 2019.

Beyond her creative talent, Pirjo is a highly respected educator and official FLORINT National Certified Judge. Her leadership in the industry has been recognized with numerous honors, such as the Gold Medal of Honor from the Finnish Florists’ Association and the "Master of the Year" title in Helsinki. From winning junior championships in the 90s to reaching the FTD World Cup semifinals in Philadelphia, Pirjo remains a global benchmark for floral excellence.

ANJA ERSING, Germany

Anja Ersing is an accomplished German Florist Master with a career spanning over 25 years in high-end floral design and education. After earning her Master title in Stuttgart, she secured prestigious competitive titles, including first place in the Baden-Württemberg State Championship and third in the German Florist Championship. Since 2006, she has operated as a successful freelancer, specializing in international technical demonstrations, showroom design, and trade fair exhibitions. Anja is particularly recognized for her leadership roles as Head Florist and Head of Master at numerous Federal and State Garden Shows across Germany. An ambassador for Floral Fundamentals and a contributor to leading trade journals, she continues to influence the global industry through expert examining and high-profile exhibitions, such as the 2025 Féerie Florale in Belgium.

ATTILA NEMETH, Hungary

Attila is a distinguished Hungarian florist with nearly 30 years of experience, operating a premier flower shop in Budapest that serves as a hub for his original, trend-setting style. Specializing in high-profile hotel installations and large-scale events, he leads a dedicated team focused on innovation across Central Europe. Attila is a Master Florist who has transitioned from a successful student competitor to an influential mentor for emerging professionals. His global reputation is anchored by significant achievements, including a seventh-place finish at the 2023 Interflora World Cup and being crowned the 2024 champion at the Gateway to the Americas Cup in Panama. Driven by artistic freedom, he continues to showcase his expertise on the world stage, with recent appearances at major expos in South Korea and Vietnam.

TINNA BJARNADOTTIR, Iceland

Tinna is a multi-talented Icelandic floral designer and fashion expert whose career is defined by a unique fusion of fine arts, tailoring, and horticulture. As the owner of 1905 Blómahús and a guest teacher at Iceland’s National Horticultural School, she brings extensive technical knowledge to the industry, bolstered by advanced training at McQueens Flower School in London. Her professional background includes leadership roles such as Department Head at Blómaval and manager of Sjafnarblóm. With a BA in Fashion Design from Barcelona and a deep commitment to community projects like The Lonely Bouquet Day, Tiina blends artistic installation experience with high-end event and wedding design to create a sophisticated, multidisciplinary approach to floral artistry.

KAZUHIKO TANAKA, Japan

Kazuhiko Tanaka is a distinguished Japanese floral designer and the manager of the HANASEI flower shop in Tokyo. A versatile artist, he is a member of AIFD, NFD, and the Sogetsu school of Ikebana, blending traditional techniques with contemporary flair. His career is marked by prestigious international victories, including a Gold Award and Best of Show at the 2019 Huis Ten Bosch Flower Japan Cup, as well as a Gold Award at the Hong Kong Flower Show. Tanaka is a frequent presence on the global stage, having won the FDSS Cup in Singapore and recently securing an award at the 2025 Vietnam International Flora Expo. Beyond competitions, he travels extensively across Asia and Europe to lead workshops and demonstrations, drawing inspiration from the beauty and experiences of daily life.

WIN CHAN, Malaysia

Win Chan is an accomplished floral designer with a career spanning over three decades, marked by high-profile international success and royal appointments. Notably, they have served as the designer for major project decorations at the Royal Palace in Brunei since 2004. Win Chan’s competitive record includes two Gold medals at the World Orchid Conference and multiple top honors at the Singapore and Malaysia FDS competitions. Recognized for excellence in hotel hospitality, they were awarded "Best Hotel Lobby Floral Display" for the Shangri-La Hotel in Malaysia. Their recent accolades include the Creative and Gold Awards at the 2024 Takashimaya x Harijanto Floral Extravagance, further cementing their status as a leading floral artist whose work has been featured in the prestigious International Annual Floral Art publication.

GEERTJE STIENSTRA, The Netherlands

Geertje Stienstra is an esteemed Dutch Master Florist who has been operating her own freelance design company since 2006. After graduating from AOC Groene Welle and completing her Master’s education at Wellant College, she quickly established herself as a versatile expert in weddings, funerals, and large-scale exhibitions. A highly seasoned competitor, Geertje has achieved top placements in numerous high-stakes events, including a third-place finish at the 2018 Dutch Championship and a victory at the 2020 Royal Flora Holland bouquet competition. Beyond design, she serves as a teacher, judge for the European Federation of Professional Florist Associations, and a floral stylist for major trade magazines and international growers.

FRANCA LOGAN, New Zealand

Franca Logan (originally from the Netherlands) owns her own floral design studio Florienne, in Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand. She has been a florist for over 30 years and has lived and worked as a floral designer, teacher and demonstrator in Canada and United Kingdom and now lives and works in New Zealand Franca’s botanical works were published in International Floral Art 2008/9 and 2012/13. Franca’s work has also been featured in several Floral Design Magazines including Fusion Flowers and DPK Magazine from the Netherlands Throughout her career, she has won numerous awards in flower shows such as Canada Blooms, CAFA, Interflora NZ competitions, Ellerslie Flower Show, 2 Gold and 1 Silver at the New Zealand Flower and Garden Show, and Silver at Huis ten Bosch, Japan. Hobbies are gardening and art.

JOANNA KIEDACZ, Poland

Joanna Kiedacz is an International Master Florist and MSc in Horticulture whose work is defined by a "quiet structural intensity" and architectural precision. Drawing inspiration from traditional Polish "pająk" straw chandeliers, she specializes in intricate, foam-free designs that balance strict geometry with organic chaos. A regular on the competition circuit since 2014, Joanna is a multi-time Vice-Champion of Poland and was named the 2022 Polish Florist of the Year. Mentored by legends like Gregor Lersch and World Champion Tomasz Max Kuczyński, she also serves as a Floral Fundamentals Ambassador and a certified international judge, bringing a sophisticated, sustainable, and meditative approach to the global floral stage.

KEITH LIN, Singapore

Keith Lin is an award-winning landscape and floral designer with over 15 years of experience delivering world-class landscapes, international garden festivals, and large-scale public installations. He leads a multidisciplinary team to conceptualise and curate complete end-to-end experiences, uniting design excellence with technical precision to create impactful and cost-effective projects worldwide.

His international journey began at the World Orchid Conference 2010, where he won 2nd place in the Bridal Bouquet category. He later achieved Certified Floral Designer accreditation from the AIFD in 2013. In 2017, Keith earned global recognition by winning Gold at the Chelsea Flower Show, becoming the only Singaporean to receive this honour. He continues to win awards and is frequently invited to demonstrate and share his expertise in floristry.

Today, Keith serves as a consultant and designer for gardens, thematic attractions, and floral displays in Singapore and internationally.

OH MYEON, South Korea

Oh Myeon is a prominent Korean floral artist and the President of the Korea Floral Art Association. As a Certified Master Craftsman recognized by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor, he founded the Oh-Myeon Floral Art School (OMF) to advance the craft. His career is distinguished by global competitive success, notably placing in the Top 6 at the 2019 Interflora World Cup and serving as a National

Representative at the Europa Cup. Specializing in structural floral art and spatial installations, Oh Myeon frequently serves as a judge and demonstrator throughout Asia, where he is celebrated for blending contemporary composition with traditional Korean aesthetic expression.

IRATI TAMARIT, Spain

Irati is a third-generation florist rooted in Basque heritage and the Mediterranean spirit, bringing over a decade of expertise to the global floral stage. Trained at the Escola de Disseny Floral de Catalunya, where she now serves as an instructor, she balances her academic role with a prolific career as an international freelance project manager for large-scale weddings and high-end events. A highly decorated professional, Irati earned a Silver Medal at the 2018 Spanish Floral Art Cup and frequently serves as a jury member for prestigious competitions like the Mejor Artesano Florista. In 2025, she reached a career pinnacle as the Spanish representative for the Floristry World Cup in The Hague.

TO DUY KHA, Vietnam

Kha formerly serving as the President of the World Flower Council (WFC) Vietnam Chapter. His extensive career is marked by numerous international honours, including multiple Gold awards at the 2011 WFC competition in Thailand and a Bronze award at the 2015 International Flower Contest in Japan. As a frequent country representative, Kha has showcased his artistry at premier shows in China, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Recently, he played a pivotal leadership role as the Head of the Organizing Committee for the 2023 World Flower Council Summit in Da Lat, Vietnam, solidifying his legacy as both an elite designer and a key coordinator for the international floral industry.