Leading economist revealed as a key speaker at 2025 GCA conference

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has announced that leading economist Roger Martin-Fagg will be speaking at its 58th annual conference at De Vere Wokefield Estate Reading this January (January 26 until 29, 2025).

Roger, who specialises in making economics accessible for everyone, will be presenting to GCA members on Tuesday, January 28 to help delegates create their strategies with his expertise.

Peter Burks, GCA CEO, said: “It’s wonderful to announce Roger as a returning speaker to our annual conference in Reading. He’s back by popular demand! He spoke at our conferences in 2014, 2018 and 2023 and it’s wonderful that he’s available to be with us once again.

“He specialises in making economics accessible for non-economists, so is an ideal contributor to the topical discussions currently being had in garden centres nationwide and is an inspiring speaker for our members’ teams to hear.

“Roger is a Behavioural Economist. He began his career in the New Zealand Treasury, returned to the UK and worked in manpower planning mostly for BA. Switched careers to teach postgraduates at Thames Valley University, then joined Henley Management College as Client Director working with blue chip corporates for 23 years.

“He is now independent and focuses mostly on SMEs and the challenges they face. He has a reputation for broadly accurate forecasts – he predicted the great crash and post Covid inflation – and for an economist has a keen sense of humour, which is increasingly necessary these days!”