Speakers

Chris Purver, Curator, Eric Young Foundation
"History and Future of Phrags"
Chris graduated from Pershore College with a National Diploma in Horticulture at Distinction level in 1984. After 24 years in the potted plant industry, Chris was employed by the Eric Young Foundation in 1998 and appointed curator in 2002 of the Foundation succeeding Alan Moon (Chris notes that it is a very steep learning curve!)

George Carr "Cycnoches"
George is a recognized AOS taxonomic authority on the Catasetineae specializing in cycnoches and an AOS judge. His paper "Cycnoches-One Hundred Sixty-Five Years of Confusion" (1996) was awarded the first AOS Education Certificate of Appreciation. He continues his research and writing with publications appearing in Orchids, the Orchid Digest and other periodicals around the world.

Francisco Miranda "Brazilian Orchid Habitats"
Francisco, a native of Rio de Janeiro, has been exploring and collecting cattleyas and laelias in the Brazilian Amazon region since 1982. Many of the species he collected, he later described in scientific papers and in illustrated guides to the region. He is a qualified Taxonomic Authority for the AOS, specializing in the Brazilian orchids, primarily of the Cattleya alliance. Presently he owns Boa Vista Orchids in Hanes City, Florida.