BALI National Conference 2026
BALI National Event
- Venue:
- The Royal Society
- Date:
- 26 Mar 2026
- Location:
- 6-9 Carlton Place, London, London, SW1Y 5AG
- Opening times:
- 9:30am - 6:30pm
The UK’s landscaping sector is at a turning point. Climate pressures are growing, skills are in short supply, and new rules like Biodiversity Net Gain are raising the stakes. BALI’s National Landscape Conference brings together the industry’s brightest minds to ask one vital question: how do we build landscapes and organisations that are truly future-proof? Hear from visionaries including Helen Nyul, Director of Ecology at Verna, and Sir Tim Smit, Founder of the Eden Project.
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The UK landscaping sector stands at a defining moment.
As climate extremes become more frequent, from heatwaves and flooding to shifting growing conditions, and as the skills gap continues to bring challenges, landscape professionals face increasing pressure on people, projects and plants alike. Add to this evolving regulation such as Biodiversity Net Gain, rising client expectations and heightened scrutiny around environmental performance, and one thing is clear: climate resilience is no longer optional. It is operational.
The BALI National Landscape Conference 2026 brings together senior leaders, practitioners and experts to focus on how the sector can respond with confidence and clarity.
This is a strategic, thought-leadership event designed to tackle the questions shaping the future of landscaping:
- How do we design, build and maintain landscapes that perform in a changing climate?
- How do we protect our teams, our businesses and the environments we work in?
- How do we move beyond compliance to deliver long-term value, resilience and leadership across the sector?
We are delighted to welcome three outstanding keynote speakers.
Helen Nyul, Director of Ecology at Verna, brings extensive experience in embedding biodiversity strategy, ecosystem thinking and biodiversity net gain into large-scale delivery.
Sir Tim Smit KBE, Co-Founder of the Eden Project, is internationally recognised for his leadership in environmental innovation and his ability to challenge organisations to think differently about long-term resilience, purpose and impact.
Trevor Williams, Chief Economist and Economic Strategist, brings over 30 years of global macroeconomic expertise, advising institutions on market trends, monetary policy, and geoeconomic risk through data-driven analysis and strategic foresight.
Agenda at a glance
Theme: Climate resilience and how to future proof your business. A day focused on sustainability, biodiversity, plant health, skills, and economic resilience.
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09:30 to 10:00Arrival and refreshments
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10:00 to 10:05Opening speech (hosted by Adrian Wickham)
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10:05 to 10:40Keynote: Trevor Williams
Global trends and economic forces impacting landscaping -
10:40 to 11:15Keynote: Sir Tim Smit
Regenerative sustainability and the Eden Project -
11:15 to 11:50Refreshments and networking
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11:50 to 12:25Keynote: Helen Nyul
Biodiversity Net Gain and climate resilience -
12:30 to 13:30Lunch and networking
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13:30 to 14:30Breakout sessions (choose one)
- Room 1: A workplace for the future
- Room 2: Data driven biodiversity
- Room 3: The reality of plant health
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14:30 to 15:00Refreshments and networking
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15:00 to 16:00Breakout sessions (choose one)
- Room 1: Training and developing future talent
- Room 2: Goods to the ground: inside the supply chain
- Room 3: Where’s the money? Navigating the economic landscape
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16:00 to 17:00Final session and closing speech
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17:00 to 18:30Networking drinks reception
Note: breakout content and panellists may be subject to change.
As the UK’s leading landscaping trade association, BALI is proud to convene this conversation. The challenges facing our sector are complex and urgent, but they are also an opportunity. By bringing together expertise, experience and ambition, we can help shape a more resilient, confident and future-ready industry.