School Team
All of the trainers at Pearsons School of Floristry are qualified florists currently working in the floral industry, with a wide range of skills and backgrounds.
Some of our team have owned their own floristry business, others have been working in cutting-edge stores internationally, some are currently working with innovative floral designers around Sydney, and all are hand picked by Pearsons because of their industry knowledge and skills.
Part of the magic of the Pearsons School of Floristry lies with the breadth of knowledge and passion of our trainers and support team. Whether you are undertaking an introduction to floristry course or Pearsons Commercial Design Certificate, you will be inspired by your trainers skills, creativity and flair with flowers.
Meet your trainers
Debra Dwyer - Senior Florist, Trainer and Course Manager
Debra Dwyer's technical expertise and knowledge of floristry has developed over the past 20 years of working in the industry. Debra has been part of the team at Pearsons Florist for over ten years, and has been involved in creating stunning designs for weddings, hotel lobbies, corporate clients and floral events both large and small.
Debra has been teaching with Pearsons for the past five years and enjoys sharing her skills and knowledge with her commercial students, advanced student, as well as the general public at workshops, demonstrations and exhibitions.
Debra believes that to live a creative and useful life, we must lose our fear, we must get out of our comfort zones and we must participate in life. Debra views floristry as a career. For her, it is an opportunity to express her creativity, and teaching is a way to pass on her knowledge to students who share her passion for flowers.
Debra Van Breda - Senior Florist & Trainer
Debra Van Breda juggles a busy career working in floristry with her newfound love, teaching. With twenty years working in a range of florists, Debra has a wealth of day to day floristry experience that she shares with her students.
Debra recognises the need to nurture budding florists and to build their confidence with their floristry skills. Debra style is to encourage students, to allow each person to develop at their own speed.
It is the extra care and attention, as well as her exceptional floristry skills, that make Debra such an asset to the Pearsons team.
Mary Fairlie-Cuninghame - Senior Florist & Trainer
Senior Florist & Commercial Trainer, Mary has been a florist for over 12 years and has had the opportunity to travel all over the world doing a job she is passionate about. Whilst training in the UK she spent two months in a shop in Netherlands, six months in America and was part of a work exchange project in Finland. Mary brings European knowledge and experience to Pearsons School of Floristry's team of teachers and students.
Albina Finocchiaro - Senior Florist & Trainer
Albina’s career in Floristry was not a direct transition. After a brief flirtation with Accounting at Macquarie University and the completion of Nurse Training at Sydney Hospital, Albina decided to return to the Flower Industry. She understands career changes!
Albina brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and skills to PSF. Her achievements include owning and operating two retail floristry outlets, teaching Commercial and Recreational floristry at TAFE, evening colleges and private institutions.
Albina has a thorough knowledge of Flower Market wholesaling and has planned and produced the National Floristry Training Manual for the Wholesale and Personal Services Industry Training Council Limited. With PSF she has produced and implemented a fast tracked Floristry Training Resource known as the Commercial Design Certificate.
Albina’s vision for the future is to create a new breed of elite florists who through intensive high quality training and development strive to achieve a high standard of excellence. Assisting her students to achieve their goals is her greatest reward.
“Thank you for the opportunity to attend the bridal workshop on Sunday. It was a delight to meet Albina - she made me feel so comfortable. It was a really busy day and I learned a lot.” Lyndall Honey – Bridal Workshop 2008
Jacqueline Wilkie - Florist & Trainer
Jacqueline has been a florist for more than 8 years and has worked at some of Sydney’s best city florists. Jacqueline is the newest member of staff and brings to our teaching team her youthful enthusiasm and her girlish eye for fashion trends, along with her industry knowledge and floral technical skills.
Emma Fernandez - Student Support Co-ordinator, Trainer & Florist
Emma is a past student of Pearsons School of Floristry with 6 year's industry experience and background in Event Management and Hospitality. In addition to her busy role as PSF's student support & administration officer, Emma works part time for a busy Eastern Suburbs Florist and freelances for weddings. Her passion for floristry and love of the school make her the perfect candidate to provide support to students and pass on her industry knowledge and experiences.
Meet your support team
Clarissa Esposito - Sales & Marketing Co-ordinator & Florist
As well as being a working florist, Clarissa is the first point of contact for potential students. Her role is to provide infomration and offer guidance about courses at the school. She also shares her own industry knowledge and experience with budding florists.
Joanna Ramdeen - Marketing & Business Development Manager
Jo has extensive marketing experience gained in the UK and Australia. She was inspired to explore her creative side and undertook floristry training with Pearsons School of Floristry on Saturdays. Now Jo utilises her marketing expertise and understanding of floristry working between Pearsons Florist and Pearsons School of Floristry.