Our School Team
When you embark on your journey with Pearsons School of Floristry (even if it is only for one day) you are supported by a whole team of passionate flower lovers.
At the front line we have a team of trainers from all parts of the floristry world, here to guide you, support you and inspire you. Our trainers (and you) are ably supported by a dedicated team of administrators, retail experts, florists and flower buyers to ensure you get the best experience possible.
Every trainer offers a unique flower experience.........
Meet the team...
Barbara Pollak
Barbara has been involved in the florist industry all her life, growing up above Pearsons first store. Her childhood was spent visiting growers, the markets and working in the stores before embarking on a marketing degree and gaining experience in the corporate sector . Barbara is now a director of Pearsons Florist and Pearsons School of Floristry.
“I see that study at Pearsons School is the beginning of a journey into the world of Floristry. Our job is to act as guide on this journey and to help students start a career in Floristry that is both rewarding and creative.”.
Barbara’s role is to ensure that our vision for the school is fulfilled, oversees course development as well as managing our marketing and administration.
Debra Dwyer - Senior Florist, Trainer and Course Manager
Debra' technical expertise and knowledge of floristry have developed over the past 25 years of working in the industry. Debra has been part of the team at Pearsons Florist for over 15 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 eight 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. She 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's 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
Mary has been a florist for more than 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.
Marc Maurier
Marc Maurier comes to us from France, where he studied floristry more than 11 years ago in Angers in the Loire Valley. Currently working as a senior florist in the Pearsons design centre, he is responsible for most of the large event and function work created by Pearsons every week. Marc has recently joined our team for ‘Courses for Fun’.
With a natural flair for design and fashion, Marc brings a touch of France into any classroom! Having worked exclusively as the in-house florist for Yves Saint Laurent when in need, Marc has some amazing techniques (and stories) to get any student feeling creative! Having inspired many students so far, Marc continues to share his love of floristry and encouraging nature with all his students.
What our students say...
“Marc was absolutely fabulous and very helpful” Lucie Sekaninova Bloom Series 2010
“I enjoyed my classes with Andreas - he inspired me to take the full time commercial course!” Sue Hinde PSF student 2010
"I wanted to thank you for organising Heidi Albertiri to come and talk to us this week - I found it an inspiring and insightful and really enjoyed it.
On another note I also wanted to say how much I have enjoyed Module 2 with Emma, she too is an inspiration and I feel much more confident heading toward Module 3 having had her as a teacher.
I am thoroughly enjoying the course so far and am so glad I decided to take the plunge and do it this year!"
Lou Vacher, PSF Module 2