Portia is a tourism and hospitality manager by profession.

Like her mother, she has long been a plant enthusiast and a farm and/or garden visit is always on her agenda when she travels. Among them, Kew Gardens - London, Gardens by the Bay - Singapore, Huntes Gardens and Peg Farm and Nature Reserve - Barbados, and the Learning Adventure Farm in the Bahamas among others. She has transitioned her business, Lady Sarah's, to her farm site, managing over 150 fruit trees and a selection of ornamentals and short crops.

Portia serves as the current President of the Virgin Islands Horticultural Society and is most enthusiastic about the upcoming fair and educational initiatives.

Vareen Vanterpool-Nibbs is a barrister and solicitor of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court with over seventeen (17) years of experience in legal practice in the British Virgin Islands.

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She is the daughter of a former avid cattle farmer, Mr. Hugo Vanterpool.
In her own right she is a commercial farmer of culinary herbs and is the owner of Virgin Islands Organic Herbs.

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She thoroughly enjoys the beauty and life within a mature garden space, with its flowing vibrant blooms, fragrances and awesome natural beauty. She is excited about the vision and objectives of the Virgin Islands Horticultural Society and looks forward to seeing impactful and transformative changes in the landscape and properties in our communities.

Pamela is an information professional with 20 years of experience in the academic and legal sectors. She has honed her ability to provide high-quality information to support others in making informed decisions.

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Her avid love for plants, particularly orchids, led her to establish Potted Petals, a micro plant nursery offering "pretty living things." As concerns about food security increase, Pamela is expanding her focus to include food cultivation.

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She is deeply passionate about promoting the appreciation and conservation of the unique natural heritage found in the Virgin Islands.

Pamela will contribute her expertise to further the goals of the Virgin Islands
Horticultural Society.

Rochelle Smith is an educator at heart and by profession, having taught at the secondary and tertiary levels in the Virgin Islands for over 20 years. She is currently Director of the Virgin Islands Studies Institute at H Lavity Stoutt Community College.

She is the proud granddaughter of Wellington Rhymer, a cattle and vegetable farmer; and grandmothers who kept lovely flower gardens (Doris Smith), and grew produce to sell at the local market (Sylvanita Rhymer).

Rochelle follows in their footsteps by currently maintaining a container garden and working to develop a space from which she can eat what she grows.

She is happy to serve as secretary of Virgin Islands Horticultural Society and is excited to share what she knows and learn more from others.

Tessa is a biologist who has served as a public officer with the Government of the Virgin Islands for over two decades, with experience in Virgin Islands® wildlife and ecosystems conservation, fisheries and agriculture.

She fondly remembers the garden her grandmother Cheddena (Nibbs) Smith kept in Bovoni, St Thomas, and Mabel (Brathwaite) Harrigan's garden in Harrigan's Estate, Tortola. Tessa especially loves the native and endemic plants and trees of the Virgin Islands. Her favourite is Lignum vitae, which her grandfather Haldane Davies cultivated around his home in Parham Town, Tortola. She advocates for using native and endemic trees in landscaping, as her grandfather did. Tessa also enjoys sailing and birdwatching.

She farms leafy greens and vegetables on Tigerlili Farms, a small family farm she shares with her siblings.