Our Team
Deborah Spencer
Managing director & co founder
Described as the “godmother of design” by the Evening Standard after launching the award-winning designjunction in 2010, Deborah began her career at the Business Design Centre, where she ran New Designers and the London Art Fair.
In 2006, she moved to Greenwich Village, where she helped re-launch Selfridges home department, connecting her with some of the world’s leading design brands. Deborah also played an integral role in the launch of superdesign, held during the Frieze Art Fair.
In 2008, she joined Tom Dixon’s marketing team, where she launched the Dock event and, soon after, Tramshed.
Deborah is also a mum with an increasingly keen interest in sustainability.
Sam Peters
Executive director & co founder
An award-winning journalist and media campaigner with 19 years’ experience working across national newspapers, Sam spearheaded The Mail on Sunday’s acclaimed concussion campaign, shortlisted for the Cudlipp Prize in 2014.
In the same year, Sam was shortlisted as sports journalist of the year at the Press Gazette Awards and named one of Rugby World’s five most influential media figures.
A keen amateur gardener, rambler and cross-country runner, Sam has also written for The Guardian, Independent, Voice, Mirror and Sunday Times. He has authored two books, including The Row to Recovery.
In 2019 he swapped his life travelling the world covering sport to work full-time on Planted, promoting his true love of nature.
Mark Hudson
Events director
Mark has over twenty years of experience launching and running conferences, exhibitions and events businesses around the world, having been based in London, New York and Singapore.
Mark is passionate about sustainability, having run countless events and initiatives around renewables and the environment, as well as having worked for a solar developer.
He lives on a farm in North Bedfordshire where he has helped to plant 25,000 trees in the past 5 years and is working on a passion project to restore an old walled kitchen garden.
Oliver Heath
Brand ambassador and biophilic design advisor
An industry-recognised global authority on biophilic design, Oliver is the founder of award-winning architecture and design practice, Oliver Heath Design.
With 20 years media experience working for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and other European networks, Oliver is one of the most respected thinkers in the world of sustainable design practice.
His deep knowledge of biophilic practice and the relationship between human connectivity with nature and well-being make Oliver the wise man of the Planted team.
Oliver is responsible for co-ordinating Planted’s talks programme.
Stewart Dodd
Creative director & co founder
An award-winning architect and sustainability expert, Stewart previously worked closely with Deborah at designjunction. In 2016 he designed a stunning external marquee façade which proved one of the most outstanding installations in the history of the show.
With a deep knowledge of sustainable architecture practice and design, Stewart is also chief exec of eponymous food brand River Cottage and has a passion for high-quality, locally-sourced food.
His eye for exceptional design and understanding of beautiful, sustainable produce made Stewart the outstanding candidate to be Planted’s creative director.