John Bailey gained his PhD at Leicester University on Japanese Knotweed and its hybrids, co-supervised by Ann Conolly and Clive Stace, which established the cytological basis of the genus. He has since travelled extensively on knotweed research activities and speaking at conferences. With the aid of three PhD students, he took advantage of new DNA technologies to further elucidate population structure, evolution and phylogeny of the genus Reynoutria. He has contributed to more than 40 scientific papers on the subject and has a current h-index of 36.

Lois Child has been engaged in the study and management of Japanese Knotweed since 1991. Her doctoral research focused on the distribution and control of the species and its hybrids, forming the foundation for her ongoing work with government bodies, environmental consultancies and land-management organisations to develop effective management strategies. Lois is a founder member of the EMAPi (Ecology and Management of Alien Plant Invasions) International Conference Series, a leading forum for global experts in invasive species management.

Dan Jones is Managing Director at Advanced Invasives and an Honorary Research Associate at Swansea University. In 2023 he concluded a 12 year field-trial on Japanese Knotweed control. This work is the most comprehensive undertaken in the world to date and is supported by the peer-reviewed journal article 'Optimising Physiochemical Control of Japanese Knotweed'. Dan has provided evidence to UK Parliamentary Committees, authored government reports and delivered best-practice guidance. He has been instructed as an expert in more than 40 legal cases UK-wide, ranging from rural landholdings through to multimillion-pound development sites.