Mike Tibbs is a distinguished orchid grower and breeder. He has authored two important books on orchids; Orchids and Orchids: An Illustrated Identifier and Guide to Cultivation, and is co-author of Growing Classic Orchids and A Very Victorian Passion: the Orchid Scrapbooks of John Day. He lectures widely and judges orchid shows in South Africa, Japan, the UK and the USA. He is president of the South African Orchid Council and president of the Cape Orchid Society.