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Meet the governing body responsible for the running of the RHS
The Council comprises the President, Treasurer, 15 members (all of whom are elected by the RHS membership) and up to two co-opted members (appointed by Council). All Council members are Trustees of the RHS and the Society’s Charter provides for the President and Treasurer to serve as officers of the Society. Both of these office holders are elected annually by the membership at the Annual General Meeting and serve on the Council of the RHS as Trustees. The President also acts as the Chair of Council.
(Elected as President at the AGM in 2020) Keith plays an active role in the governance of the RHS and is the Chair of the Council of Trustees and the Horticulture Board. From leading businesses in the public and charitable sectors he has experience in developing and implementing strategies, fundraising and delivery of funds for charitable initiatives. Keith has a particular interest in communities, education and the positive impact gardening has on the environment and people’s health.
(Elected to Council in 2016; elected as Treasurer at the AGM in 2019) Matthew is Chair of the Commercial Board, Investments Committee and the People and Remuneration Committee. He is the CEO of the European operations of Evercore and has more than 35 years of experience in investment banking, previously specialising in advising financial services companies before taking on his current management role.
(Elected to Council in 2023; to retire in 2028) Claire has been involved with horticulture for more than 40 years and is the owner of Claire Austin Hardy Plants. Alongside a large selection of perennials, they are National Collection Holders of bearded Iris and hybrid herbaceous Paeonia. Claire believes that the connection between plants and people is essential to healthy living and that anyone can enjoy gardening at any age.
(Elected to Council in 2023; to retire in 2028) Sue is Vice Chair of the Herbaceous Plant Committee and a Garden Advisor at RHS Bridgewater. She is the owner of Bluebell Cottage Gardens, a specialist perennial nursery. With 40 years of experience in horticulture, Sue is passionate about widening the access to adult horticultural education and sustainability within the horticultural industry. Prior to making horticulture her career, she was co-founder and director of two successful IT companies.
(Elected to Council in 2015. Re-elected in 2020; to retire in 2025) Mick is a member of the Science Committee and Horticulture Board, Vice Chair of the Woody Plant Committee, Chair of the Bursaries Committee and Garden Advisor at RHS Bridgewater. Mick is an Emeritus Professor of Plant Ecology at Imperial College London and is interested in the ecology of gardens – from the relationships between crops and weeds to the symbiotic effects of pollinators and mycorrhizal fungi.
(Elected to Council in 2019; to retire in 2024) Nick is a member of the Horticulture Board, the Gardens Committee and the Fruit, Vegetable and Herb Committee, and a Garden Advisor at RHS Wisley. Nick was previously Chair of the Fruit, Vegetable and Herb Committee, and contributed to RHS Fruit Trials. Nick’s research in hardy nursery stock propagation offers a valuable practical experience.
(Elected to Council in 2022; to retire in 2027) Tazim has been a member of the Audit and Risk Committee since 2018 and is a member of the Investments Committee and Commercial Board. Tazim is a Non-Executive Director on two FTSE boards as well as an executive coach. Tazim brings wide experience in finance and strategy and strongly believes that the wellbeing benefits of gardens and green spaces should be widely accessible for solace and joy.
(Elected to Council in 2021; to retire in 2026) Wesley is a Trustee of the Royal Parks and Vice-President of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association. He is keen for horticulture to reach diverse audiences, and is enthusiastic about community-based projects, all-age education and apprenticeships. Wesley would like to see sustainable green spaces cherished and the improvement of public parks through advice and volunteering.
(Elected to Council in 2022; to retire in 2027) Tony is Chair of the Woody Plant Committee and a member of the Awards Committee and Horticulture Board. He served for 15 years on the Bursaries Committee to help raise the profile of horticulture and assist the careers of young gardeners. Tony has more than 40 years of experience as a horticulturist and arboriculturist at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and is Chair of the Garden Advisory Board at Chelsea Physic Garden and Vice President of the Arboricultural Association.
(Elected to Council in 2018. Re-elected in 2023; to retire in 2028) Kate is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee and the People and Remuneration Committee. She is lead Non-Executive Director for the Department of Health and Social Care and Chair of GambleAware. She is also a consultant advising on governance, risk management, organisational management and culture. Kate has also been Chair of two strategic health authorities and Vice-Chair of the Financial Ombudsman Service.
(Elected to Council in 2021; to retire in 2026) Pamela is a member of the Council Technology Group and CEO of Avanade. She brings a wealth of experience to aid the Society in becoming an accessible organisation for everyone. Pamela’s passion for gardening was ignited at a young age, and she is keen to incorporate her skills from the technology world with that of horticulture, focussing on inclusivity, education and sustainability.
(Elected to Council in 2014. Re-elected in 2019; to retire in 2024) Lorna is a member of the Commercial Board, Investments Committee and the People and Remuneration Committee. Her career was largely spent with Spencer Stuart, advising companies on organisation structure, succession, recruitment and governance. Since retiring, Lorna has gained experience across a range of areas from Non-Executive Director to FTSE Board Effectiveness Consultant.
(Elected to Council in 2015. Re-elected in 2020; to retire in 2025) David is Chair of the Science, Awards and Education Committees, and a member of the Horticulture Board. He is Director of the Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust and Chair of the Sibbald Trust. David graduated with a BSc in Horticulture and joined Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as a lecturer, followed by Director of Horticulture and Learning.
(Elected to Council in 2022; to retire in 2027) Darren has been involved with gardening all his life, starting as an apprentice gardener and now working for The Royal Parks. Darren works to deliver the positive benefits of horticulture to communities and has a particular interest in gardening in an urban environment. Darren is part of the RHS Community Outreach Programme and is a Britain in Bloom judge.
(Elected to Council in 2021; to retire in 2026) Nicola is the UK Chief Plant Health Officer and is a member of the Society’s Science Committee. She has a BSc in Botany, an MSc Microbiology and a PhD in Plant Virology along with more than 25 years of experience in plant pathology research in horticulture and wild plants. Nicola’s passion and skills see her take a strong personal and professional interest in protecting and promoting plants and trees.
(Elected to Council in 2020; to retire in 2025) Janet chairs the Audit and Risk Committee and is a member of the Commercial Board and Investments Committee. She has held several roles in organisations with very different cultures and objectives and has a thorough knowledge of financial and corporate governance issues. Janet has fulfilled the position of Bursar at Eton College for the last 11 years, and her garden at Eton is open annually on National Garden Scheme days.
(Elected to Council in 2019; to retire in 2024) Ruth is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee, Commercial Board, Council Technology Group and People and Remuneration Committee. She also chairs the Nominations, Appointments and Governance Committee. After a decade in management consultancy, Ruth retrained as a garden designer and her design portfolio covers residential, commercial and community spaces.
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.
