Sydney Botanic Gardens Trust Head Accepts Prestigious London Post

The Executive Director of the Botanic Gardens Trust, Dr Tim Entwisle has accepted a London based position as Director of Conservation, Living Collections and Estates at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. He will take up the new role in April 2011 after leaving his Sydney position on 25th March 2011.

The Botanic Gardens Trust is responsible for the management of Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens, Mount Tomah Botanic Garden in the Blue Mountains and Mount Annan Botanic Garden near Camden.

NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Frank Sartor said it is a great tribute to the status of the Botanic Gardens in Sydney that its leadership is so highly sought after internationally, stating "Dr Entwisle is a highly respected science communicator and keen promoter of plants and science.

"We're fortunate to have had his expertise and dynamism drive the Botanic Gardens Trust."

Dr Entwisle said although it was a tough decision to leave his current role, the Gardens will continue to thrive, saying "over the last seven years there have been vast improvements in horticulture, science and infrastructure. I am happy that I leave this organisation in great shape for the future, and ready to celebrate its bicentenary in 2016.

"We've made solid starts on fund raising for major projects such as PlantBank at Mount Annan, with an injection of $15.5 million from the State Government and $1.5 million already raised from the private sector. There are other projects in the planning stage, such as a complete makeover of our Tropical Centre, transforming it into a 'Survival Arc', and children's gardens on each of the Trust's estates.

"Recently we've opened the World Heritage Exhibition Centre at Mount Tomah, and the Laughing Children's Garden. Our Science team is doing vital work for conservation in New South Wales and internationally and our Education team is reaching more and more school children. The Community Greening program has now helped establish over 250 community gardens around New South Wales.

"Importantly we've begun focusing on the impacts of climate change in our research and public programs and have begun active programs ourselves to reduce water consumption."

Kew Gardens are home to the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest ex situ plant conservation project in the world. Dr Entwisleâs new role will encompass the management of the Millenium Seed Bank, conservation planning and policy as well as the collections and assets of Kew Gardens and Wakehurst Place. He will have a staff of 400 people and be responsible for a large part of the operations at Kew Gardens.

Commenting on his new role, Dr Entwistle states "at Kew, conservation and sustainable management of plant diversity are viewed as vital actions to address environmental challenges including climate change", adding "the chance to contribute to Kew is very exciting."

Dr Entwisle has been in the role of Executive Director at the Botanic Gardens Trust since September 2003 having worked as a scientist and senior manager in botanic gardens for nearly 20 years; and before that as a Post-doctoral Fellow at The University of Melbourne after taking his PhD from La Trobe University on freshwater algae. Tim is author of over 70 scientific publications, including three books. While working at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Dr Entwisle co-edited and contributed to the four-volume Flora of Victoria.