Press release

New trustees appointed at Kew

Mrs Tessa Green and Professor Michael Crawley appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Lord Henley has appointed Mrs Tessa Green and Professor Michael Crawley to the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Their appointments will run until March 2014.

The appointments have been made in accordance with the guidance set out by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.  All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity to be made public.  No political activity has been declared.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body created under the National Heritage Act 1983, sponsored by Defra and which operates under a Board of Trustees. 

The Board of Trustees comprises a Chairman and 11 members. Ten members and the Chair are appointed by the Secretary of State.  Her Majesty the Queen appoints her own Trustee on the recommendation of the Secretary of State.

Biographies

Tessa Green

Tessa Green has had a long career in the National Health Service, holding positions as Chairman of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Founding Chairman of the Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign, Chairman of the Royal Marsden Hospital Charity and a Trustee of the Institute of Cancer Research.

Following her previous role as Head of Corporate Affairs at Carlton Communications Plc, she qualified as a barrister. She has a longstanding interest in horticulture, botany and biodiversity issues.

Professor Michael Crawley

Professor Crawley is an ecologist and Professor of Biology at Imperial College, London, based at Silwood Park campus, Ascot, Berkshire. 

He has a passion for growing plants and developed the arboretum at Silwood Park, Ascot.  He is a fellow of the Royal Society with an international reputation for research into the factors affecting the distribution and abundance of plants.

Published 1 April 2011