Press release

Reappointments to the Board of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Sir Henry Keswick and Ms Jennifer Ullman have been reappointed 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

Sir Henry Keswick and Ms Jennifer Ullman have been reappointed to the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew by Lord Taylor. 

These appointments and have been made in accordance with the Code issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. 

The Trustees do not receive any direct remuneration for their services, although reasonable travel and subsistence expenses can be reimbursed.  Both appointments will run until October 2014.  

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.  Sir Henry Keswick has declared that he has made a recordable donation to the Conservative Party. Ms Jennifer Ullman has not declared any political activity. 

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

Sir Henry Keswick

Sir Henry Keswick is currently Chairman of Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd., Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd. and Matheson & Co Ltd.  He is also Director at Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd., Hongkong Land Holdings Ltd. and Mandarin Oriental International. Ltd.  

Sir Henry Keswick previously held the positions of Director of Rothschilds Continuation Holdings AG, Chairman of Hong Kong Associates and Chairman of the National Portrait Gallery.   He was also a member of the Council for the National Trust and the proprietor of The Spectator. 

Ms Jennifer Ullman

Ms Jennifer Ullman is a landscape and heritage management consultant.  She previously held the position of Chief Parks Officer for Wandsworth Borough Council, and has served on a number of open space and historic landscape bodies.

Updates to this page

Published 28 October 2011