Chair (voluntary)
RECRUITMENT INFORMATION PACK

National Botanic Garden of Wales (NBGW)

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A Message from the Board

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Chair of Trustees at the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

We are delighted to launch our search for a new Chair of Trustees ahead of my retirement as the current Chair
after 8 years.  This is a key ambassadorial and leadership role that works with a passionate Garden team and
engaged Board of Trustees with a mix of backgrounds and length of service. We can be flexible with when
the new Chair takes up their position in 2026 as potential interim arrangements are in place.

We are open to applications for Chair from people with a range of professional backgrounds and personal
experiences. We are seeking an experienced, committed leader to steer the organisation through an exciting
period of change and continuing growth as a national and international institution.

The board strives to ensure the charity’s values are reflected in all our work, and a healthy culture underpins
delivery of all activities. We are keen that our Board is representative of the diversity of people that we
support.

We are excited about the opportunity the Chair of Trustee appointment presents to our charity, which will
help it into the next phase of its journey. We hope that you want to be part of it.

Gary Davies
Chair of Trustees

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About Us

Established in May 2000, the National Botanic Gardens of Wales (the Garden) is celebrating its 25th
anniversary. The Garden is one of the Wales’ most significant visitor attractions of exceptional scientific and
educational value. Acknowledged as a key member of the international community of botanic gardens,
it currently welcomes in the region of 214,000 visits each year. With a unique botanic garden located
on a Grade 2* listed landscape, vast national nature reserve and organic farm, as well as our scientific
collections, we have many different stories to tell of plants and landscape. The Garden is home to the
iconic Great Glasshouse, which in 2025 is undergoing phase 1 of a major capital revitalisation, through an
initial £1.3 million investment.

The Garden is a bilingual institution and employs c.69 FTE employees and is supported by around 230
volunteers who contribute over 27,000 hours of voluntary input each year. The Garden generates c.£4M
income annually. Recognised as a national asset in the Science Strategy for Wales and an essential
contributor to the region’s economy, the Garden works in partnership with over 70 organisations in Wales
and across the world; spanning horticulture, education, sustainability, conservation, science and research,
arts and Welsh culture.

The mission of the NBGW is to advance and share knowledge in the science of plants and inspire people’s
appreciation of flora, Welsh culture and heritage to enrich lives.

NBGW has five strategic goals

1.  Recognised national collections hub for applied

science, biodiversity conservation and horticulture

2.

Inspiring and influencing current and future
generations

3.  Wales’ top 5 most visited award-winning attraction

4.  A striving and thriving workplace of choice

5.  A sustainable institution through a secure and diverse

business mode

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Our Values – CROESO (meaning Welcome in Welsh)

•  Collaboration - we succeed through teamwork, sharing knowledge and expertise - our ‘can do’ attitude

enables us to be solutions-focused, adaptable and agile.

•  Respect - We value everyone, we are inclusive, respect differences and treat all with dignity.

•  Opportunity for All - Everyone has the right to be treated fairly and be offered opportunities.

•

•

Exemplar - As a national institution we hold ourselves to professional standards. We celebrate successes
and contributions and learn from our failures.

Sustainability - We use sustainability as a lens for decision making to contribute to a globally responsible
Wales and ensure our organisation’s longevity.

•  Openness - We will act with integrity. We take responsibility for our action and inaction and hold ourselves

accountable to the people we work with and for.

Governance

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is governed by a Voluntary Board with 12 Trustees and is supported
by its subcommittees i.e. Audit and Finance; Nomination, HR, Governance and Risk and Health and Safety.
The Board is responsible for ensuring that the National Botanic Garden of Wales operates within these
requirements and in furtherance of the Garden’s charitable objects, which are set out in its Articles of
Association. The Board of Trustees normally meets four to five times a year.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales (NBGW) is registered with the Charity Commission for England and
Wales (Charity Number 036354). It is a company limited by guarantee (Company Registration Number
2909098 and VAT Number GB692340334).

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•

•

Strengthen partnerships with the
education, science and community
sectors, working alongside the NBGW
Director to build strategic relationships that
advance the Garden’s mission.

Leverage networks to support fundraising
efforts, whether through connecting with
funders, corporate partners, or high-value
individual donors.

The anticipated commitment in order to play a
full and active part in the working of the charity
is likely to include:

•  Chairing quarterly Board Meetings.

•

Regular (currently monthly) in person or
video calls with the NBGW Director.

•  Where appropriate and as required,

attending additional engagements to
represent the Garden

•  Attending various sub-committee

meetings, at your discretion, to consider
key matters.

•  Act in an ambassadorial role.

Chair
THE ROLES

Chair

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic
leader who shares the National Botanic Garden
of Wales’s passion for enhancing understanding
of the interaction of people, plants, landscape
and the environment and contribute to national
efforts to shape a prosperous, resilient, healthier
and globally responsible Wales, with a vibrant
culture and thriving Welsh language.

As Chair of Trustees, you will play a key role in
driving our mission forward to advance and
share knowledge in the science of plants and
inspire people’s appreciation of flora, Welsh
culture and heritage to enrich lives while
ensuring the National Botanic Garden of Wales
continues to grow as a national institution.

As Chair, you will:
•

Provide inclusive leadership to the Board of
Trustees, ensuring they offer strong strategic
direction and fulfil their governance
responsibilities effectively.

•  Hold the Board and Senior Leadership Team
accountable for delivering Garden’s mission,
ensuring that Trustees are engaged and
leading with excellence.

•  Work closely with the NBGW Director to
ensure the organisation is thriving and
growing.

•  Act as a key ambassador for the National
Botanic Garden of Wales, representing
the charity at events, networking
opportunities, and meetings with funders
and stakeholders.

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Personal Specification

Particular Expertise and Capability

Our Chair is committed to the Garden and
devotes the necessary time and effort to
perform an effective role. The Chair uses their
strategic vision and leadership skills, tact and
diplomacy to facilitate collective decision
making and build connections with the Garden
that strengthen its impact. The Chair has good
communication and interpersonal skills and
operates with impartiality and fairness.

Our Trustees have a vision and the ability to
promote and progress the Garden’s mission.
They act collectively and individually in the
interests of the Charity, bringing external
independent viewpoints to support its success.

Key qualities include:

•  Good independent judgement

•

Effective communication skills

•  Ability to work effectively as a team

member

•  A commitment to the vision and mission of

the Garden

•  Understanding the importance of Welsh

culture and language.

The Garden is a bilingual institution and
we welcome interest from Welsh speaking
applicants.

The Garden has ambitions to consolidate and
expand its reputation as a national centre of
excellence within Wales and internationally.  In
view of this the Garden is looking for a Chair
with previous Board level experience who
offers attributes and skills complimentary to the
strengths already represented.

We are particularly seeking a Chair candidate
with strong leadership skills, excellent
communication and a deep understanding
of governance principles. In addition, an
appropriate candidate may have skills or
experiences in:

•

•

•

•

Finance including Income Generation,
Commercial Development and Fundraising

External Communications, Media and
Influencing

Tourism, Marketing and Visitor Experience

Policy development and implementation

The ability to speak Welsh is highly desirable,
but not considered essential. Our Trustees are
comfortable working in a bilingual environment
and have a strong respect and commitment to
appreciating and understanding bilingualism
and the importance of the Welsh language in
the cultural sphere and communities of Wales.

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HOW TO APPLY

How to Apply

Applications to be sent to:

Lorna Lewis - HR Manager
HRManager@gardenofwales.org.uk

Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 26
September 2025

Interviews: Will be scheduled on 30 October
2025

Start Date: The current Chair stands down in
December 2025. Interim Chair arrangements are
in place so we can be flexible with when the new
Chair takes up their position in 2026.

Induction: The Chair induction will be scheduled
in late Winter/early Spring

We look forward to hearing from you.

Please submit an expression of interest, including:

•  A cover letter (up to two pages) with a

clear personal statement setting out your
motivation and the qualities and attributes
you would bring to the role of Chair and
highlighting your suitability for this leadership
appointment

•  A current CV

•

Two referees willing to support your
expression of interest with a reference.

The Garden is committed to equal opportunities
and values diversity in its workforce. We
encourage individuals from all backgrounds
and experiences to apply and contribute to
our mission to advance and share knowledge
in the science of plants and inspire people’s
appreciation of flora, Welsh culture and heritage
to enrich lives.

NBGW welcomes applications submitted in
Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will
not be treated less favourably than an application
submitted in English.

All applications will be acknowledged.

The closing date for applications is 26 September
2025.

Both the Vice Chair and NBGW Director are
available if you would like to have an informal
chat or have any questions relating to the role or
the process, or would like any adjustments made
to accommodate your needs.

Please initially contact NBGW Director Dr Lucy
Sutherland, lucy.sutherland@gardenofwales.org.
uk, and arrangements can be made.

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Photos: Aled Llywelyn Photography