RHS Elections

Held annually, the RHS Elections are the process through which the RHS Council is formed, in accordance with the bye-laws. Elected members help guide the policies, priorities and direction of the RHS

What are the RHS Elections?

The RHS Council is the highest decision-making body, with overall responsibility for the organisation, providing strategic direction and monitoring the delivery of the RHS Strategy with support from its Boards and Committees. Each year at the RHS Annual General Meeting, at least three RHS Council Members retire, with vacancies filled by election. The RHS President and Treasurer are also appointed at the AGM.

When recruiting new RHS Council Members, the focus is on individuals with a keen interest in gardening and specific expertise in horticulture or skills and capabilities that are under-represented among current trustees. Annual assessments of RHS Council Members’ skills help anticipate future gaps due to retirements and the organisation’s evolving needs. Find details on the 2026 nominees below.

RHS Election nominees for 2026

The 2026 RHS Election nominees reflect a balance of experience and fresh thinking in support of the future of horticulture. Keith Weed is standing for his seventh and final term as RHS President, with David Mathers unanimously recommended by RHS Council to stand uncontested as the next RHS Treasurer following the retirement of Matthew Lindsey-Clark. Standing uncontested for election to the four available RHS Council positions are Matt Davies, Stephen Hill, Wesley Kerr and Nicola Spence, offering a strong mix of expertise across communications, science, finance, and commercial leadership, and a shared commitment to guiding the RHS with integrity and impact.

RHS Election nominees

Left to right: Keith Weed, David Mathers, Matt Davies, Stephen Hill, Wesley Kerr and Nicola Spence

Learn more about the candidates standing for election

Keith Weed: Nominee for RHS President

Proposed by: Nicola Spence
Seconded by: Tazim Essani
Supported by: Liz Nicholson, Tony Kirkham, Darren Share, Helen Cox, Sue Beesley, James Hitchmough

Supporting statement

I have had a lifelong love for gardening and spend as much time as I can in my garden, which includes a productive vegetable and fruit plot.

During my career, I have gained broad experience in leading businesses in the public and charitable sectors. While my main focus is now the RHS, I am also on other boards and can transfer best practice to the RHS. I have experience in the key areas of developing and implementing strategy, supporting and guiding the CEO, fundraising and business delivery to fund charitable initiatives.

The last two years have been particularly challenging for the organisation due to the negative impact of the M25/A3 roadworks on RHS Wisley, Surrey, its visitors and the resultant significant loss of income. The financial impact of the roadworks will continue into next year and the charity needs attentive leadership until this period of disruption is behind us.

I am an RHS Member and RHS Fellow Patron and live just seven miles from RHS Wisley. I am a regular visitor to the gardens and shows, which are powerful examples of horticultural excellence. I am also interested in the outreach of the RHS to communities, its education programme and the positive impact gardening has on health and wellbeing. Equally, the charity’s role in horticultural science, sustainability and flora diversity continues to grow in importance in an increasingly challenged world.

I would be privileged to continue to serve as RHS President to build on its considerable heritage and bring my passion for gardening and business experience to help develop its future direction.

David Mathers: Nominee for RHS Treasurer

Proposed by: Carolyn Townsend
Seconded by: Jim Durrant
Supported by: Gary Firth, Matthew Pottage, Sarah Flannigan, David Ford, Roderick Newton, David Ridgeway

Supporting statement

I am honoured to seek election as Treasurer of the RHS.

The RHS is a remarkable organisation. For over two centuries, it has advanced horticulture and brought people closer to gardening, through its shows, science, gardens and the work of its staff and volunteers.

The ambitions set out in the RHS Strategy to 2030 are important and timely. Supported by the investments in digital capabilities, the RHS offers the opportunity to extend its reach and impact. Delivering them, however, will require clear priorities and careful financial stewardship.

I have spent 35 years in finance, including 12 as Chief Financial Officer of a global bank, working with boards and management teams on governance, financial discipline and long-term planning.

Alongside this, horticulture has long been central to my life. I co-founded an orchid conservation charity in 2019, now responsible for over 20,000 plants, including six National Plant Collections. I also serve as a Trustee of Plant Heritage and of Chelsea Physic Garden, and as Vice Chair of the RHS Orchid Expert Group.

I see financial sustainability not as an end in itself, but as the means to ensure that the RHS can invest in its gardens, people, science and charitable work.

If elected, I would aim to support the organisation with independent oversight, constructive challenge and a focus on the long-term resilience of the RHS.

Matt Davies: Nominee for RHS Council

Proposed by: Lady Roisin Timpson
Seconded by: Sarah Flynn
Supported by: Darren Share, Helen Cox, Joanne Robson, Sharon Hockenhull, James Hitchmough, Nicky Dulieu

Supporting statement

Having joined the RHS 12 years ago, my interest in gardening has really developed over that period as has my appreciation of the wonderful work that the RHS does. It would be great to support this work by bringing the skills and experience that I have gained as the CEO of Pets at Home, Halfords and Tesco UK and the current Chair of Greggs PLC and Autotrader PLC.

I have led diverse teams, managed significant budgets and worked with brilliant people to deliver impact in consumer facing organisations. I would hope this experience will help me to support the RHS going forward, through bringing to the RHS Council the commercial and retail skills that I have acquired as well as governance experience that I have gained.

The RHS is a wonderful organisation and to be able to play a small part in supporting the mission to be there for everyone on their lifelong adventure with gardening would be a real privilege. 

Stephen Hill: Nominee for RHS Council

Proposed by: Joanna Wright
Seconded by: Martin Bourke
Supported by: Tazim Essani, David Rae, Janet Walker, Claire Austin, Sue Beesley, Pamela Maynard

Supporting statement

I have been interested in horticulture for decades, originally encouraged by my grandfather in Jersey, who allowed me to help tend his allotment when I was a child, as did both my parents. My mother was an outstanding plantswoman and designed and created several gardens. She was a long-term member of the RHS, and I had the pleasure of accompanying her to open gardens and shows for many years. 

I have had a substantial career in media as CEO of the Financial Times and a non-executive of many companies including Channel 4, and latterly in venture capital, specialising in technology. Most recently I have been working with Government as lead non-executive director of the Department of Business and Trade. I also have many years’ experience of charity governance including chairing the Alzheimer’s Society and the Royal National Institute for Deaf People. 

It is only in the last 15 years that I have had the opportunity to create my own garden, previously a blank canvas, and now a series of spaces, each with their own character. I created habitats for wildlife and am rewarded by the regular sight of red squirrels, hawks, hedgehogs and an abundance of insects. I fully appreciate I am in the foothills of horticultural knowledge, with a mountain to climb, but I am looking forward to the journey. 

I welcome the opportunity to apply my business and governance skills to the RHS and am grateful for the chance to put my name forward for election.

Wesley Kerr: Nominee for RHS Council

Proposed by: Darren Share
Seconded by: Thomas Blaikie
Supported by: Fiona Hilleard, Bronwyn Hill, Richard Hamilton, Mark Wasilewski, Caroline Egremont, Aurora Antrim

Supporting statement

I love gardening and am an enthusiastic, hardworking member of RHS Council. I have attended all the key meetings, toured the RHS Gardens, encouraged and supported staff, attended shows, events and meetings and served on subcommittees. I am a voice for the aspirational and optimistic horticulturist.

My service as a recent trustee and Board Member of the charity responsible for London’s most famous public parks, the Royal Parks, has given me many valuable insights. In addition, I chaired the London Committee of the Heritage Lottery Fund, which invested extensively in parks and community gardens.

It’s hard work to deliver and maintain beautiful landscapes for public benefit and the RHS combines excellence and accessibility. We have enhanced the gardens and weathered the RHS Wisley roadworks. 

The RHS has a huge vocation and strategy to reach and advise the UK’s tens of millions of gardeners and garden enthusiasts, through media, partnership working, the RHS Grow app and community projects. My skills as a broadcaster, environmentalist, social historian and journalist are in service of this mission. 

I would be honoured to be elected for another five years to serve the charity’s members and objectives. By expanding our membership and reach, I believe we can strengthen our impact and help make the UK a greener, more pleasant land.

Nicola Spence: Nominee for RHS Council

Proposed by: Sir Nicholas Bacon
Seconded by: David Rae
Supported by: Darren Share, Mick Crawley, Tony Kirkham, James Alexander-Sinclair, Liz Nicholson, Claire Austin

Supporting statement

I have had a life-long passion for horticulture, sparked by gardening with my grandfather as a child and then pursuing a career in horticultural research. I have a BSc in Botany, a MSc in Microbiology and a PhD in Plant Virology and more than 25 years’ experience in plant pathology research in horticultural and wild plants in the UK and Africa. I am passionate about science education and have helped train students and edited scientific journals.

Currently, I am the UK Chief Plant Health Officer. I advise Ministers, industry and stakeholders about the risks posed by plant, tree and bee pests and diseases, and ensure that appropriate science, evidence and operational measures are in place to manage those risks and minimise their impact. I have been a member of RHS Council for five years and a member of the RHS Science and Collections Group for 10 years, and Chair since October 2025, which has given me insight into the RHS and the opportunity to work more closely with staff and Council. I garden on the Yorkshire Wolds and have been an RHS Member for more than 23 years, regularly visiting its gardens, particularly RHS Harlow Carr, North Yorkshire.

I am passionate about horticulture and take a strong personal and professional interest in protecting and promoting plants and trees. I bring skills and experience in horticultural science, policy, communication and fundraising and would love to contribute to the objectives and future success of the RHS for its members and the wider organisation by continuing to serve RHS Council.

Nomination process for election

The RHS encourages applications from candidates with senior expertise (expected) and prior board experience. Specific areas of interest are outlined when nominations open each year. Applications are welcomed from all eligible* RHS Members. The RHS is committed to providing equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices, and encourages applications from all sectors of the community. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process.

Information: Nominations for 2026 are closed – nominee information can be found above. Nominations for 2027 open in September 2026.

View of the RHS Annual Report and plans for the future
View of the RHS Annual Report and plans for the future

Members asking questionsat RHS AGM
RHS Members asking questions at RHS Annual General Meeting

Each year, candidates seeking the support of RHS Council are invited to submit an informal expression of interest, including a CV and a supporting statement of no more than 500 words, to The Secretary by October in the year of election. The RHS Governance and People Committee considers all expressions of interest. Candidates wishing to proceed directly to the election without the support of RHS Council should complete and deliver a nomination paper, supported by the signatures of eight other RHS Members, to the Secretary by the 1 March in the year of election.

*Please note: Eligible candidates must have been an RHS Member of the RHS for three years at the date of their nomination. However, in exceptional circumstances, RHS Council may waive this requirement.

Additional resources

Have a question?

For more information about RHS Elections, please see the Charter and bye-laws and associated regulations. For further queries, write to RHS, 80 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PE; email [email protected] or telephone 020 3176 5800.
 

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