RBG Kew announces appointment of Lorraine Lecourtois as Interim Director of Wakehurst

Ed Ikin announces departure from Wakehurst after 8 years
Head of Public Programmes, Lorraine Lecourtois, assumes Interim position from Monday 23 October
Lecourtois will hold the position until the recruitment of a permanent appointment is made in 2024

Wakehurst announces today that Lorraine Lecourtois, currently Head of Public Programmes at Wakehurst, has been appointed as the Interim Director of Wakehurst.

The announcement follows Ed Ikin’s decision to depart Wakehurst to take on a new role as Chief Executive of the Ernest Cook Trust, an educational charity established in 1952 with the aim of promoting outdoor learning.

Richard Barley, RBG Kew’s Director of Gardens said, ‘We are pleased to appoint Lorraine to the role of Interim Director of Wakehurst until a permanent Director is recruited. Lorraine brings considerable experience to this role, including six years on the Wakehurst Leadership Team, and is well-respected for her drive and passion to deliver Kew's mission. We believe Wakehurst is in very capable hands as we develop the recruitment process for a permanent Director.’

Lorraine joined the Wakehurst Leadership Team in 2017 charged with the development and delivery of innovative experiences designed to connect people with the natural world. Her career spans theatre production and stage management for companies such as Shakespeare’s Globe and Bolton Octagon, alongside management of large-scale landscape projects. Notable career highlights include the transformation of a coal mining spoil tip into a public-access country park at Betteshanger Park where she oversaw the construction of a new Visitor Centre and Museum funded by the Heritage Lottery. At Lancashire Wildlife Trust, she contributed to the development of the RIBA Stirling Prize-nominated Brockholes Nature Reserve playing a key role in brand development, visitor experience, and events programming for the regional destination.

In 2021, Lorraine was appointed as Wakehurst’s Nature Unlocked Research Lead for Nature Connectedness, undertaking extensive research into the impact of biodiversity on behavioural changes, in partnership with Royal Holloway, University of London. She is committed to establishing RBG Kew as the world leader for education and engagement in nature through designing and executing inspirational experiences and exhibitions to drive public engagement.

As Head of Public Programmes, she led the growth of Glow Wild into one of the South East’s most popular winter experiences, winning a Beautiful South Tourism Award, and establishing it as Wakehurst’s most commercially successful event. Her production expertise was demonstrated in the development of ‘Planet Wakehurst’, the UK’s largest outdoor art installation, as Wakehurst’s Mansion underwent extensive roof works, and has driven significant growth in Wakehurst programming, from successful brand partnerships for Easter and October half-term, to the 10-week summer arts programme – now entering its fourth year.

Lorraine Lecourtois said, ‘Over the last few years, we have developed a strong masterplan for Wakehurst to transform it from local visitor attraction to global science exemplar, renowned for its botanic excellence and cultural innovation. Through developments such as the American Prairie, the growth of the public programme, and the new Conservation & Research Nursery we are already well on our way to delivering these great ambitions. In my position as Interim Director of Wakehurst, I will continue the momentum we have collectively built to deliver our key projects, and champion the incredible work of our talented team at Wakehurst.’

Ed Ikin will depart on 6 December, allowing for a smooth transition between the two Directors. Subsequently, Lorraine will continue as Interim Director of Wakehurst until a permanent appointment is made.

ENDS 

For more information or images, please contact Frances Teehan, Strategic Communications Manager on f.teehan@kew.org or wakehurstpr@kew.org

Notes to Editors

About Wakehurst

Please note that Wakehurst is referred to just as Wakehurst, not Wakehurst Place. It is not a National Trust property.

The National Trust was bequeathed the Mansion and grounds of Wakehurst in 1963. It was then entrusted to us here at Kew in 1965, and we now work in partnership with the National Trust to care for our collections and heritage areas.

Wakehurst is Kew’s wild botanic garden in the Sussex High Weald. Its ancient and beautiful landscapes span 535 acres and are a place for escape, exploration, tranquillity, and wonder. Its diverse collection of plants from Britain and around the globe thrive within a tapestry of innovative gardens, temperate woodlands, meadows, and wetlands. Wakehurst is a centre for UK biodiversity and global conservation, seed research and ecosystem science. At its heart is Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, the world’s largest store of seeds from wild plant species.

RBG Kew receives approximately one third of its funding from Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils. Further funding needed to support RBG Kew’s vital work comes from donors, membership and commercial activity including ticket sales. In the first six months since implementing a new accessibility scheme for those in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Legacy Benefits, Kew has welcomed 10,000 visitors with £1 tickets.

At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, we’re dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to end the extinction crisis and secure a future for all life on Earth. With our world-leading research, global partnerships and beloved gardens – home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi – we’re using our trusted voice to shape policy and practice worldwide. As a charity we rely on the critical support of our visitors, not only to sustain the gardens, but to protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of our planet and humanity.