Kew Gardens appoints new director

Professor Stephen Hopper will now head the world famous botanical organisation which is based in west London.

He will leave his post as Foundation Professor of Plant Conservation Biology at the University of Western Australia to take up his new role.

He replaces Professor Sir Peter Crane who is leaving after seven years, to take up an academic post at the University of Chicago.

A spokesman for Kew said Professor Hopper was a passionate conservation biologist who has been engaged in practical plant conservation for almost 30 years.

"We look forward to working with Professor Hopper in the years ahead and especially the planning leading up to Kew's 250th Anniversary celebrations in 2009"
Lord Selborne

He has broad experience in this area and has written more than 200 publications, including eight books.

For seven years he was director of King's Park and Botanic Garden in Perth, followed by five years as the head of the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, an Australian government body run by an independent board.

Professor Hopper said: "I am delighted to accept the post at Kew.

"With its worldwide profile, important national and local presence, and rich diversity of botanical and mycological programmes, Kew is superbly placed to speak for, inspire and demonstrate best practice in plant conservation - the basis of life on earth, and one of the world's greatest challenges."

Lord Selborne, Chairman of Trustees at Kew, said, "We are fortunate to have found in Stephen Hopper an unusual combination of excellence in plant science research and conservation, coupled with in-depth experience of managing a large and complex visitor attraction.

"We look forward to working with Professor Hopper in the years ahead and especially the planning leading up to Kew's 250th Anniversary celebrations in 2009."

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