Our trustees

We understand the significance of exhibiting at RHS Chelsea so we’ve brought together some of the brightest and best in the horticultural world to help guide PGB garden teams.

Alexandra Denman

Independent Project Manager
,
& former RHS Chelsea Flower Show Manager

Alex is an experienced horticulturist and was the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Manager and then Head of Shows Development, from 2006 to 2014. During this time, she curated the horticultural content of the show, overseeing hundreds of exhibits. She worked closely with designers, charities and sponsors to manage the complexities of exhibiting and help them realise their dreams. She is passionate about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the opportunities it presents for designers and plants people to showcase their talents and appreciates the outstanding benefits it can provide for charities and sponsors. Alex is a Trustee of the Royal Windsor Rose & Horticultural Society and is now an independent event consultant and project manager.

Alexandra Denman

Independent Project Manager
& former RHS Chelsea Flower Show Manager
Selection committee

Arne Maynard

Founder & Principal Designer
,
Arne Maynard Garden Design

Central to Arne's work as an international garden designer is his ability to identify and draw out the essence of a place, something that gives his gardens a particular quality of harmony and belonging. He has a collaborative approach to design and believes that to succeed, a garden must relate and respond to its surrounding landscape, its history and to the buildings within and around its confines, as well as to the needs of its owners. Arne is an RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal and Best in Show winning designer and is hailed by his profession as one of most important garden designers working today.

Arne Maynard

Founder & Principal Designer
Arne Maynard Garden Design
Selection committee

Mark Fane

Chief Executive of Crocus
,
& RHS Vice President

Mark is Chief Executive of Crocus and has worked with many of the top garden designers over the last 20 years, building over 30 show gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and winning 29 Gold Medals and 11 Best in Shows. Between 2009 and 2019 he was a Trustee on the RHS Council as well as serving on the RHS Commercial Board, the Investment Board and the Nominations and Governance Board. He became a Vice-President of the RHS in 2019. He is currently the Chairman of the Garden Museum and a Trustee of the Chatsworth House Trust.

Mark Fane

Chief Executive of Crocus
& RHS Vice President
Selection committee

Rosie Atkins

Curator, Editor &
,
RHS Vice President

Rosie started her journalistic career at the Sunday Times.  In 1992 she launched and edited the award-winning magazine Gardens Illustrated leaving to become Curator of Chelsea Physic Garden in 2001. During that time she served on the Council of the Linnean Society and the Royal Horticultural Society where she is now a Vice-President. Rosie is a founder trustee of London Gardens’ Network; chairman emeritus of RHS Woody Plant Committee and Trustee of Great Dixter Charitable Trust.

Rosie Atkins

Curator, Editor &
RHS Vice President
Selection committee

Our working group

Our dedicated team coordinates our funding application process and oversees and supports garden designers and good causes once they have been selected to exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Elisa Davies

Finance and Compliance Director
,
Project Giving Back

Elisa Davies

Finance and Compliance Director
Project Giving Back
Working group

Hattie Ghaui

CEO
,
Project Giving Back

Hattie has a passion for philanthropy and a career that has spanned strategy, project management and consumer branding. She joined PGB in July 2021 as Project Director, helping to shape the organisation since its inception. She is responsible for overseeing all funding applications from good causes and designers, and is the main point of contact. She was appointed Chief Executive Officer in May 2022 in line with PGB being registered as a charity in its own right.  

Hattie Ghaui

CEO
Project Giving Back
Working group

Isabella Nunes da Costa

Project Lead
,
Project Giving Back

With experience in project management, and having worked for a range of NGOs in the field of humanitarian aid, Isabella saw Project Giving Back as an exciting opportunity to work directly with charities, supporting them to make the most out of the experience and platform the RHS Chelsea Flower Show offers.

Isabella Nunes da Costa

Project Lead
Project Giving Back
Working group

Jennie Spears

PR & Communications Consultant
,
Bloom PR & Communications

Jennie (left) is an experienced and confident communications professional who specialises in horticulture and charity PR and communications projects. With a background and training in horticulture, and over 15 years experience across gardening, lifestyle, environment, education and food and drink campaigns, Jennie supported the Project Giving Back launch in May 2021 and has supported the development of the charity, alongside her colleague Clare Johnson (right), since then.

Jennie Spears

PR & Communications Consultant
Bloom PR & Communications
Working group

Laura Quinn

Digital Content Manager
,
Project Giving Back

Since 2022, Laura has been managing Project Giving Back's digital content and creative strategy. She has worked as a designer and creative strategist for charities since 2017, and has been a nature enthusiast her whole life. Prior to becoming a designer, Laura managed extensive portfolios and fundraising teams for high-profile charities and non-profits in London and New York. She is delighted to help amplify the stories of PGB's good causes across all platforms.

Laura Quinn

Digital Content Manager
Project Giving Back
Working group

PGB Mentors

PGB mentors are experienced and inspirational individuals who want to share their expertise and give back to others. PGB mentors work as consultants alongside our advisory panel and working group, either sharing their knowledge directly with a designer or charitable organisation, or via our blogs, webinars and social media. Their fields range from planting and design expertise to RHS shows, landscaping and construction through to effective charitable messaging and marketing.

Katie Tait

PGB Mentor, Communications Director at Maggie’s
,
Maggie's Centres

Katie’s background in print and broadcast journalism - for national publications such as The Times and The Daily Telegraph and a producer for the BBC on programmes including Crimewatch and for BBC Radio 4 - has strengthened her instinct for a well told story. As Director of Communications for Maggie’s, Katie oversees all PR, digital, public affairs and marketing for the organisation across the UK and internationally - a role that, among so many other activities, has seen her take Maggie’s to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2019, achieving a gold medal in partnership with Linklaters and Darren Hawkes. Katie has a knack for knowing how a charitable organisation can get the most out of the media and viewer attention that comes with having a garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and generously imparts her wisdom with all those setting out on their Chelsea journey.

Katie Tait

PGB Mentor, Communications Director at Maggie’s
Maggie's Centres
Mentors

Marc O'Neil

Head Gardener
,
Maggie’s at The Royal Marsden

Marc O’Neill is a Planting Designer and Gardener specialising in naturalistic gardens that are developed over time. Marc has experience working at Great Dixter, The High Line in New York, Chanticleer in Philadelphia, and has helped plant several award winning Chelsea Flower Show gardens, notably for Andy Sturgeon and Harris Bugg.
Marc worked for Andy Sturgeon in his Brighton studio and now consults on planting projects.


Head Gardener for Maggie’s at The Royal Marsden, designed by Piet Oudolf.

A passionate plantsman with a love of plant sourcing and growing edibles. Marc prefers to create private gardens that connect people with biodiversity and inspire
them to be immersed in the planting.

Marc O'Neil

Head Gardener
Maggie’s at The Royal Marsden
Mentors

Mark Gregory

PGB Mentor, Managing Director of Landform Consultants
,
Landform Consultants Ltd

Mark Gregory is a horticulturally trained landscaper, based in southern England, and the Managing Director of Surrey-based Landform Consultants. Landform Consultants is highly regarded as one of the top landscaping companies in the country and is involved with some mind-blowing schemes. Landform has won every major landscape accolade going, several many times over, and Mark is renowned for his in-depth technical knowledge of garden and landscape construction. Mark lectures widely in the UK and overseas and was voted as the ‘Most Influential Person’ within the garden and landscape industry by his peers in January 2018. He has worked at Board Level with BALI, APL, HTA and works tirelessly with many other industry linked organisations on strategy and mentoring. In 2018, Mark and the Landform team took the RHS Chelsea Flower Show by storm with their gardens for Seedlip Drinks and Welcome to Yorkshire with Mark’s Yorkshire Dales Garden achieving a gold medal, Best Construction and the coveted People’s Choice Award. Mark has built over 100 gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to date and he is the most medalled garden builder of the 21st century, making him the perfect mentor for any PGB-backed designers and their charitable partners.

Mark Gregory

PGB Mentor, Managing Director of Landform Consultants
Landform Consultants Ltd
Mentors

Richard Curle

Managing Director
,
Landscape Associates

Richard Curle is Managing Director of Landscape Associates which he formed in 2001. Today the business consists of 30 members of staff, covering all aspects of Landscape Construction and Horticultural Services.

Their quality of work is highlighted by industry acclaim, receiving numerous awards from the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) at both the Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows.
Landscape Associates have achieved success with a wealth of RHS Chelsea Flower show gardens, including Best Show Garden, Best Sanctuary Garden, Best Construction Award, People’s Choice and numerous gold medals.

Richard is also an advocate for enhancing the landscape industry through collaboration. He is a BALI committee member, guest speaker and occasional lecturer in landscape construction.

Richard Curle

Managing Director
Landscape Associates
Mentors

Sarah Eberle

Chartered Landscape Architect and FLI
,
Sarah Eberle Landscape

Sarah trained full time in Landscape Architecture graduating in 1980. She moved from Devon to Hampshire in 1990 and soon after became a Member of the SGD and became involved in the world of show gardens. Sarah spent some 8 years as Design Director at Hilliers before once again striking out to concentrate on her own private projects. She has exhibited in Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand.


Sarah has been awarded 20 RHS Gold Medals including Best in Show at both Chelsea in 2007 and Hampton Court in 2003, Chelsea Best Artisan Garden 2016, Chelsea best Sanctuary Garden 2021. She has also won the George Cooke Medal for Design Innovation twice during this period. She was awarded the BALI Grand Award in 2007 for a private garden and was awarded an Honouree Phd in Design by Greenwich University in 2008. In 2013 she was part of the team that won the SGD
Community Space Award for Gibbon’s Rent on the South Bank. In 2017 Sarah received the RHS Associate of Honour award for her contribution to horticulture, and the SGD Lifetime Achievement award in 2022.

Sarah’s work is of a Fusion style but majors on contemporary work with an innovative edge predominantly set in rural locations and with sustainability at its heart.

Sarah Eberle

Chartered Landscape Architect and FLI
Sarah Eberle Landscape
Mentors

Mentors

We understand the significance of exhibiting at RHS Chelsea so we’ve brought together some of the brightest and best in the horticultural world to help guide entrants.

Katie Tait

PGB Mentor, Communications Director at Maggie’s
,
Maggie's Centres

Katie’s background in print and broadcast journalism - for national publications such as The Times and The Daily Telegraph and a producer for the BBC on programmes including Crimewatch and for BBC Radio 4 - has strengthened her instinct for a well told story. As Director of Communications for Maggie’s, Katie oversees all PR, digital, public affairs and marketing for the organisation across the UK and internationally - a role that, among so many other activities, has seen her take Maggie’s to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2019, achieving a gold medal in partnership with Linklaters and Darren Hawkes. Katie has a knack for knowing how a charitable organisation can get the most out of the media and viewer attention that comes with having a garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and generously imparts her wisdom with all those setting out on their Chelsea journey.

Katie Tait

PGB Mentor, Communications Director at Maggie’s
Maggie's Centres
Mentors

Marc O'Neil

Head Gardener
,
Maggie’s at The Royal Marsden

Marc O’Neill is a Planting Designer and Gardener specialising in naturalistic gardens that are developed over time. Marc has experience working at Great Dixter, The High Line in New York, Chanticleer in Philadelphia, and has helped plant several award winning Chelsea Flower Show gardens, notably for Andy Sturgeon and Harris Bugg.
Marc worked for Andy Sturgeon in his Brighton studio and now consults on planting projects.


Head Gardener for Maggie’s at The Royal Marsden, designed by Piet Oudolf.

A passionate plantsman with a love of plant sourcing and growing edibles. Marc prefers to create private gardens that connect people with biodiversity and inspire
them to be immersed in the planting.

Marc O'Neil

Head Gardener
Maggie’s at The Royal Marsden
Mentors

Mark Gregory

PGB Mentor, Managing Director of Landform Consultants
,
Landform Consultants Ltd

Mark Gregory is a horticulturally trained landscaper, based in southern England, and the Managing Director of Surrey-based Landform Consultants. Landform Consultants is highly regarded as one of the top landscaping companies in the country and is involved with some mind-blowing schemes. Landform has won every major landscape accolade going, several many times over, and Mark is renowned for his in-depth technical knowledge of garden and landscape construction. Mark lectures widely in the UK and overseas and was voted as the ‘Most Influential Person’ within the garden and landscape industry by his peers in January 2018. He has worked at Board Level with BALI, APL, HTA and works tirelessly with many other industry linked organisations on strategy and mentoring. In 2018, Mark and the Landform team took the RHS Chelsea Flower Show by storm with their gardens for Seedlip Drinks and Welcome to Yorkshire with Mark’s Yorkshire Dales Garden achieving a gold medal, Best Construction and the coveted People’s Choice Award. Mark has built over 100 gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to date and he is the most medalled garden builder of the 21st century, making him the perfect mentor for any PGB-backed designers and their charitable partners.

Mark Gregory

PGB Mentor, Managing Director of Landform Consultants
Landform Consultants Ltd
Mentors

Richard Curle

Managing Director
,
Landscape Associates

Richard Curle is Managing Director of Landscape Associates which he formed in 2001. Today the business consists of 30 members of staff, covering all aspects of Landscape Construction and Horticultural Services.

Their quality of work is highlighted by industry acclaim, receiving numerous awards from the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) at both the Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows.
Landscape Associates have achieved success with a wealth of RHS Chelsea Flower show gardens, including Best Show Garden, Best Sanctuary Garden, Best Construction Award, People’s Choice and numerous gold medals.

Richard is also an advocate for enhancing the landscape industry through collaboration. He is a BALI committee member, guest speaker and occasional lecturer in landscape construction.

Richard Curle

Managing Director
Landscape Associates
Mentors

Sarah Eberle

Chartered Landscape Architect and FLI
,
Sarah Eberle Landscape

Sarah trained full time in Landscape Architecture graduating in 1980. She moved from Devon to Hampshire in 1990 and soon after became a Member of the SGD and became involved in the world of show gardens. Sarah spent some 8 years as Design Director at Hilliers before once again striking out to concentrate on her own private projects. She has exhibited in Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand.


Sarah has been awarded 20 RHS Gold Medals including Best in Show at both Chelsea in 2007 and Hampton Court in 2003, Chelsea Best Artisan Garden 2016, Chelsea best Sanctuary Garden 2021. She has also won the George Cooke Medal for Design Innovation twice during this period. She was awarded the BALI Grand Award in 2007 for a private garden and was awarded an Honouree Phd in Design by Greenwich University in 2008. In 2013 she was part of the team that won the SGD
Community Space Award for Gibbon’s Rent on the South Bank. In 2017 Sarah received the RHS Associate of Honour award for her contribution to horticulture, and the SGD Lifetime Achievement award in 2022.

Sarah’s work is of a Fusion style but majors on contemporary work with an innovative edge predominantly set in rural locations and with sustainability at its heart.

Sarah Eberle

Chartered Landscape Architect and FLI
Sarah Eberle Landscape
Mentors
Use your knowledge and experience to give back

Become a mentor

We are looking for volunteer mentors to work alongside our Project Director and advisory panel to give advice and support via webinars and blogs that will be shared on our website. 

Get in touch to express an interest in becoming a PGB mentor. 

Get in touch

Elisa Davies

Finance and Compliance Director
,
Project Giving Back

Richard Curle

Managing Director
,
Landscape Associates

Marc O'Neil

Head Gardener
,
Maggie’s at The Royal Marsden

Sarah Eberle

Chartered Landscape Architect and FLI
,
Sarah Eberle Landscape

Laura Quinn

Digital Content Manager
,
Project Giving Back

Katie Tait

PGB Mentor, Communications Director at Maggie’s
,
Maggie's Centres