Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew welcomes broadcaster Swarzy Shire and journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy as new Ambassadors
Release date: 1 December 2025
- Krishnan Guru-Murthy joins Ambassador programme after 6 years as Kew Trustee
- Swarzy Shire joins in recognition of her passion for nature, discovery and community
- Kew Ambassadors highlight scientific research, global conservation, horticultural excellence, education, equity and inclusion as well as building a base of advocates for nature
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is delighted to announce broadcaster Swarzy Shire and journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy as its newest Kew Ambassadors. They join a growing group of 14 public figures including Cate Blanchett, James Wong and Dame Judi Dench, helping to amplify Kew’s mission of working towards a thriving planet for all, powered by plants and fungi.
RBG Kew’s Ambassadors play a vital role in championing the organisation’s work across horticulture, science, education and training. By reaching new audiences with powerful storytelling, advocacy and engagement, they voluntarily support Kew’s charitable mission and vision for a world where nature is protected, understood and valued.
About Swarzy Shire
Award-winning broadcaster Swarzy Shire is best known for hosting BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Weekend Breakfast Show, and for founding Too Much Source, a creative platform amplifying young and diverse voices through inclusive storytelling and cultural conversations. She has hosted and moderated across major events including COP26, the BBC Climate Creativity Forum, Nike, TikTok and the Commonwealth Games — always with a sharp focus on creativity, community and youth empowerment.
Swarzy is passionate about creating space for young people from diverse backgrounds to thrive in green careers, nature spaces and climate conversations. In her first appointment since becoming a Kew Ambassador she chaired a session at the Futureproofing: Youth, Education and Climate Change event at Kew Gardens, in November. The event was co-hosted by Richard Deverell, Director of RBG Kew, and Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, and featuring members of Kew’s Youth Council.
Swarzy Shire said: ‘I’m honoured to become a Kew Ambassador. Kew is a place where science, creativity and community meet, and I’m excited to help open its doors even wider for young people who rarely see themselves represented in environmental spaces.’
About Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Krishnan Guru-Murthy is one of the UK’s most respected broadcast journalists, known for his award-winning reporting as an anchor of Channel 4 News for more than 25 years. He also presents the award winning Ways to Change the World podcast. He has covered major global stories — from conflict and humanitarian crises to climate impacts and political change — bringing clarity and public understanding to complex issues.
Krishnan has been a long-standing supporter of RBG Kew, most recently serving as a Trustee and Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. In his role he contributed to strategic oversight of Kew’s mission and public purpose and championed the launch of Kew’s £1 ticket offer for beneficiaries of Universal Credit or Pension Credit. His commitment to public engagement with nature, science and environmental issues continues in his new role as a Kew Ambassador.
Krishnan Guru-Murthy said: ‘I’m delighted to continue supporting Kew in this new role. Having served as a Trustee, I’ve seen first-hand how vital Kew’s science and global partnerships are to tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. I look forward to helping share these stories even more widely and inspiring people to connect with the natural world.’
A message from RBG Kew
Richard Deverell, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, said: ‘We are thrilled to welcome Swarzy and Krishnan as Kew Ambassadors. Both bring powerful storytelling talents, deep integrity and a commitment to engaging the public on pressing global issues. Their voices will be invaluable as we continue to widen our reach and inspire the next generation to protect our planet.’
Kew’s Ambassadors: Advolly Richmond, Amir Khan (Dr), Andrés Rozental, Cate Blanchett, Dame Judi Dench, Emilia Fox, Henck Röling, James Wong, Kim Cattrall, Konnie Huq, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Megan McCubbin, Phoebe Smith and Swarzy Shire.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
New Season of Kew’s Podcast, Unearthed: The need for seeds
Join Cate Blanchett, Kew’s Ambassador for Wakehurst, in a special series of Kew’s podcast Unearthed: The need for seeds, celebrating 25 years of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank (MSB), the most biodiverse place on our planet. Hosted by Cate, the podcast explores the past, present and future of the seed bank, bringing to life one of the biggest and most important conservation initiatives in the world.
To listen to the podcast, visit Unearthed: The need for seeds.
About Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world-famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its outstanding collections and scientific expertise in plant and fungal diversity, conservation, and sustainable development in the UK and around the globe. Kew’s scientists and partners lead the way in the fight against biodiversity loss and finding nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, aided by five key scientific priorities outlined in Kew’s Science Strategy 2021-2025. Kew Gardens is also a major international and top London visitor attraction. Kew’s 132 hectares of historic, landscaped gardens, and Wakehurst, Kew’s Wild Botanic Garden and ‘living laboratory’, attract over 2.5 million visits every year. Kew Gardens was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003 and celebrated its 260th anniversary in 2019. Wakehurst is home to the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant seed bank in the world and a safeguard against the disastrous effects of climate change and biodiversity loss. RBG Kew received approximately one third of its funding from Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils. Further funding needs to support RBG Kew’s vital scientific and educational work comes from donors, memberships and commercial activity including ticket sales. For tickets, please visit www.kew.org/kew-gardens/visit-kew-gardens/tickets. 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 over 200,000 visitors with £1 tickets.