The Palm House

David currently works in fundraising and development for Right to Succeed, a charity that supports communities in areas of high deprivation through place-based change approaches to give children and young people the best start in life.

David has over 25 years’ experience of working in the voluntary and community sector in roles focused on strategy, fundraising, business development, communications and project delivery. David is the Deputy Chair and is committed to ensuring that the Sefton Park Palm House retains its unique appeal as both heritage and botanical venue and a special space for visitors and the community to relish and be enchanted.

Charlotte Smith has over 20 years' experience working in the cultural attractions sector, across a variety of community focused, commercial and leadership roles. She is currently Director of Conservation Education at Chester Zoo, where she is responsible for leading the development of education and engagement programmes at the zoo, across the North West and internationally.

She is passionate about the role of cultural organisations, particularly those with a nature focus, in supporting people's wellbeing and is interested in all aspects of sustainability. She is excited to be joining the board and supporting the Palm House to build on its existing successes into the future.

Pam is a former Head of Visitor Economy Development at the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and has spent the majority of her career working in tourism in Liverpool. She has played a key role in many of the city’s major tourism initiatives over the past 30 years, from the International Garden Festival in the 1980s to Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Pam first came to Liverpool in the late 1970s for a short-term role helping to shape the visitor experience at the Merseyside Maritime Museum. She quickly fell in love with the city and chose to make it her permanent home. Her passion lies in heritage and culture, particularly in finding imaginative new uses for historic buildings. She currently serves as Secretary of the Merseyside Civic Society.

Pam is a long-standing admirer of the Palm House and considers it a privilege to serve on the Board, helping to guide it towards an even more successful future.

Kate Rodenhurst MA FRSA is a consultant. She works with arts and heritage organisations across the UK to support them with strategic planning, fundraising and evaluation. After starting her career as a parliamentary researcher, she worked at National Museums Liverpool, where she developed community engagement programmes and projects across the city.

She was part of the research team which evaluated Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2008, and the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Kate is a Director of The RED Archive CIC. She has always loved the Palm House, although she struggles to keep her own house plants alive.

Having moved to Liverpool nearly 40 years ago, Donna feels honoured to be called an ‘adopted Scouser’ and her life is embedded in its culture – through her work, neighbourhood, family, friends, and football (a Red!). Living locally and being a lifelong advocate for nature-connectiveness, she values our urban parks as her ‘doorstep greenspace’.

With over 30 years’ experience caring for and curating the botany collections of National Museums Liverpool, she’s passionate about raising awareness of and celebrating our city’s botanical heritage. She understands the challenges faced in preserving the Palm House and its living collections, whilst making them both accessible to all and sustainable.

Rooting for People, Plants and Place, Donna considers it a privilege, as a Trustee to support the delivery of these goals and the valuable role the Palm House plays within our community.

Julie is an experienced Company Secretary with a proven track record in the delivery of robust governance frameworks spanning not for profit, commercial and charitable sectors.

With more than 25 years working in the housing sector, Julie is currently the Company Secretary for a leading housing and regeneration organisation and as such has seen first hand the positive impact a socially driven organisation can have on the lives of individuals and communities.

Julie is very proud to be part of the Palm House, supporting the team committed to preserving the iconic building, its beautiful botanical collection and improving the wellbeing of local residents.

Emily Hine has a professional background in grant making in the heritage and voluntary and community sector. She currently works as a Funding Officer focusing on Liverpool City Region for the National Lottery Community Fund.

As a local resident, Emily walks in Sefton Park most days and seeing the Palm House always raises a smile, recalling memories that her grandparents have shared about their visits as children evokes a strong feeling of place and connection across generations. This is what motivates her to be a part of the team to preserve this important part of Liverpools heritage to be enjoyed by future generations.