Meet our experts

Meet the passionate people who work behind the scenes of the Botanic Gardens of Sydney.

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Katherine Thomson is a Seedbank Assistant at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney.

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In 2003, Kayte started her career in horticulture as a fresh-faced apprentice.

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Kristina McColl brings over three decades of expertise – and an Honours degree in Environmental Sciences, majoring in Botany – to her role as a Collections Curator at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan. 

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Laura Watts is the Collections Development Coordinator for the Australian PlantBank. 

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Lesley Elkan is a talented Botanical Illustrator based at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan.

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Lotte oversees the maintenance and procurement of equipment used by scientists for their research.

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Scientific Officer – Biodiversity Research at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney.

Marco Duretto

Marco Duretto is the Science, Education and Conservation (SEC) Operations Manager. 

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Margaret Heslewood is a Project Officer (Plant Molecular) at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney.

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Mark Kilpatrick is the Senior Horticulturalist responsible for overseeing the Middle Gardens Precinct at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. 

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Marlien van der Merwe is a Scientific Officer specialising in restoration and conservation genomics.

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Matt Coyne is the Senior Arborist at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.