Tim Smit

Sir Tim Smit KBE is Chief Executive, Development and co-founder of the Eden Project near St Austell in Cornwall.

Founded in 1995, the Award winning Eden Project contains world-class horticulture and architecture. It opened its doors to the public in 2000 and since then it has contributed over £1 billion into the Cornish economy. Whilst changing people’s perception of the potential for and the application of science, the Eden Project has also taken a pivotal role in local regeneration, demonstrating that sustainability is based on good business practice and the citizenship values of the future.

Prior to the Eden Project in 1987, Sir Tim (and John Nelson) ‘discovered’ and restored the Lost Gardens of Heligan, now one of the most popular botanical gardens in the UK, originally built in the 18th century. Sir Tim remains a Director of the gardens.

Previously, Sir Tim worked for ten years in the music industry as a composer and producer in both rock music and opera.

Sir Tim is a Trustee, Patron and Board Member of a number of statutory and voluntary bodies both locally and nationally. He has received a variety of national awards including The Royal Society of Arts Albert Medal. In 2002 he was awarded an Honorary CBE in the New Years Honours List and in 2011 he was appointed an honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Her Majesty the Queen. He has also received many Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships from a number of Universities.

Sir Tim was voted ‘Great Briton of 2007’ in the Environment category of the Morgan Stanley Great Britons Awards. In 2011 Tim was given a special award at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, which recognises the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement.

He has taken part in television and radio programmes and has been the subject of ‘This is Your Life’ and a guest on ‘Desert Island Discs’. He is the author of books about both Heligan and Eden and he has contributed to publications on a wide variety of subjects.