Save the Children UK’s chief executive Gwen Hines is to step down after being appointed to lead conservation charity Plant Heritage.

Hines leaves after five years at the charity. She joined as executive director of global programmes before being promoted to CEO in July 2021.

Prior to joining the international children's charity she spent three years as director of international relations at the government’s then Department for International Development.

She also spent four years at the department working as a country director in Malawi and Bangladesh.

In addition, she has spent three years working in Washington as executive director for the UK at The World Bank.

She is leaving “to pursue her passion for plans and conservation in the next stage of her career”, according to a statement from Save the Children.

Hines describes Plant Heritage as “a brilliant organisation that works to conserve special plants across the UK and Ireland”. She is set to join the conservation charity as its chief executive in spring 2024.

Leaving Save the Children UK is “a big wrench”, she said.

“But I'm lucky enough to have two passions in my life, and after 27 years working on first one (child rights and international development) I'm going to focus on my second passion for plants and conservation,” added Hines.

“In the meantime, thank you to my amazing colleagues at Save the Children who do amazing work to fight for children's rights in the UK and across the globe, every day. And thank you to my new colleagues for taking a risk on me.”

Save the Children’s interim chair Richard Winter said: “Gwen has fostered a culture of kindness and respect while at the same time ensuring great results are achieved for children.”

Meanwhile, Plant Heritage’s chair Cecilia Bufton said: “To have such an experienced leader will be a real asset. Her passion for horticulture embodies the ethos of everyone at Plant Heritage.”

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