Sir Tim Smit KBE

Sir Tim Smit KBE, co-founder of the Eden Project and restorer of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, has demonstrated how ambitious ideas can reshape entire regions. Since opening in 2001, the Eden Project has contributed £6.8 billion to the South West economy, welcomed over 22 million visitors, and inspired Eden Projects on every inhabited continent. His sessions equip leaders with practical strategies for pursuing courageous ventures, embedding sustainability into profitable business models, and building projects that create lasting social and economic impact for generations.

Organisations today face mounting pressure to demonstrate that commercial success and environmental responsibility can coexist, yet few know how to turn bold ideas into reality at scale. Sir Tim Smit KBE is co-founder and Executive Vice-Chair of the Eden Project, an entrepreneur who has transformed derelict landscapes into world-renowned destinations and proven that ambitious vision, when coupled with practical action, can deliver extraordinary economic and social impact. From restoring the Lost Gardens of Heligan to creating the iconic biomes of the Eden Project, Tim has built ventures that educate millions whilst regenerating communities and challenging perceptions of what sustainability truly means in practice.

Tim's career demonstrates how creativity and rigour combine to achieve lasting change. After studying Archaeology and Anthropology at Durham University, he pursued diverse interests from music production to wreck diving before discovering and restoring the Lost Gardens of Heligan in 1990 with John Nelson. The project became one of the UK's most beloved gardens, named Garden of the Year by the BBC Countryfile Awards in 2018, and his book about the restoration won Book of the Year in 1997. The Eden Project, opened in 2001 in a former clay pit near St Austell, has since welcomed over 22 million visitors and contributed £6.8 billion to the South West economy over 25 years. As Executive Co-Chair of Eden Project International, Tim is now establishing Eden Projects on every inhabited continent, extending the model's reach globally. His achievements have earned him the Royal Society of Arts Albert Medal, an honorary KBE, and recognition as Great Briton of 2007 in the Environment category, alongside numerous honorary doctorates and a special award at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

Tim's speaking engagements equip leaders with practical frameworks for turning vision into viable enterprise. He shares candid insights on calculated risk-taking, securing investment for unconventional ideas, and building projects that balance commercial sustainability with ethical purpose. Audiences gain actionable strategies for galvanising teams around ambitious goals, navigating scepticism, and creating ventures that generate both profit and positive legacy. Whether addressing corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, or public sector innovators, Tim's down-to-earth storytelling and proven track record inspire organisations to reimagine what's possible when creativity meets determination, leaving them energised to pursue transformative change within their own spheres of influence.