Kath Smith is a highly respected horticulturalist and therapeutic horticultural (TH) practitioner with a career spanning decades and continents. Her journey began with a 4-year apprenticeship at the University of Western Australia, followed by a transformative 3-month internship at the prestigious Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK. In 1999, she earned her Kew Diploma, solidifying her expertise and launching her into a remarkable career. Kath secured a permanent horticultural position at Kew, where she specialized in the fascinating worlds of orchids, aroids, and carnivorous plants. Over 10+ years, she served as the Science Collections Coordinator, managing Tropical Nurseries and collections with exceptional skill. Kath also played a pivotal role in developing talent, setting up the highly regarded Kew Apprenticeship and Traineeship schemes.
New Shoots and Beyond
Kath’s passion extends beyond traditional horticulture. She co-founded New Shoots, a garden and maintenance service committed to excellence and sustainability. In addition, she shares her knowledge as a horticultural lecturer at North Metropolitan TAFE, inspiring the next generation of green thumbs. Kath also develops and delivers person-centred horticulture-based programs for primary and secondary students, demonstrating her commitment to therapeutic horticulture and its positive impact on well-being. Kath is a full member of THA and the WA Meet up Champion for WA.