Senior Education and Partnerships co-ordinator at the Auckland Botanic Gardens in New Zealand, Julia Watson is passionate about engaging people with plants. She is interested in how botanic gardens can remain relevant and recognised as significant places for communities, and how to overcome barriers to people enjoying and embracing the important role that botanic gardens play within our increasingly urbanised, frenetic and densely populated cities.

Julia has worked in horticultural education and community initiatives for over a decade, and currently runs the education and volunteer programmes, interpretation and engagement projects, new media initiatives and partnership programmes at the Auckland Botanic Gardens.

Julia is also the convenor of the Botanic Gardens Education Network (BGEN) for Australasia, sits on the Botanic Gardens Australia New Zealand (BGANZ) Council and is Vice President of BGANZ New Zealand.

Julia has an MSc in Systematics and Biodiversity Science from the University of Cape Town in South Africa and has worked in floriculture, retail horticulture, accessible community gardens and education during her career.