Portland Botanical Gardens (PBG) is pleased to announce that as of June 15, 2026, Scot Medbury has become its first-ever President and CEO. This appointment marks a major milestone in the effort to create an urban botanical garden on Portland’s waterfront, positioning it for its next phase of fundraising, site acquisition, and development.
Mr. Medbury is President Emeritus of Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) in New York City, an
institution widely known for trailblazing programs in youth environmental education and community greening. During his 15-year tenure from 2005 to 2020, BBG’s endowment grew from $17M to $125M. He launched and completed a $125M capital campaign that resulted in a decade of growth on the historic 52-acre campus, including award-winning new gardens, sustainability features, and visitor facilities. In 2014, Scot accepted the National Medal for Museum Service on behalf of BBG from First Lady Michelle Obama at a White House ceremony.
Mr. Medbury is also a former director of the Sonoma Botanical Garden and of Golden Gate Park’s San Francisco Botanical Garden and Conservatory of Flowers. At the historic Conservatory, he oversaw a comprehensive restoration and exhibitions upgrade that re-established the 1878 glasshouse as one of San Francisco’s premier attractions.
Over his decades-long career, Mr. Medbury has held appointments at gardens in Washington state, Hawai’i, Great Britain, and New Zealand. He recently served as Interim Executive Director of the Humboldt Botanical Garden in Eureka, California and as Interim CEO of the Center for Plant Conservation, a national network dedicated to preventing the extinction of the most endangered plants of the United States.
Medbury has long connections with the Pacific Northwest, with family in Portland and Hood River and throughout Puget Sound country. He holds two degrees from the University of Washington in Seattle: a BA from the Jackson School of International Studies and an MS from the UW Center for Urban Horticulture. For the last 15 years he has been developing a garden of tender plants in coastal southwestern Oregon, and has been a frequent visitor to Portland over the years.
Mr. Medbury has advised PBG since its inception in 2020. With his appointment as President and CEO, he will assume day-to-day executive responsibility. PBG Executive Director Matt Taylor will remain with the project as a Special Advisor.
“We are thrilled to welcome Scot Medbury to Portland and continue the momentum of creating a world-class botanical garden near Portland’s center,” said Board Chair Karl Rapfogel. “Scot’s deep experience and leadership will be invaluable in advancing this transformative project, which will serve Portland and demonstrate innovative horticultural practices for a warming climate.”
“I am truly honored to be invited to lead this extraordinary enterprise,” said Medbury. “The proposed riverfront site for the Portland Botanical Gardens is an inspiringly beautiful place for an urban botanical garden and will be an unforgettable place for families to explore the fascinating world of plants.”
The critical next chapter for the organization involves launching a Site Acquisition Initiative to finalize the purchase of the 41-acre upland portion of the McCormick & Baxter Superfund Site on the Willamette River. The property has been ready for reuse for over two decades after the successful environmental remediation efforts of the EPA and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and longstanding advocacy by tribal and community leaders.
For more information on the Portland Botanical Gardens, or to arrange an interview with Scot Medbury, please visit www.portlandbg.org, or email info@portlandbg.org.