Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh’s Science Centre and Planetarium, is pleased to announce the appointment of Gwilym Gibbons as its new Chief Executive Officer, following a rigorous and far-reaching recruitment process. Gwilym will formally take up the role in May 2026, succeeding Anastasia Rocke, who has served as Interim CEO since July 2025.
Gwilym will join Dynamic Earth from The Crichton Trust – which manages an 85-acre parkland estate near Dumfries – where he has been Chief Executive since 2018. He brings extensive experience in strategic leadership and transformative change, having raised more than £70 million in revenue and capital investment over the past 15 years to support major UK heritage and arts projects. His track record includes leading the construction of the award-winning Mareel in Shetland (£14m) and the restoration and transformation of Perth Theatre (£16.6m).
Beyond his leadership in the cultural sector, Gwilym has a strong interest in technology innovation and sustainability. As an active lifeboat crew member and Senior Helm, he partnered with the University of Strathclyde to develop Safe Passage, an earth observation solution that charts navigational channels through uncharted waters from space. He also holds several non-executive positions with national and regional organisations, including Prosper Scotland, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, and the National Independent Lifeboat Association.
Gwilym’s contributions to the arts and education have been widely recognised: he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the University of the Highlands and Islands in 2014, is a Fellow of the RSA, a Chartered Fellow of the CMI, and holds an MSc in Cultural Management and Policy.
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Anastasia Rocke will step down from her interim role in May 2026. During her tenure, she has provided strong stewardship, drawing on her extensive experience as Corporate Services Director to ensure continuity and stability. Her leadership has guided the organisation through key elements of its ten-year strategy, while maintaining Dynamic Earth’s commitment to inspiring communities and advancing science engagement.
“We were enormously impressed with Gwilym’s experience, including in relation to large-scale capital projects, which we believe make him ideally placed to lead Dynamic Earth through an exciting period of change and transformation. We greatly look forward to him taking the helm next year,” said Sir Pete Downes, Chair of Dynamic Earth’s Board of Trustees. “We are deeply grateful to Anastasia for her dedication and leadership as Interim CEO. Her contribution has been invaluable.”
Gwilym Gibbons said, “I am honoured to join Dynamic Earth at such a pivotal time. The organisation’s mission to inspire curiosity about our planet and the sciences that explain it is one I am passionate about. I look forward to working with the team, stakeholders, partners, and communities to build on its remarkable legacy.”
