Our leadership

David Brand founded New Forests in 2005 and leads the company’s investment programs. He is Chair of New Forests’ Board of Directors and the Chair of the company’s Investment Committees. David has over 40 years’ experience in forestry investment, forest management, science, and public policy. David is dedicated to innovative, responsible investment strategies in the forest sector and associated assets, including infrastructure, wood processing, and environmental markets. Previously, David was responsible for investment programs that integrated forest management with emerging environmental market opportunities at Hancock Natural Resources Group (HNRG). Prior to joining HNRG, David was the Executive General Manager of State Forests of NSW where he led pioneering transactions in the commercial development of environmental markets. From 1985-1995, David worked with the Canadian Forest Service as a scientist, director of scientific programs, and ultimately as national Director-General of Science and Sustainable Development. He serves on the Advisory Board of The World BioEconomy Forum, the Board of Directors of the Washington, DC-based non-governmental organisation Forest Trends, the Board of Trustees of Bangkok-based Intergovernmental Organisation The Centre for People and Forests, and is Chair of wood processing business, Timberlink Australia. David has a PhD from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Toronto in Canada.

Katie Lintner Chambers leads New Forests’ People & Culture function and is a member of the Executive Committee. She oversees the development and delivery of best practice People & Culture strategy across the company and manages consistent learning and development, recruitment, leadership, and well-being programs for all employees. Katie has more than 20 years of experience across the financial services, legal, and architecture industries in Australia, Asia, and the UK. She is experienced in employee relations, recruitment, training, and the development, implementation, and management of significant HR change programs within growing businesses. Katie has a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology/Art History) degree from the University of Sydney and is a Professional Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute.

Mark Rogers was appointed Chief Executive Officer of New Forests in April 2023. He is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the business, which includes overseeing the growth of both New Forests and New Agriculture.

Mark joined New Forests in 2016, and was previously head of New Forests’ Australia, New Zealand and United States businesses where he oversaw the investments and operations in those regions.

Mark has over 25 years’ experience in real asset sales and acquisition, regulation, greenfields project development, and finance. Mark is a member of several New Forests’ Investment Committees and operating company boards. He has also had extensive experience as a Non-Executive Director on numerous other real asset companies. Mark has a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Economics, and a Masters of Law from the Australian National University in Australia, and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sarah Campbell oversees the legal function for New Forests, globally. In this role she leads New Forests’ team of legal professionals to provide services across the company’s global funds management business. Sarah has over 20 years’ legal and funds management experience. Prior to joining New Forests, Sarah was the General Counsel and Company Secretary at Adamantem Capital; Senior Legal Counsel at AMP Limited and AMP Capital; and a Senior Associate in the Corporate Advisory and M&A team at Clayton Utz. Sarah has a Bachelor of Commerce and Laws (First Class Honours) from the University of Sydney, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and holds a NSW Law Society Practising Certificate.

Geoffrey Seeto oversees New Forests’ forestry investment program in Southeast Asia and Africa, with 20 years’ experience in financial services, principally in private equity in the infrastructure, natural resources, and energy sectors. He is an experienced investor in the Asian region, having led, originated, and executed a wide range of transactions in various regulatory regimes. He has completed deals in Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and China. Outside of Asia, he has worked in North America, Europe, and Australia. Geoffrey was previously at KPMG, where he was Partner, Asia Infrastructure Markets. Geoffrey was also formerly Managing Director and Head of Investments for the China-ASEAN Investments Fund from 2009-2014 and has held senior positions investing in infrastructure for Babcock & Brown and ABN AMRO. Geoffrey has a bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master of Laws from the University of Sydney.

Jeff Briggs is responsible for driving the overall strategy for New Forests’ North American business, focusing on delivering consistent and stable investment returns for clients, while contributing to communities and livelihoods, and the circular bioeconomy.

Jeff brings over 30 years’ experience in leading, managing and growing businesses across the investment, renewable energy and agriculture sectors. He was most recently Chief Operating Officer at WasteFuel, a company which converts municipal solid waste into low-carbon fuels including renewable natural gas, and green methanol.

Previously Jeff held the role of Chief Operating Officer at Green Plains Renewable Energy, a Fortune 1000, publicly traded renewable energy company, while also sitting on the Board of Green Plains Partners. Jeff was a founding partner of investment firm Frigate Capital where he was a portfolio manager, analysing investments in the small and midcap value space, and constructing the investment portfolio. 

Early on in his career Jeff was a Nuclear Submarine Officer with the United States Navy.

He has a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School, and a Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering from the University of California.

Yida is responsible for driving the strategy for New Forests’ African business, fund raising for African forestry strategies, leading the team on the ground in Nairobi, and delivering investment returns and impact outcomes for clients. Yida is part of New Forests’ executive committee.

He brings over two decades of experience leading, investing in, and growing businesses primarily in Eastern Africa across various sectors related to agriculture and nature-based solutions, as well as infrastructure and consumer industries.

Yida was previously a senior partner with Phatisa Group, a food and agriculture focused sub-Saharan African private equity fund management business, where he was responsible for origination and portfolio management in Eastern Africa, as well as being a member of the investment committee and portfolio company boards.

Yida has a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and a Master of Engineering from the University of London.

David Shelton has responsibility for all forestry, infrastructure, and agricultural acquisitions and dispositions programs for New Forests’ Australia, New Zealand and US funds. David manages teams based in Australia and the United States responsible for sourcing and evaluating new investment opportunities, including structuring and executing transactions, financial analysis, business planning, negotiation, due diligence, and tax planning.

David has led New Forests Australia and New Zealand investments since 2006. These investments have included complex transactions such as the restructuring of former managed investment scheme assets, acquisitions out of receivership, and the rationalisation of large hardwood and softwood estates, along with substantial processing and infrastructure assets.

David represents client funds on several company boards and has experience in investment transactions and natural resource focused research projects in more than 15 countries, primarily in Australasia. Before joining New Forests, David worked in natural resource economics policy and research at Australia’s scientific research agency (CSIRO), focusing on the design of investment and incentive programs for natural resource management agencies. David has a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) from Charles Sturt University and a MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management.

Michelle is responsible for overseeing New Forests’ global funds management platform to support future growth and opportunities. In this newly created role, Michelle looks at ways to improve efficiencies across investments, operations, and investment analytics, while harnessing data and technology to support the company’s strategic growth priorities. Michelle sits on the executive team and chairs New Forests’ funds platform sub-committee.

Prior to joining New Forests, Michelle spent 17 years at Macquarie Asset Management in a variety of leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer, Asia Pacific and was previously an auditor with KPMG.

Michelle has a Bachelor of Commerce and Law with honours in financial accounting and is a member of the Chartered Accountants Board of South Africa.

Warwick Keneally is responsible for overseeing New Forests’ Finance, Risk and Compliance, IT and Business Services functions, including fund and client reporting, corporate financial reporting, and financial administration. Warwick is also on the executive team for New Forests, contributing to oversight and strategic planning for the business.

Warwick works closely with New Forests’ funds management teams and directly with Fund Leads to oversee all funds accounting, ensuring it meets the company’s corporate standards and complies with all relevant legal and reporting obligations. ​

Prior to joining New Forests, Warwick was the Chief Financial Officer of New Energy Solar Limited and US Solar Fund plc, listed companies which invested in portfolios of utility scale renewable energy assets in the US.. Before joining E&P Investments Limited, Warwick worked in chartered accounting firms specialising in turnaround and restructuring.

Warwick commenced his career with KPMG, working in their Canberra, Sydney and London offices and has undertaken a range of complex restructuring and insolvency engagements. Warwick has worked with companies and lenders to develop and implement strategic business options, provide advice in relation to continuous disclosure requirements, develop cash forecasting training for national firms, and lectured on cash management. ​​

Warwick has a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Commerce from Australian National University and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand.