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’ Human Resources function and is a member of the Executive Committee. She oversees the development and delivery of best practice Human Resources 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.

Margaret Cole is responsible for oversight of all legal, governance, risk, and compliance functions for New Forests. In this role she leads New Forests’ team of legal, governance, risk, and compliance professionals to provide services across the company’s international funds management business. Margaret has represented lenders and investors in emerging and developed markets worldwide and has also worked as counsel at the International Finance Corporation in Washington from 1991 until July 1995. She was a partner with international law firm White & Case from 1995-2005 and again from 2010-2015, working in London, Bangkok, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi. From 2005 until 2010, she was General Counsel of an internationally active principal investment and asset management company in the infrastructure, operating leasing, real estate, and corporate finance sectors. Prior to joining New Forests, Margaret was a partner with international law firm Pinsent Masons, based in Sydney. Margaret is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), Member of the New York Bar, Solicitor, England and Wales, and a Member of the NSW Law Society.

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.

Adrian Williams is responsible for all finance, information technology, and business services functions of New Forests. He has oversight of New Forests’ finance and fund administration functions, including fund and client reporting, corporate financial reporting, and financial administration. Adrian is also on the executive team of New Forests, contributing to oversight and strategic planning for the business. Adrian works closely with New Forests’ funds management teams and directly with portfolio managers to oversee all funds accounting, ensuring it meets the company’s corporate standards and complies with all relevant legal and reporting obligations. Adrian has over 25 years’ experience leading finance, strategy, governance, risk, project, and operational teams and as a Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining New Forests, Adrian held a number of senior leadership roles in investment and funds management, real estate, media, and accountancy. Adrian has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Post Graduate Certificate in Social Impact from the University of NSW, Sydney. Adrian is also a Certified Practising Accountant and Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Adrian also has a strong history of community involvement and board memberships across a range of not-for-profit and social enterprises in the arts sector and assisting Indigenous Australians to pursue careers in finance and accounting.