David Brand founded New Forests in 2005 and leads the company’s investment programs. He is a member of New Forests’ Board of Directors and is the Chair of the company’s Investment Committees.

David has over 40 years’ experience in forestry investment, forest management, science, and public policy. He 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, the Board of International NGO the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction, the Australian Government Ministerial Advisory Committee on Forestry 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.