Board Members
New Forests’ Board of Directors is comprised of members representing each of the Company’s shareholders: David Blood, David Brand, Gary Flowers, Zeb Rice and John Rogers.
David Blood
David Blood is the Managing Partner of Generation Investment Management, a London-headquartered fund management business dedicated to long term investment and integrated sustainability research. Prior to co-founding Generation, Mr. Blood served as the co-CEO and CEO of Goldman Sachs Asset Management (“GSAM”) from 1999 to 2003. His responsibilities included all aspects of the global business including portfolio management, sales and client service, risk management and infrastructure (approximately 1,600 people and $325 billion in assets under management). From 1985 to 1999, Mr. Blood served in various positions at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., including Head of European Asset Management, Head of International Operations, Technology and Finance, Treasurer of the Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. and Head of Global Private Capital Markets. Mr. Blood was the first recipient of the John L. Weinberg Award in 1990, an award given to a professional in the investment banking division who best typifies Goldman Sachs' core values. He received his B.A. from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Business. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Hamilton College, Social Finance, New Forests Pty Limited and SHINE and a member of the Investment Committee of the Acumen Fund.
David Brand
Chairman
Dr. David Brand, Managing Director, has over twenty-five years experience in business management, investment management, science, public policy, public administration and international affairs. David is the founder of New Forests Pty Limited and has experience working with a wide range of public and private sector organisations in the forestry sector. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington, DC-based organisation Forest Trends and of Environment Business Australia and also serves on the Council of the World Economic Forum. Previously he was director of the New Forests Program with Hancock Natural Resource Group (HNRG), and was responsible for the design and oversight of investment programs that integrated timber management with emerging environmental market opportunities. Prior to joining HNRG, David was the Executive General Manager of State Forests of NSW. In that position he led pioneering transactions in the commercial development of environmental markets in New South Wales, Australia. From 1985-1995 he 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 has a PhD from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Toronto in Canada.
Gary Flowers
Gary Flowers joined Mirvac as Chief Operating Officer for the Funds Division in January 2008. In August 2008 he was appointed General Manager, Group Operations. In this role he is responsible for operations across the entire Mirvac Group.
Prior to joining Mirvac, Mr. Flowers had over 20 years experience in senior management positions. He was a partner at the law firm Sparke Helmore and held the position of Managing Partner/CEO from 1992. During this period, the firm grew from a base in New South Wales with a turnover of $10 million and 100 staff, to a national firm with offices in all major capital cities, turnover in excess of $90 million and over 800 staff.
In 2004, Mr. Flowers was appointed CEO/Managing Director of the Australian Rugby Union. He was responsible for:
- Renewal of the South African, New Zealand and the Australian Rugby Unions (SANZAR) joint venture;
- Successful negotiation of SANZAR broadcasting contract of US$350 million;
- Establishing a new Super 14 team based in Perth; and
- Establishing the Australian Rugby Championship, a new national rugby competition.
During this period, Mr. Flowers was also appointed CEO for SANZAR and International Rugby Board Councillor.
Zeb Rice
Zeb Rice is co-founder and a Managing Partner of Angeleno Group (AG). Mr. Rice has 10 years of energy investment and related transactional experience. Mr. Rice oversees AG's investment activities in the areas of energy storage, solar, carbon, geothermal and advanced lighting technologies. Prior to the formation of AG, Mr. Rice managed venture investing for News Ltd., a division of News Corporation. At News Corp. Mr. Rice originated transactions and deployed and/or managed News Corp.'s capital at a Board or General Manager level. His portfolio included seed or expansion stage investments in high growth technology companies. Mr. Rice held various positions managing software development projects and multi-million dollar marketing budgets for technology companies. Mr. Rice received a B.S. Magna Cum Laude in Government and Economics from Bowdoin College.
John Rogers
John Rogers has been on New Forests' Board of Directors since the Company's inception in 2005, when he helped arrange finance and advise on the management buy-out of the initial business from Hancock Natural Resource Group. Mr. Rogers has been a keen supporter of the New Forests' business model with its strong emphasis upon achieving environmental sustainability.
Mr. Rogers has an investment banking background with a focus on structured and principal finance. Over the last 8 years, Mr. Rogers has developed considerable transactional experience in the forestry sector.
Mr. Rogers has a Bachelor of Commerce (Hon) in Finance from the University of Western Australia and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Australian National University.