Jack Westoby Lecture 2025: The Evolution of Forestry into a Natural Capital Asset Class
A path winds its way through a forest

Jack Westoby Lecture 2025: The Evolution of Forestry into a Natural Capital Asset Class

The Jack Westoby Lecture recognises the contribution to forestry internationally by Jack Westoby (1912-1988).

The Biennial Lecture Series was initiated in 1997 and is made possible by the generosity of the Westoby Family.

schedule Date & time
26 Feb 2025 5:30pm
person Speaker
David Brand (Executive Chair, New Forests and Chair, International Sustainable Forestry Coalition)
contact_support Contact
Fenner Communications
fses.communications@anu.edu.au

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Description

The Lecture will be followed by a reception at the Fenner School of Environment & Society.
Please RSVP by emailing fses.communications@anu.edu.au by 20 February to join the reception.

Forestry provides both sustainable, renewable materials in society, but also the regulation of carbon, conservation of nature and provision of freshwater. The recognition that forestry can play a larger role in a series of inter-linked transitions across energy, transport, materials, the built environment and land use is driving a reconceptualization of the sector.  Investors are considering how to recast portfolio design to encompass decarbonization, nature conservation and even social capital accounting.   This is providing new opportunities to grow and enhance the role of the forestry sector in society.  However, there are also key challenges in natural capital accounting, expansion of sustainable forestry feedstock supply, and breaking down silos across forestry, agriculture and conservation.  The presentation will discuss these opportunities and issues to point a way forward for this new natural capital asset class.

 

About the Speaker

David Brand looks and smiles at the camera. He wears a pale blue shirt, black suit jacket and black spotted tie.
 
David Brand is the founding Chair of the International Sustainable Forestry Coalition—a group of private forestry companies dedicated to supporting the transition to a nature positive bioeconomy.
 
David also founded investment management business New Forests in 2005. He is Executive 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.
 
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.

David has a PhD from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Toronto in Canada.

The Jack Westoby Lecture recognises the contribution to forestry internationally by Jack Westoby (1912-1988).

The Biennial Lecture Series was initiated in 1997 and is made possible by the generosity of the Westoby Family.

Location

Forestry Lecture Theatre, Building #42 Linnaeus Way, Acton, Canberra

And Via ZOOM