Monash University has established a new senior research Chair – the David Brand Foundation Professor in Natural Capital Investment – to work towards a more sustainable future through research that translates into commercialised and practical outcomes for the benefit of local and global communities.
Thanks to a philanthropic donation from the David Brand Foundation, this is Australia's first Chair in Natural Capital Investment.
CEO of Arborcrest Investments, David Brand is a globally-renowned forestry sector investor and nature capital investment philanthropist. As the founder of New Forests, Mr Brand developed a model for sustainable forestry investment which sees land use and forestry as central to the transition to a sustainable future.
The David Brand Foundation Chair in Natural Capital Investment will contribute to Monash University’s strategic priorities in sustainability, climate, responsible business and global impact.
Located within the Monash-Fiji National University Pacific Action for Climate Transitions (PACT) research centre, the Chair will work closely with colleagues across Monash Business School and the Monash University global network, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region through Monash University Indonesia and Monash University Malaysia.
Climate change, biodiversity loss and the accelerating degradation of natural systems are reshaping economic, social and geopolitical conditions across the Asia-Pacific. As governments and industries seek pathways to resilient nature positive growth, natural capital investment, as well as the valuation, stewardship and sustainable use of natural assets, is increasingly viewed as a pivotal mechanism for climate-aligned development.
Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University, Professor Sharon Pickering, said the Chair reflects Monash’s position as an international university of the Indo-Pacific. It brings together Monash’s strengths in climate science, sustainability, applied economics and responsible business with the University’s deeply anchored international network of campuses and locations across Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, India and beyond.
“At Monash we are committed to being one of the most influential and trusted non-state actors in the Indo-Pacific, contributing to peace and prosperity, and fostering innovation, understanding and connectedness. We have long-standing strengths in climate, sustainability and applied economics research, a distinctive regional footprint of transformative reach and scale, and a track record of delivering high-impact, mission-aligned programs and initiatives,” Professor Pickering said.
Professor Simon Wilkie, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics and Head of School of Monash Business School said: "Realising natural capital as a mainstream asset class is essential to unlocking nature-based solutions like sustainable forestry, delivering long-term, risk-efficient returns while driving decarbonisation and a nature-positive future.
"Monash Business School brings deep expertise in asset pricing, environmental accounting, development economics, impact evaluation, sustainable supply chains, market design, policy analysis and the circular economy and is the perfect home for this Chair.”
CEO of Arborcrest Investments, David Brand said: “Realizing the full value of natural capital to society is an essential precursor to scaling up nature-based solutions like sustainable forestry. The goal is not only to deliver competitive investment returns, but to provide capital to climate change adaptation and mitigation, nature conservation and restoration, and sustainable products and benefits including food, timber, water security and economically resilient communities.”
PACT Director, Professor Paul Dargusch said: “I am thrilled for Australia's inaugural Chair in Natural Capital Investment to be joining PACT.
“The David Brand Chair in Natural Capital Investment will be a valuable mechanism to strengthen capability, accelerate applied research, and shape long-term regional engagement in this field.”
Engagement across the region, particularly through the Pacific Action for Climate Transitions (PACT), Monash Malaysia and Monash Indonesia has highlighted the growing demand for applied research and education, policy capability and investment frameworks that support climate and nature-positive development.
The dedicated Chair in Natural Capital Investment supported through a philanthropic partnership will be a viable mechanism to strengthen capability, accelerate applied research, and shape long-term regional engagement in this field.
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