The Hancock Natural Resource Group specializes in global timberland, farmland, and renewable energy portfolio development and management. Hancock Timber Resource Group (HTRG) is the world’s largest timberland investment manager for institutional investors, with $10.5 billion in global assets managed in Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand and the United States.

President and Managing Director of Hancock Timber, Brent Keefer, brought the Forest History Society to the attention of the company’s leadership team, which then supported the Society in three thoughtful ways: a leading gift for our new building, a renewal of their 14-year history of annual support, and the donation of exquisite hand-etched glass panels from their former corporate office that will be used in our new library.

Brent is responsible for the overall management of HTRG’s business. He has a background in global resource planning and timberland investment valuation, as well as analysis of new investment regions and global timberland risk and return. Prior to joining HTRG in 1998, Brent worked for Rayonier Inc. for ten years in the U.S. Southeast managing forest resource information and planning systems. He has a BS in forest resource management and an MS in forest biometrics and GIS/remote sensing from Virginia Tech.

What inspired you to make your gift?

Our firm’s motto is that “good stewardship is good business.” Helping others understand the importance of stewarding our natural resources goes beyond our business and extends to the forestry sector as a whole. We want to see people connect with natural resources and understand the value in managing these resources sustainably. Partnering with the Forest History Society is one way we can help support that objective.

What advice do you have for those pursuing a career in timberland investment?

The key is to pursue what you love and are passionate about. If you have a passion for natural resources and connecting that to sustainable investment management, then many opportunities await you in timberland investment. This field is dynamic and exciting so I encourage folks to stay flexible! As in any career, developing a social network is critical and it is never too early to start building and nurturing those relationships.