Agriculture team

Dan is responsible for leading the global water team of the firm’s timberland and agriculture businesses by working closely with investment and property management functions to develop and execute the water investment, policy, and operations strategy. Prior to joining the firm, Dan was a principal at Aither, an Australian consulting firm, where he led the rural water and water markets consulting practice area. 

• Education: First Class Honours, B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies—Environmental Policy and International Relations, Australian National University  
• Joined the company: 2019 
• Began career: 2013 

Dave leads the firm’s farmland acquisition and divestiture programs in North and South America. In this role, he manages a team that focuses on sourcing and disposing of farmland investment opportunities, managing the due diligence and escrow process, and developing strategic alliance opportunities.  Previously, Dave was managing director of U.S. farmland acquisitions and dispositions, and earlier, he was senior vice president at Hancock Farmland Services, providing oversight for the management of the firm’s leased row crop properties in the United States, as well as providing support for acquisitions and sales east of the Rocky Mountains. He was also responsible for oversight of the development and direct farming operations for 2,270 acres (~918 hectares) of cranberries in Wisconsin. Prior to joining Farmland Management Services, he worked as a farm manager for JHUSA. Earlier in his career, he promoted crop protectants to distributors, dealers, and farmers for the company now known as Aventis Crop Science. Dave is a licensed managing broker in the state of Illinois and holds the Accredited Farm Manager designation with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

• Education: B.S., Agronomy, Ohio State University
• Joined the company: 1988
• Began career: 1981

Brian is responsible for the global sustainability platform for Manulife Investment Management’s private and public markets businesses. This spans timberland, agriculture, real estate, infrastructure, private equity, and private credit as well as public markets’ equity, fixed income, and multi-asset strategies. Brian is accountable for sustainability strategy, developing internal sustainable investing policies and compliance mechanisms across Manulife Investment Management. He also supports regulatory affairs and reporting on sustainability matters. Previously, Brian was chief sustainability officer for Manulife Investment Management’s private markets business and before that he was the chief sustainability officer at Hancock Natural Resource Group, Manulife’s timberland and agriculture business. Prior to joining the firm, he was director of policy at Forest Capital Partners, where he was responsible for a variety of programs, including forest certification, forest policy, government affairs, public relations, conservation transactions, and ecology support. Brian represents Manulife Investment Management on several external groups and committees, and he holds the Certified Wildlife Biologist designation from The Wildlife Society.

• Education: B.S., Wildlife Ecology, Michigan State University; M.S., Wildlife Management, South Dakota State University
• Joined the company: 2012       
• Began career: 1995

Julie serves as a senior agricultural portfolio manager and leads business development for Manulife Investment Management’s global agriculture strategy. Julie's 30-plus years of experience in agriculture investing include portfolio management, product development, relationship management and consultancy.   Prior to joining Manulife Investment Management in 2018, Julie was director of agriculture at Conservation Resource Partners and, before that, was the product strategist for timber and agriculture at Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC where she led the development of and fundraising for GMO Renewable Resources’ first agriculture fund. Previously, she was an independent consultant in agricultural investment. Earlier in her career, Julie was instrumental in the development of the Hancock Agricultural Investment Group where she served as portfolio manager for the agricultural platform for several years. At Hancock, she also led the first-ever securitization of U.S. agricultural mortgages through Farmer Mac. Julie is a CFA® charterholder and is a member of the CFA Society Boston.

• Education: B.A., Dartmouth College; M.B.A., Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
• Joined the company: 2018
• Began career: 1985

Tricia oversees Manulife Investment Management’s timberland and agriculture groups’ legal team in supporting customary and strategic transactional initiatives and operational, management, and client needs in the investment and property management businesses. Previously, she provided in-house counsel to John Hancock’s North American corporate finance group in connection with equity and debt investments. Prior to joining the firm, Tricia was a corporate attorney for sixteen years, where she provided legal services and advice to clients in all manner of business transactions, including private equity, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and corporate governance. 

• Education: B.A., English and Philosophy, Boston College; J.D., Boston College Law School 
• Joined the company: 2018 
• Began career: 2000

Hugues is responsible for the development and execution of agriculture investment strategies and growth initiatives, working closely with the Global Head of Agriculture. Hugues is also responsible for identifying and mitigating risk exposures related to Manulife Investment Management’s agriculture investment process, products and client investments. Hugues is a member of the Natural Resource Investment Committee (NRIC). He oversees portfolio construction and management function, and ensures investment processes and policies are current across the platform. He also plays a lead role in investment entity governance and appropriate risk framework for our clients. Additionally, he manages the Economic Research, Portfolio Management & Client Service (PMCS) and Global Water Resource teams.

Hugues previously served as Global Head of Valuation, managing the valuation team, financial models, investment plans and analyses for the firm’s global agriculture clients across the US, Canada, Australia and Chile. Prior to joining the firm in 2017, Hugues served as the Director of Research with MetLife Agricultural Investments and as a Senior Industry Analyst with SunTrust Bank, where he developed a market risk analysis platform for the food and agribusiness portfolios. Hugues holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designations. He also grew up on a dairy and cash crop farm near Montreal, Canada.

• Education: A.D., Farm Management, B.S., Agronomy, M.S., Agricultural Economics, McGill University
• Joined the company: 2017
• Began career: 1993

Wilfred leads the financial management of the firm’s timberland, agriculture, real estate, and infrastructure business units. Previously, he held the position of Chief Financial Officer for the global timberland and farmland operations and before commencing in that position in 2015 he was responsible for the overall management of the timberland and agriculture business in Australia and New Zealand, including coordinating financial work on international acquisitions and financial review of international operations. Prior to joining the firm in 2004, Wilfred was the chief financial officer of companies involved in the retail and entertainment industries, where he had overall responsibility for financial, treasury, and taxation aspects of the companies. Earlier in his career, Wilfred worked at a major accounting firm, where he had significant involvement with audit and corporate finance activities, including mergers and acquisitions and valuations. 

• Education: B.Com., University of New South Wales; M.Ecs., Macquarie University 
• Joined the company: 2004
• Began career: 1985
  

Andrew leads the ongoing strategy, management, and growth of the firm’s Australasian farmland platform. Andrew has extensive experience in farmland agriculture in Australia and other countries. Prior to joining the firm, Andrew held senior management positions with ConAgra and Mitsubishi. Andrew has been a managing director of Hancock Farming Company and Hancock Natural Resource Group Australasia, the property manager for Manulife Investment Management’s Australian assets since its inception. Andrew serves on the farmland investment committee, company boards for the firm’s Australian investment vehicles, chairing each of the firm’s Australian investment vehicles and is a member of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology.

• Education: B.S., Applied Science in Agriculture, Charles Stuart University at Wagga
• Joined the company: 2000     
• Began career: 1987

Oliver is responsible for the overall direction and growth of Manulife Investment Management’s institutional agriculture investment program. He’s a member of the senior management team for the firm’s timberland and agriculture businesses and serves on the executive committee. He also leads the farmland management team, serves on the farmland investment committee, and chairs company boards for the firm’s Australian investment vehicles. Previously, Oliver headed the farmland asset management function. Prior to joining the firm in 1997, he spent five years with First Pioneer Farm Credit, where he was responsible for evaluating and appraising farmland and farm businesses for potential loans. Oliver holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, the Association for Investment Management and Research, and the Boston Security Analysts Society.

• Education: B.S., Agricultural Economics, Cornell University
• Joined the company: 1997
• Began career: 1997

Sarah is responsible for developing and managing client relationships for the firm’s agriculture group. In this role, Sarah crafts responses to due diligence requests, client presentations, quarterly reports, portfolio updates, webinars, annual meetings.  She is also involved in coordinating and supporting activities associated with the business development team.  Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Sarah was a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith where she designed and implemented custom portfolios and wealth management strategies for high-net worth individuals.  Prior to joining Merrill, Sarah worked at Meketa Investment Group as the private markets marketing & business development coordinator.  Prior to that, Sarah worked at Park Street Capital, a Boston-based private equity fund-of-funds, for thirteen years serving as vice president of investor relations and senior research associate for the firm’s natural resource funds. 

• Education: B.S., Marketing, Boston College
• Joined the company: 2021
• Began career: 2002

Michael supports the management of both agriculture and timberland client portfolios. He is responsible for analyzing investment performance drivers, evaluating acquisition and disposition opportunities, preparing client portfolio reviews and financial reports, assisting with the development and implementation of acquisition funding strategies, monitoring global agriculture and timberland and their respective markets, reviewing property budgets and long-term management plans. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a consultant at FactSet Research Systems in their global banking & brokerage and investment management groups.  

• Education: B.S., Economics – Finance, Bentley University 
• Joined the company: 2020 
• Began Career: 2017

Stuart provides agricultural portfolio management and client relationship management for separate accounts and commingled investment vehicles. In this role, he evaluates portfolio performance, acquisition, and disposition opportunities and develops and implements client investment strategies. Prior to joining the firm in 2020, he consulted on alternative asset investment strategies with private asset managers in Canada and the United States as well as being the Director of Private Investments at Bonnefield Financial, Canada’s largest farmland investment manager, where he was responsible for business development and the active management of a portfolio of Canadian farmland on behalf of private investors. Previously, Stuart was an agriculture equity research associate at AltaCorp Capital (now ATB Capital Markets) and a natural gas trader with TD Securities. 

• Education: B.A., History, University of King’s College and Dalhousie University; M.B.A., HEC Montréal–Université de Montréal
• Joined the company: 2020
• Began career: 2006

Ben provides agricultural portfolio management and client relationship management for separate accounts and commingled investment vehicles.  In this role, he evaluates portfolio performance, acquisition, and disposition opportunities and develops and implements client investment strategies.  Prior to joining the firm in 2021, he worked as an associate at Liberty Mutual Investments, where he actively managed direct investment holdings across the firm’s timberland and agricultural portfolio. Previously, Ben worked for GMO Renewable Resources, where he was responsible for asset management, portfolio analytics, and research across the firm’s timberland and agricultural strategies.

• Education: B.A., Economics and Biology, DePauw University; M.B.A., Boston University
• Joined the company: 2021
• Began career: 2004

Mitchell supports the management of agriculture client portfolios. He is responsible for analyzing investment performance drivers, evaluating acquisition and disposition opportunities, preparing client portfolio reviews and financial reports, assisting with the development and implementation of acquisition funding strategies, monitoring global agriculture and agriculture markets, and reviewing property budgets and long-term management plans. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a corporate audit analyst at Bank of America where he covered their global banking and markets line of business. He is also a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA®) Charterholder.  

• Education: B.S., Finance, Bryant University 
• Joined the company: 2022 
• Began Career: 2020

Dave leads the firm’s farmland acquisition and divestiture programs in North and South America. In this role, he manages a team that focuses on sourcing and disposing of farmland investment opportunities, managing the due diligence and escrow process, and developing strategic alliance opportunities.  Previously, Dave was managing director of U.S. farmland acquisitions and dispositions, and earlier, he was senior vice president at Hancock Farmland Services, providing oversight for the management of the firm’s leased row crop properties in the United States, as well as providing support for acquisitions and sales east of the Rocky Mountains. He was also responsible for oversight of the development and direct farming operations for 2,270 acres (~918 hectares) of cranberries in Wisconsin. Prior to joining Farmland Management Services, he worked as a farm manager for JHUSA. Earlier in his career, he promoted crop protectants to distributors, dealers, and farmers for the company now known as Aventis Crop Science. Dave is a licensed managing broker in the state of Illinois and holds the Accredited Farm Manager designation with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

• Education: B.S., Agronomy, Ohio State University
• Joined the company: 1988
• Began career: 1981

Eric is responsible for developing timberland and agriculture products that deliver on the firm’s sustainability and responsible investing priorities. In this role, he’s directly involved in developing the firm’s carbon and climate investment strategy, supporting new business development, and providing market intelligence and leadership. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Eric was a senior director with NatureVest, the impact investing arm of The Nature Conservancy, where he led asset management and the investment committee’s review of new transactions. Previously, he was a principal with The Skoll Foundation, a private foundation focused on social entrepreneurship, where he led program-related and follow-on investments.

• Education: B.S., Economics, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania; M.A., International Economics and International Relations, School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University
• Joined the company: 2021
• Began career: 2004

Carl directs acquisitions and originates investment opportunities in the Pacific West to meet our client’s needs. Previously, Carl was president and a founding member of Farmland Management Services (FMS) which was acquired by the firm in 2014. Prior to joining FMS in 1987, Carl farmed permanent and row cropland for Newhall Land & Farming Co. Carl has vast operational knowledge and expertise of permanent and row crops and water in the Pacific West, and a wealth of business and personal contacts. He has sourced and closed many acquisitions for our clients during his tenure at the firm. Carl is an Accredited Farm Manager.

• Education: B.S., Agricultural Management, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; M.B.A., Golden Gate University
• Joined the company: 1987
• Began career: 1982

Danielle is responsible for sourcing permanent crop properties throughout California.  In this role, she sources, underwrites, negotiates, performs due diligence, and closes agriculture investment opportunities.  Previously, Danielle was a senior transaction manager supporting the row and permanent crop acquisition efforts across the United States and Canada, as well as vertically integrated opportunities in South America.  Danielle served as operations manager for the agriculture farm management team from 2013 to 2016.  Prior to that, Danielle was an analyst in Manulife’s Real Estate Finance Group. 

• Education: B.S., Business Administration, Northeastern University; M.B.A., Boston College
• Joined the company: 2013
• Began career: 2010

Almin is responsible for oversight of Farmland Plus portfolio companies.  In this role, Almin is primarily focused on integration of new investments, development of the tactical plans to prepare the portfolio companies for growth, and execution of the value creation plan for each portfolio company.  Almin also supports the deal origination and execution efforts, as well as leads the communication and collaboration efforts with internal stakeholders.  Previously, he worked at a large healthcare payor Aetna, where he led several large enterprise-wide efforts focusing on risk management, operational excellence, and cost optimization.  Prior to joining Aetna, Almin worked for Bunge, a global agribusiness and food ingredient company where he held several roles in various capacities ranging from global segment finance lead to roles focusing on business development, strategy and mergers and acquisitions.  Prior to joining Bunge, Almin worked as an investment banker focusing on the natural resource and energy space.  

• Education: B.A., Russian Language, Dartmouth College; M.B.A., NYU Stern School of Business
• Joined the company: 2022
• Began career: 2000

Brian is responsible for the global sustainability platform for Manulife Investment Management’s private and public markets businesses. This spans timberland, agriculture, real estate, infrastructure, private equity, and private credit as well as public markets’ equity, fixed income, and multi-asset strategies. Brian is accountable for sustainability strategy, developing internal sustainable investing policies and compliance mechanisms across Manulife Investment Management. He also supports regulatory affairs and reporting on sustainability matters. Previously, Brian was chief sustainability officer for Manulife Investment Management’s private markets business and before that he was the chief sustainability officer at Hancock Natural Resource Group, Manulife’s timberland and agriculture business. Prior to joining the firm, he was director of policy at Forest Capital Partners, where he was responsible for a variety of programs, including forest certification, forest policy, government affairs, public relations, conservation transactions, and ecology support. Brian represents Manulife Investment Management on several external groups and committees, and he holds the Certified Wildlife Biologist designation from The Wildlife Society.

• Education: B.S., Wildlife Ecology, Michigan State University; M.S., Wildlife Management, South Dakota State University
• Joined the company: 2012       
• Began career: 1995

Brandon is responsible for implementation of the timberland and agriculture group’s Sustainability and Responsible Investing program. In this role, he works to integrate sustainability considerations throughout all aspects of the firm’s timber and agriculture businesses globally, including corporate policy, investor communications and reporting, acquisition due diligence, product development, and operations. Prior to this position, Brandon held various technical and consulting roles in environmental finance, renewable energy, and mining.  

• Education: BSc in Geology from Wheaton College; MSc in Geology, Colorado School of Mines; MPA in International Development from Princeton University
• Joined the company: 2019
• Began career: 2008

Hugues is responsible for the development and execution of agriculture investment strategies and growth initiatives, working closely with the Global Head of Agriculture. Hugues is also responsible for identifying and mitigating risk exposures related to Manulife Investment Management’s agriculture investment process, products and client investments. Hugues is a member of the Natural Resource Investment Committee (NRIC). He oversees portfolio construction and management function, and ensures investment processes and policies are current across the platform. He also plays a lead role in investment entity governance and appropriate risk framework for our clients. Additionally, he manages the Economic Research, Portfolio Management & Client Service (PMCS) and Global Water Resource teams.

Hugues previously served as Global Head of Valuation, managing the valuation team, financial models, investment plans and analyses for the firm’s global agriculture clients across the US, Canada, Australia and Chile. Prior to joining the firm in 2017, Hugues served as the Director of Research with MetLife Agricultural Investments and as a Senior Industry Analyst with SunTrust Bank, where he developed a market risk analysis platform for the food and agribusiness portfolios. Hugues holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designations. He also grew up on a dairy and cash crop farm near Montreal, Canada.

• Education: A.D., Farm Management, B.S., Agronomy, M.S., Agricultural Economics, McGill University
• Joined the company: 2017
• Began career: 1993

Corbitt is responsible for coordinating transactions within the firm’s global agricultural platform through the consistent application of acquisition and disposition protocols, including deal management, investment approvals, due diligence assessments, transaction execution, and management integration. In addition, Corbitt is involved in the assessment of acquisition opportunities, contract negotiation, transaction strategy development, and global platform expansion. Previously, Corbitt was a senior portfolio analyst for the firm’s client account management group and a senior planning analyst for the Southern regional division of the firm’s timberland management operations. Prior to joining the firm in 2004, he worked for Forest Technology Group as part of the forest planning and analysis consulting team.  

• Education: B.S., Forest Management, North Carolina State University; M.B.A., University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• Joined the company: 2004
• Began career: 2001

Andrew leads the ongoing strategy, management, and growth of the firm’s Australasian farmland platform. Andrew has extensive experience in farmland agriculture in Australia and other countries. Prior to joining the firm, Andrew held senior management positions with ConAgra and Mitsubishi. Andrew has been a managing director of Hancock Farming Company and Hancock Natural Resource Group Australasia, the property manager for Manulife Investment Management’s Australian assets since its inception. Andrew serves on the farmland investment committee, company boards for the firm’s Australian investment vehicles, chairing each of the firm’s Australian investment vehicles and is a member of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology.

• Education: B.S., Applied Science in Agriculture, Charles Stuart University at Wagga
• Joined the company: 2000     
• Began career: 1987

Marcus is responsible for the development and execution of transactions for the firm’s Farmland Plus team. Prior to joining the company in 2022, he co-founded NewAg Partners and helped lead the development and execution of their first large scale transaction in a vertically integrated tree fruit business in the US. Prior to NewAg, Marcus worked at Amherst Capital (BNYMellon), RREEF (Deutsche Bank) and Clifford Chance. Marcus was admitted as an Attorney in New York, a Solicitor in England and Wales and a Barrister and Solicitor in Victoria, Australia. He is based in the Boston office.

• Education: BSc, University of Melbourne, LLB (Law) LaTrobe University
• Joined the company: 2022
• Began career: 2001

Oliver is responsible for the overall direction and growth of Manulife Investment Management’s institutional agriculture investment program. He’s a member of the senior management team for the firm’s timberland and agriculture businesses and serves on the executive committee. He also leads the farmland management team, serves on the farmland investment committee, and chairs company boards for the firm’s Australian investment vehicles. Previously, Oliver headed the farmland asset management function. Prior to joining the firm in 1997, he spent five years with First Pioneer Farm Credit, where he was responsible for evaluating and appraising farmland and farm businesses for potential loans. Oliver holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, the Association for Investment Management and Research, and the Boston Security Analysts Society.

• Education: B.S., Agricultural Economics, Cornell University
• Joined the company: 1997
• Began career: 1997

Beatriz focuses on developing and expanding the firms’ global forest carbon program. Beatriz is responsible for collaborating with partners to originate, execute and manage carbon projects. Previously, Beatriz served as a technical manager of nature-based solutions at Climate Impact Partners, a carbon offset provider to Fortune 500 companies. Her role at Climate Impact Partners was to assess the technical quality of offset credits transacted by the company. Prior to Climate Impact Partners, she developed her carbon expertise through a 5-year tenure at the Climate Action Reserve. In that role, she supported the development of carbon offset project protocols and ensured the compliance of projects to the Reserve’s standards. She specialized in agriculture and nature-based project types such as avoided conversion of grasslands, soil organic carbon accrual, and forest management in Mexico.

• Education: BSc in Biology by Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Mexico; Masters of Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment.
• Joined the company: 2022
• Began career: 2010 

Rachel is responsible for the execution of transactions for Manulife Investment Management’s Farmland Plus team. In this role, she sources, underwrites, negotiates, and closes investments in operating companies supporting clients’ agriculture portfolios. Prior to joining the firm in 2022, she held Corporate Development and New Product Introduction roles within the Product & Operations division of Impossible Foods. Rachel was previously Head of Commercial Operations at Modern Meadow and worked as a consultant at Deloitte.

• Education: B.A., International Relations, Tufts University; M.B.A., Quantitative Methods, The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
• Joined the company: 2022
• Began career: 2013

David leads the timberland and agriculture economic research team where he is responsible for the market analysis supporting investment and operational planning and decision making for Manulife Investment Management’s timberland and agriculture group. David is involved in transactional due diligence and exploring new investment strategies and concepts across timberland and agriculture sectors. His team maintains informational databases and produces analytical studies and thought leadership publications addressing trends in timber and agricultural commodity markets as well as the role of timberland and farmland in institutional investment. Prior to joining the firm, David was vice president of economic analysis covering the global fiber market at Fastmarkets RISI, an information provider to the global forest products industry, where he was responsible for leading a team of economists covering pulp, paper and wood products markets and the lead author of multiple recurring and ad-hoc forecasts and analytical reports on the industry. 

• Education: B.A., Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst; M.A., International Economics and Finance, International Business School, Brandeis University
• Joined the company: 2022
• Began career: 2003

Weiyi is responsible for driving agricultural economic initiatives at Manulife Investment Management. In this role, he’s directly involved in farmland transactional due diligence and initiating new investment strategies and concepts. In addition, he leads the global agricultural economic, financial, and statistical analytical efforts, including commodity price forecasting, portfolio analysis, and authoring thought leadership publications. Previously, Weiyi was the senior natural resource economist, where he supported economic research and analysis for the group’s timberland and farmland business sectors.

• Education: B.S., Agricultural and Applied Economics, M.F.R., Forest Business, Ph.D., Forest Finance and Economics, University of Georgia
• Joined the company: 2018
• Began career: 2018

Dan is responsible for leading the global water team of the firm’s timberland and agriculture businesses by working closely with investment and property management functions to develop and execute the water investment, policy, and operations strategy. Prior to joining the firm, Dan was a principal at Aither, an Australian consulting firm, where he led the rural water and water markets consulting practice area. 

• Education: First Class Honours, B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies—Environmental Policy and International Relations, Australian National University  
• Joined the company: 2019 
• Began career: 2013 

Travis leads the teams responsible for operations, management, and support of our client’s cranberry portfolio in Wisconsin and Quebec.  Travis also oversees our cash leased row crop assets in Wisconsin, and our blueberry assets in North Carolina and Oregon. Prior to this role, Travis has served as a farm manager, region manager, and vice president of Midwest operations within the company.  Before joining the firm, Travis worked in property management, and was a chemist for ESC Labs in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

• Education: B.S. Plant & Soil Science, Southern Illinois University
• Joined the company: 2015
• Began career: 2009

Emmanuel is responsible for ensuring goals and objectives for each farmland asset in North America are established and met. Prior to this role, Emmanuel was a senior asset manager for the company, where he was responsible for creating property-by-property business plans. Previously he was an investment analyst, where he assisted in the underwriting of acquisitions on behalf of the firm’s agriculture clients. Emmanuel grew up in the farming community of Modesto in California’s Central Valley. 

• Education: B.A. Communications, UC Davis; Master of Arts, Theology, Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology. 
  
• Joined the company: 2009, 2017
  
• Started career: 2008

Shane provides operations management for the firm’s agricultural clients in Australia, including safety, stewardship, human resourcing, marketing, all with a focus on maintaining client performance and profitability. Previously, he was chief operating officer of Hancock Farmland Services, Australia where he was responsible for all on-the-ground property operations. Prior to joining the firm, Shane was the chief operating officer of Hassad Australia, which managed the Qatar Investment Authority’s operations within Australia, where he was directly involved in overseeing farmland in five Australian states, with a focus on livestock and row crops.  

• Education: B.S., Rural Science, University of Armidale, Australia 
• Joined the company: 2020 
• Began career: 1994
  

Paul provides operations leadership for the U.S. row crop team of regional farm management professionals. The responsibilities of this role are centered around execution of the company’s strategic plans for client owned properties including safety, compliance, budgeting, sustainability, and profitability. Prior to joining Manulife, Paul was an assistant vice president, agriculture lending and a farm manager with Platte Valley Bank, where he was responsible for a diversified agriculture loan portfolio and established a farm management entity for the institution. He spent a dozen years in applied agricultural economics research and cooperative extension with the University of Nebraska before his bank role.

• Education: B.S., Farm and Ranch Management, University of Wyoming; M.S., Agricultural Economics, University of Wyoming
• Joined the company: 2018
• Began career: 1998

Brett leads the team responsible for operations, management, and support of our client’s apple and cherry portfolio in the Pacific Northwest.  Prior to joining the firm in 2019, Brett has had an extensive career in agricultural operations, including his prior role as the vice president for an agriculture operation, which included the farming, packing, and marketing of apples, peaches, nectarines, apricots, pears, and cherries. 

• Education:  B.S. Agricultural Economics, Washington State University
• Joined the Company:  2019
• Began career:  1998

Dewey is responsible for managing relationships in the marketing of all directly operated crops across the western U.S. Prior to this role, Dewey was responsible for managing 40,000 acres of cropland in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho including 4,000 acres of apples, cherries, and wine grapes on behalf of the firm’s agriculture clients. His farming background includes both growing and processing vegetables in CA, OR, NV, ID, and WA. Dewey is a seasoned farm manager who grew up on a small apple and cherry orchard in Dallesport, WA. Dewey is also an Accredited Farm Manager with the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

• Education: B.S. Agriculture, Oregon State University
  
• Joined the company: 2018
• Began career: 1991 

Keith is responsible for the firm’s Canadian farmland portfolio. Prior to joining the team, Keith served as general manager and CFO for one of Canada’s largest irrigation and specialty crop farms in Southern Alberta. Keith has experience in farm management and operations, stakeholder and government relations, finance and management consulting in the agriculture, forestry, and energy industries. His board experience includes serving as past chair of the Board of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance, the national association for the emerging hemp industry. Keith’s family has farmed continuously near Calgary since 1903, where he farms on a part-time basis with his wife.

• Education: B.Sc. Agriculture, University of Alberta; M.B.A. International Business, University of British Columbia. 
• Joined the company: 2022
• Began career: 1984

Jason provides forest operations management for the firm’s South American timberlands, including safety, stewardship, forest planning, wood marketing, regional public affairs, and government and community relations. Previously, he was general manager of Hancock Chilean Plantations in Valdivia, Chile, where he was responsible for operations, management, and growth of the company. Prior to that, he was a resource analysis coordinator for Hancock Timber Resource Group (HTRG), responsible for supporting valuation and forest planning efforts worldwide. Before joining HTRG, Jason worked for MeadWestvaco, an integrated forest products company, where he was directly involved in forest genetics, reforestation operations, and silviculture research. 

• Education: B.S., Forest Management, M.S., Forest Biometrics, University of Georgia
• Joined the company: 2002
• Began career: 1996

Kevin leads the teams responsible for operations, management, and support of the North American row crop portfolio.   In this capacity, Kevin oversees the teams that manage, operate and support our client’s row crop properties in the United States and Canada.  Prior to joining the firm in 2020, Kevin was president of E. Ritter Agribusiness, Inc., a fifth-generation family owned vertically integrated agricultural business, where he led the management of the family’s agricultural land and business portfolio.

• Education: B.S. Agriculture Business, Arkansas State University
• Joined the company: 2020
• Began career: 1992

Charlie leads the accounting, reporting, treasury and tax functions of the firm’s timberland and agriculture investments in Australia and New Zealand. He serves as the chief financial officer and treasurer for investor-owned companies and corporate entities in these countries. He also works on acquisitions in the region. Prior to this role, he managed the investment entity Hancock Victorian Plantations Pty Limited for over seven years. Previously he was with Burns Philp & Company Limited and in Taxation and Business Services with Grant Thornton. Charlie is also a Chartered Accountant. 

• Education: Bachelor of Commerce, University of Melbourne; Masters of Taxation, University of Melbourne.  
  
• Joined the company: 1999 
• Began Career: 1983  

Amy is responsible for driving all aspects of investor relations for Manulife’s timberland and agriculture platform globally.  Prior to this, Amy served as director, global distribution services across the firm’s agriculture and timberland strategies.  Previously, Amy was responsible for analyzing timberland investments and monitoring economic and industry specific factors affecting the timberland asset class. Prior to joining the firm in 2010, Amy worked as the Natural Resource Program Manager for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs.   

• Education: B.S., Environmental Resource Management and M.S., Forest Economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
  
• Joined the company: 2010
  
• Began career: 2002

Julie serves as a senior agricultural portfolio manager and leads business development for Manulife Investment Management’s global agriculture strategy. Julie's 30-plus years of experience in agriculture investing include portfolio management, product development, relationship management and consultancy.   Prior to joining Manulife Investment Management in 2018, Julie was director of agriculture at Conservation Resource Partners and, before that, was the product strategist for timber and agriculture at Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC where she led the development of and fundraising for GMO Renewable Resources’ first agriculture fund. Previously, she was an independent consultant in agricultural investment. Earlier in her career, Julie was instrumental in the development of the Hancock Agricultural Investment Group where she served as portfolio manager for the agricultural platform for several years. At Hancock, she also led the first-ever securitization of U.S. agricultural mortgages through Farmer Mac. Julie is a CFA® charterholder and is a member of the CFA Society Boston.

• Education: B.A., Dartmouth College; M.B.A., Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
• Joined the company: 2018
• Began career: 1985

Gene leads the accounting, reporting, and tax functions of the firm’s timberland, farmland, and renewable energy investments and serves as the chief financial officer and treasurer of several third-party investor funds. Prior to joining the firm in 2006, he was employed by two hedge funds where he had various responsibilities, including accounting, reporting, and operations. Previously, Gene was a manager in the audit practice and transaction services group at PricewaterhouseCoopers.    

• Education: B.S., Accounting, Boston College; M.S., Taxation, Northeastern University
• Joined the company: 2006 
• Began career: 1995

Dan oversees Manulife Investment Management’s timberland and agriculture groups’ risks and controls related to regulatory compliance and global investment management and property management operations. He began his career with Boston Partners Financial Group, which is affiliated with the John Hancock Financial Network, providing guidance to sales associates on securities and insurance regulations. Prior to joining the firm, Dan worked exclusively in the financial services field, focusing on investment advisor and broker-dealer compliance.

• Education: B.A., John Carroll University; J.D., Case Western Reserve University School of Law 
• Joined the company: 2008       
• Began career: 2002
  

Tricia oversees Manulife Investment Management’s timberland and agriculture groups’ legal team in supporting customary and strategic transactional initiatives and operational, management, and client needs in the investment and property management businesses. Previously, she provided in-house counsel to John Hancock’s North American corporate finance group in connection with equity and debt investments. Prior to joining the firm, Tricia was a corporate attorney for sixteen years, where she provided legal services and advice to clients in all manner of business transactions, including private equity, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and corporate governance. 

• Education: B.A., English and Philosophy, Boston College; J.D., Boston College Law School 
• Joined the company: 2018 
• Began career: 2000

Eric oversees the accounting for client assets at the property management level, including reporting and tax functions for client investments in timberland and agriculture. He also serves as the assistant treasurer for several of the firm’s real estate investment trusts. Prior to joining the firm in 2011, Eric worked at a large hedge fund and a private equity fund and, earlier in his career, he worked in public accounting for Arthur Andersen and Deloitte.   

• Education: B.S., Accounting, Boston College; M.S., Taxation, Northeastern University 
  
• Joined the company: 2011 
• Began career: 2000

Peta-Gaye supports all aspects of the firm’s global transactional initiatives, operational, management and client needs in both the investment and property management businesses globally.  Prior to joining timberland and agriculture group in 2012, Peta-Gaye was AVP & senior counsel in Manulife’s investment law group and supported various debt and equity investments and corporate initiatives.  Before joining Manulife, Peta-Gaye was a real estate associate at Nixon Peabody LLP and provided legal services and advice to clients for various real estate related transactions and tax credit investments. 

• Education: B.A., English, Boston College; J.D., Boston College Law School
• Joined the company: 2003
• Began career: 1999

Matt supports all aspects of the firm’s transactional initiatives and operational, management and client needs in investment and property management businesses globally.  Matt has experience in complex commercial real estate transactions, REITs, private fund formation, leasing, corporate governance, private equity, mergers and acquisitions.  Prior to joining the firm, Matt was senior real estate associate at Sullivan & Worcester LLP in Boston, providing legal services and advice to clients in various real estate related transactions.

• Education: B.A. Political Science, Bates College; J.D., American University, Washington College of Law
• Joined the company: 2019
• Began career: 2011

Wilfred leads the financial management of the firm’s timberland, agriculture, real estate, and infrastructure business units. Previously, he held the position of Chief Financial Officer for the global timberland and farmland operations and before commencing in that position in 2015 he was responsible for the overall management of the timberland and agriculture business in Australia and New Zealand, including coordinating financial work on international acquisitions and financial review of international operations. Prior to joining the firm in 2004, Wilfred was the chief financial officer of companies involved in the retail and entertainment industries, where he had overall responsibility for financial, treasury, and taxation aspects of the companies. Earlier in his career, Wilfred worked at a major accounting firm, where he had significant involvement with audit and corporate finance activities, including mergers and acquisitions and valuations. 

• Education: B.Com., University of New South Wales; M.Ecs., Macquarie University 
• Joined the company: 2004
• Began career: 1985
  

Derren is responsible for the firm’s institutional business development, capital strategy and relationship management functions across the Asia Pacific region. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Derren oversaw the portfolio management of Hostplus’ global infrastructure portfolio where he was directly involved in investment evaluation and execution, strategy development and relationship management. Before joining Hostplus, Derren was part of the infrastructure team at AMP Capital Investors where he was involved in the asset management of healthcare infrastructure assets. Before the move into investment management, Derren started his career in investment banking in Australia with Goldman Sachs and Odyssey Capital.

• Education: B.C., Finance, Monash University
  
• Joined the company: 2021
  
• Began career: 2007