The Board

Upscale Carbon (UC) is a carbon business that seeks to help landholders implement regenerative and environmental restoration projects for positive agricultural, financial and social outcomes.

 

The UC team consists of two key partnerships and an experienced group of Directors making up the board. The experience of the Board members consists of three main elements:

 

  • Investment experience;
  • Carbon market framework knowledge and insight; and
  • Practical agricultural/land management experience.

 

Rob Hart (Managing Director)

 

Rob Hart had a 25 year international career in leadership positions in blue chip companies like Shell, Origin, Flight Centre and Norco. 

 

Rob is founder of a funds management business with a vision to create climate resilient investable funds.  The 5 successful funds now own 8 properties across 75,000ha in Queensland with another 4-6 properties about to be purchased.  The business is pioneering environmental social governance investment particularly in carbon farming and koala habitat offsets. 

 

He is also Managing Director of Upscale Carbon, a carbon development business helping landholders develop their own carbon credits.

 

Rob has a strong affinity for the land and environment, whether growing up on a farm, managing environment/land/cultural heritage teams for corporates, winning an Earthwatch Fellowship in Costa Rica,  working with the Apudthama Indigenous Rangers in Cape York to “rediscover” the Jardine River Painted Turtle, or managing an unfenced safari camp in the wilds of Zambia.

 

Rob is currently Chair of the Advisory Board for Food Leaders Australia, a Director and Deputy Chair of Toowoomba & Surat Basin Enterprise, and Chair of the AGL led Coopers Gap Wind Farm Community Committee.

Ivan Walls (Non-Executive Director)

Ivan Walls is a senior businessman and much admired entrepreneur, having successfully developed multiple companies.

 

He now owns and sits on the Board of two commercial construction related businesses and has significant property interests.

 

With an accounting background, Ivan brings a focus on financial performance, property development and Board governance.

 

 

Thomas McVeigh (Non-Executive Director)

 

Tom McVeigh is a  Senior Partner and Principal of Murdoch Lawyers in Brisbane/Toowoomba and has spent much of the past 25 years specialising in estate planning, asset protection and taxation management.

 

He has also delivered a number of highly successful residential and commercial projects in South West Queensland. He has also managed significant investment funds in relation to these projects. Tom brings strong legal, AFSL, governance and property development experience.

 

 

Raphael Wood (Carbon Strategy Director and Board Member)

 

Raphael Wood is a dedicated Board Member for Upscale Carbon, as well as the Managing Director of Market Advisory Group, Australia’s premier carbon & renewable markets forecasting & strategy advisors. Raphael was instrumental in designing Australia’s carbon markets & is much sought after for his independent carbon market advice.

 

A well respected carbon leader in the industry, Raphael has worked for both the regulator and major carbon project developers. His experience as both a carbon manager implementing carbon projects, legislative and compliance knowledge through his role as a regulator and now having an established carbon consultancy company has added extra depth and credible experience into the Upscale Group.

 

 

Ronald Thompson (Operational Director)

 

Ronald Thompson is the Operational Director for both Upscale Funds Management and Upscale Carbon. With a background working with Australia’s largest carbon developer as well as an extensive career in land access management with large blue chip corporates, his ‘on the ground’ and general agricultural/operational
knowledge is key to the implementation of all environmental projects.

 

Ronald, having an agricultural background became interested in regenerative farming and for 30 years implemented practices on his own properties with
much success and practical learnings which he brings to the team. In addition to this, his ability to speak and gain trust with landholders has been crucial to the
ultimate success of the Upscale Group. 

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