Rod is the Global Director of the Forests Program, with oversight of Global Forest Watch, the Forest Legality Initiative and the Global Restoration Initiative. He is responsible for the Forests Program’s overall leadership, management, outreach, and fundraising.

Before joining WRI, Rod worked as the Forests Director at WWF International. In earlier roles at WWF, he coordinated the World Bank/WWF Forest Alliance and led WWF’s forest work in the Asia Pacific region. Prior to his time with WWF, Rod worked as a forest policy adviser in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Rod began his career as a lawyer in Australia and has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Law from the Australian National University.

Rod likes getting outdoors and is a keen surfer, snowboarder and cyclist.