Forestry experts from the ground up.

We employ top operators – over 400 crew and contractors throughout New Zealand. Skilled dynamic workers who are key to safe efficient day-to-day operations. Highly capable management run our regions. Forestry professionals lead the way with diverse industry knowledge and experience. We nurture emerging foresters with our (Scholarship programme). Media Release

Strong governance.

Our independent board of directors are respected industry leaders. Innovative thinkers, they have paved the way, for the successful expansion of IFS Growth. Forestry is our business. But business is at our core.

A team approach.

Strong local focus, worldwide market knowledge, and extensive connections. Maximise your returns with New Zealand’s best little forestry company. Unleash our capabilities today:

investment, forest management, harvesting, health & safety, environmental management, forest valuations, mapping and more…

Dan Minehan

Managing Director

MNZIF

B.Com (Forestry)

Meet IFS founder Dan – leading light and 3rd generation forester. Dan had the vision to create an independent full-service forestry business in the 1980s. He brings 30+ years of grass-roots industry skill and experience, and a killer strategic, entrepreneurial, and innovative approach to business. As Director of Strategy, Dan’s input is invaluable for big-picture planning across all forest projects.

Email dan@ifsgrowth.co.nz
Mobile 027 205 4853

Anton Ridley

Regional Manager; South Island

MNZIF

Fresh from completing a Bachelor of Commerce (Forestry) degree at Lincoln University; Anton spent the first three years of his forestry career with IFS, starting in 2003 when the company consisted of a four person team based in Winton, Southland.
Anton spent the next five years based in Australia working as a Forestry: Consultant, Manager and Analyst throughout the Australasian forest industry; before moving to Scotland where he has spent the last seven years running an office for UKs largest private forest management company.

Anton has recently returned to New Zealand to pick up from where it all began, at IFS. Anton’s primary experience lies in forestry: investment, valuations, establishment and silviculture.

Email anton.ridley@ifsgrowth.co.nz

Mobile 027 535 0027

Brendan Horrell

Regional Development Manager

Brendan is an experienced forest manager, having worked in the forest industry for over 20 years. Uniquely Brendan is experienced in both indigenous and Exotic forest management and is passionate about ensuring the sustainability of NZ’s forest industry. Brendan’s drive is to ensure the future New Zealand forest industry is built upon a diversified resource, with high value species in addition to plantation radiata.

Proudly Motueka based and with a young family, Brendan’s local responsibilities include Harvest, Marketing and forest management in the Marlborough, Nelson & West Coast regions.

Email brendan.horrell@ifsgrowth.co.nz

Mobile 027 445 8691

Dean Johnston

Investment and Finance Manager

B Com, CA

Dean brings extensive finance knowledge gained through experiences in large public and foreign owned entities.

Dean also has over 10 years’ experience in managing a large forestry estate to create both asset growth and regular cashflow. Through this time, he was involved in the acquisition of multiple properties to build an estate sized asset that generated returns for investors. He is well experienced in the preparation of financial and other reports to meet the individual needs of investors.

Dean is available to assist you with investing in forestry estates and the returns that can be generated from them

Email dean.johnston@ifsgrowth.co.nz

Mobile 027 248 1182

Erica Black

National GIS Manager

MSc GIS, BSc Phys Geogr

Erica holds a Master of Science in Geographical Information Management and Applications from the Utrecht University (The Netherlands) and has over 10 years of experience in the GIS Industry. Erica has experience in a wide array of GIS projects from working as a GIS Analyst in different consulting companies in Spain, The Netherlands and New Zealand. Erica´s main responsibility is to maintain and manage the geospatial infrastructure at IFS Growth Ltd. Also, Erica produces industry specific maps and data for clients and operational staff.

Email erica@ifsgrowth.co.nz

Chris Dermody

Client Manager

Chris has worked as a rural banker for the past 11 years where he dealt with a range of agricultural farms and businesses. This role had a large emphasis on relationship management, developing sustainable businesses and managing complex farming accounts. Prior to this, Chris worked both in New Zealand and Europe in jobs linked to the primary sector.

Chris was originally brought up on a farm in the Catlins where his family still have some forestry interests. Chris lives in Southland with his wife and young family.

Email chris.dermody@ifsgrowth.co.nz

Mobile 027 705 1902

Invercargill Team

Hamish Anderson hamish@ifsgrowth.co.nz 027 224 3627

Kaye Auton kaye.auton@ifsgrowth.co.nz 027 379 5770

Fiona Carter fiona.carter@ifsgrowth.co.nz 027 600 0024

Reece McKenzie reece@ifsgrowth.co.nz 027 205 4855

George Novis george@ifsgrowth.co.nz 021 152 4671

Abbey Paterson abbey@ifsgrowth.co.nz 027 260-4188

Andy Scobie andy@ifsgrowth.co.nz 021 411 653

Stephen Unahi stephen.unahi@ifsgrowth.co.nz 027 705 9275

Josh Vanderschuit josh.vandershuit@ifsgrowth.co.nz 027 844 6108

Cass Yee cass.engler@ifsgrowth.co.nz 027 274 3974

Nelson Team

Travis Fisher travis.fisher@ifsgrowth.co.nz 027 209 0884

Luke O’Hagan luke.ohagan@ifsgrowth.co.nz 027 244 4877

Kerry Lester kerry@ifsgrowth.co.nz 021 123 6017

Growing the future of forestry.

The IFS Growth Tertiary Scholarship.

IFS Growth proudly supports the future of the forestry industry with our scholarship initiative. It’s open to all students of forestry related disciplines. Successful recipients gain a powerful kick-start into the world of forestry with cash towards course tuition fees, work experience opportunities and entry into the company’s graduate career programme.

Meet our Scholarship winners!

What a great bunch, we salute them. They may have a bit of study to go. But we’re already excited, thinking about what this crew will bring to our team in future.

Grace Marshall

Studying forestry was a natural choice for Grace, now in her 2nd year at University of Canterbury. All-rounder Grace loves the outdoors and NZ bush. She keeps fit and healthy. Loves tramping, skiing, swimming, as well as the arts, singing and dance. Deeply passionate about ecology, conservation and sustainability, Grace is motivated to learn as much as possible at university. Equipping herself to meet the challenges ahead for the Forestry industry, especially through innovation and environmental responsibility.

Dan Montgomery

Dan’s taken his natural affinity with wood to the next level. The 3rd year University of Canterbury student previously owned a successful building company. A pragmatist who understands the value of people, Dan’s ready to take on the future challenges of forestry. Eager to build on his experience, passion for wood, and commercial skills, Dan has management in his sights. In the meantime he can’t wait to jump in and gather up as much experience as possible in his new chosen industry.

Max Saathof

Max Saathof 2019 winner

Max is a second year student studying forestry science at the University of Canterbury. He loves the outdoors, sports and working in the forestry industry. He has been working in forest related jobs in his breaks for about 5 years and has a huge passion for the industry. Max is a person that thrives off interactions with other people, whether it be on the ground working, talking forest owned or managers or managing workers, he loves it all. Max is looking forward to finishing uni and expanding his knowledge and experience in the workforce. He’s passionate about expanding New Zealand forest’s green image and finding more clean and efficient ways or growing and harvesting production forests. Congratulations Max on winning the 2019 graduate scholarship award.