A new impact investing group overseen by former National Australia Bank chief Andrew Thorburn has bought 1600 hectares of land in Western Australia ahead of rolling out a “Forever Fund” focused on regenerating farmland for carbon sequestration and improving biodiversity.

Sentient Impact Group, chaired by Mr Thorburn, was formed last year following a restructure of Impact Investment Group, with the former taking around $200 million of renewable energy infrastructure investments as seed assets.