Aqua Ceres is a private equity firm uniquely positioned in the agriculture sector. Founded in 2019, the investment partners collectively have more than 40 years of agricultural and farming experience, with a long history of harnessing technological advancements on their farms to increase yields, lower operating costs, conserve water, and mitigate risk. The team has deep domain expertise across the agriculture sector, in both annual crops and permanent crops. We are geographically diverse, with operations in the US, South America and Australia, bringing a global perspective to identify locally distressed and undervalued opportunities.

Sam Mitchell

Sam is a co-founder and partner of Aqua Ceres LLC. Sam is a farmer and in addition to his own farms founded and runs one of Australia’s largest and most reputable corporate farming consulting groups, where he has been actively managing and developing agricultural investments in Australia for large Australian and US institutional investors. Sam’s 20 years of farming and irrigation expertise have led his reputation to be one of Australia’s largest and most innovative farmers. Sam has a proven track record in accumulating, developing, and managing irrigated farmland and water entitlements. Sam holds undergraduate and post-graduate degrees from the University of Sydney, and the University of New England.

Rod Parsley  

Rod is a co-founder and partner of Aqua Ceres LLC. After graduating from Harvard Business School, he began his career as a strategy consultant with McKinsey & Company. Rod was later promoted to managing director at Terrapin Partners LLC, where he served as portfolio manager of The Water Fund LP, an investment fund focused on water infrastructure, irrigation systems, purification, desalination, and water utilities.  Rod then joined Perella Weinberg in New York, where he served as the portfolio manager of the Sustainable Resources Fund, a $600 million fund focused on agriculture, alternative energy, and water. Rod is an expert in water investing and has almost 20 years of experience in the water and agriculture sectors.

James Pringle (US)

James is currently COO of US operations of Aqua Ceres. James has spent 25 years in operations, administration, and compliance for several hedge funds including 15 years as Managing Director of Trading and Operations of Giovine Capital Group, a large Los Angeles-based multi-billion dollar Global Long/Short Equity Hedge Fund. James currently is responsible for managing financial reporting, compliance, and company operations for Aqua Ceres. James holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas, and an MBA from the University of Houston.

Amanda Fisher (AUS)

Amanda is currently CFO of Australian operations. Prior to accepting this role, Amanda has run her own business providing CFO services to a select group of clients principally in agribusiness; mostly to permanent plantings. Amanda is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand association with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales, Australia.

Kirsten Ross (AUS)

Kirsten is an Investment Director at Aqua Ceres LLC. Kirsten has over 20 years of experience in both corporate and advisory roles across Corporate Governance, Finance, Audit, Risk & Compliance, and Human Capital. Kirsten was most recently the practice lead of Corporate Governance and Private Markets for the AMEA region for Aon advising Boards on trends and strategic communications. Prior to this, Kirsten worked with Hastings Funds Management in the joint role of Consultant to the Board and Chief of Staff to the CEO.  Kirsten is a CFA Charter holder, a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand with a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.