2026 Insurance in Super Summit
Super funds urged to rebuild ‘trust bank’ on insurance
One in five members who contacted their super fund for an update on insurance claims still felt left in the dark afterwards, with long hold times, an unfriendly tone and heightened emotional stress emerging as the main customer gripes during the process, according to CoreData. As regulator and member pressure mounts on group insurance, funds need to think hard about how they want to restore trust.
Industry & regulation
YFYS performance test has done its dash
The Coalition’s Your Future Your Super reforms, especially the contentious performance test, deserve credit for weeding out poor-performing funds and helping instil a more cost-conscious culture in super. But the test has largely accomplished its mission and its continuation undermines the system’s global competitiveness.
Industry trends
NGS Super names Nick Callil head of strategy
NGS Super has appointed Nick Callil as its head of strategy, with the fund saying the role will strengthen its strategic capability as it expands its retirement offering.
Investments
Robeco CIO says AI winners and losers will be decided within a year
Asset managers that underestimate the importance of artificial intelligence to their businesses do so at their own peril, according to Anton Eser, global chief investment officer of Robeco, who thinks that many have less than a year to get across the “most important transformation” the industry has seen since the beginning of the index business more than 25 years ago.
19 August, 2026
Retirement Leaders Summit
13 – 15 October, 2026
Fiduciary Investors Symposium
3 – 4 February, 2027
Chair Forum
Analysis
AustralianSuper’s India investment shows the pointy end of super diplomacy
AustralianSuper’s decision to tip $500 million into an Indian government infrastructure fund comes amidst increased belligerence from China and represents an escalation in the super fund diplomacy that the Albanese Government has used to deepen economic and political ties with key allies.
Leadership & profiles
GESB CEO calls time: ‘Past regime of default super’ no longer sustainable
GESB chief executive Ben Palmer is set to leave the Western Australian government super fund, ending a 13-year tenure after steering the fund through the most significant change in its history. In a rare interview, Palmer examines the past, present and future of super and explains why GESB is treating platforms, not profit-to-member funds, as its benchmark.
Profiles
Why HESTA’s ‘joined-up thinking’ is one of its CIO’s favourite things
Sonya Sawtell-Rickson joined HESTA as the health industry workers’ super fund was taking steps towards investment internalisation and a total portfolio approach. She says the moves have been vindicated not only by member returns but in the “joined-up” conversations the now-$96 billion fund has with the companies it invests in.
Member engagement
Lack of courage – not clarity – hinders retirement regulation
The Retirement Income Covenant’s radically principles-based approach has confounded the very leaders and lobbyists who warned against prescription. More than three years after its commencement, a demonstrable lack of progress is costing the first generation of Australians who should be enjoying the fruits of a world-class system. If poorly drafted prescriptive law follows, industry leaders will have only themselves to blame.
Governance
HESTA seeks answers over ‘deeply concerning’ Richard White allegations
HESTA wants answers from WiseTech on how it will manage the role of executive chair Richard White after reports emerged that the Australian Federal Police are investigating him over human trafficking and visa fraud allegations.
Governance
Shield, First Guardian reforms must not become a covert operation to restrict competition
There is broad consensus in industry and Canberra that the collapses of the Shield and First Guardian master funds – and failures that led to them – demand a regulatory response. But getting that response wrong could create an uneven playing field in the industry and some counterproductive consumer outcomes.
Industry & regulation
FAR yet to bare its teeth in superannuation
The alleged conduct that led to the Shield and First Guardian debacle is unlikely to lead to any action under the Financial Accountability Regime. But a new ASIC report into platform trustees may deliver the individual consequences FAR was intended to mete out.
Featured Homepage Posts
Aware Super hunts hidden AI exposures as concentration concern grows
The $245 billion Aware Super says that around 15 per cent of assets in its high-growth option are exposed to the AI thematic, but says that finding the portfolio’s true concentration will require looking beyond simple dollar aggregation. Head of investment strategy Michael Winchester unpacks the approach and why the fund has to be “really discerning” with where it allocates to in the future.
Investments
As the Magnificent Seven fade, CFS looks further afield for returns
Colonial First State chief investment officer Jonathan Armitage says a shift away from reliance on US mega-cap tech stocks is reshaping portfolio resilience, with emerging markets, private debt and catastrophe bonds helping to drive returns across the portfolio.
