The Queensland Investment Corporation has created a new position aimed at instilling environmental/social/governance (ESG) principles into all of its investment processes.
Kate Grant, a business relationship manager in QIC’s Australian equities team, where she was a driver of the manager signing the UN Principles of Responsible Investment, has transferred to the role of corporate ESG manager. Grant will be responsible for the development, implementation, measurement and reporting of QIC’s ESG integration at an organisation-wide level. QIC chief executive, Doug McTaggart, said the creation of the corporate ESG Manager position reflected the organisation’s determination to not just talk about ESG, but actively implement initiatives and measure their effectiveness. “We believe that the effective incorporation of ESG principles into our investment processes will generate long-term benefits both for our clients and QIC,” McTaggart said. “Rather than outsource, QIC identified the need for in-house expertise to lead and coordinate the integration and maintenance of ESG principles.” Grant will develop QIC’s strategic ESG plan and work with each of its investment teams to oversee its implementation. Meanwhile, $13 billion industry fund Cbus last wweek began advertising nationally for an ESG investment analyst to research extra-financial matters pertaining to its investment program. The new hire will report to Trish Donohue, investments and governance manager at Cbus.
As the US investment landscape is dramatically reshaped by President Donald Trump’s worldview, asset owners need to revisit their approach to maximising returns. Perhaps they need to ensure their US portfolios have sufficient exposure to the rapidly emerging anti-ESG, anti-woke, anti-climate, anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), pro-patriot and American-first investment themes. And they could also consider replicating the stock trading patterns of Republican — and Democrat — members of Congress who may have the ‘inside oil’ when it comes to company announcements.
Russell BakerMarch 11, 2025
