Octopus Australia, a major manager of renewable energy assets, has told institutional asset owners that owning assets outright, and creating a portfolio of diverse generation sources and storage, is the key to maximising investment returns in the energy transition.
David Bell and Geoff Warren reflect on the 2024 Investment Magazine Fiduciary Investors Symposium, held in the NSW Blue Mountains on 14-16 May, and conclude that while the superannuation industry faces some substantive challenges, it is also very well placed to meet those challenges in the service of fund members.
Investing in infrastructure has exposed differences in opinion between two of the largest superannuation funds, with the $280 billion ART opening offices offshore to chase opportunities, and the $130 billion UniSuper preferring to focus on domestically.
Sally Evans and Julia Fox are set to depart the profit-for-member super fund on 31 July and 26 May, respectively.
A Senate inquiry into insurance in superannuation, and the extension of its reporting deadline to 30 June 2025, presents a valuable opportunity for the industry to proactively address challenges in TPD insurance and improve member outcomes, an Investment Magazine roundtable has heard.
Asset owners are exposed to natural capital risk whether they like it or not, whether they know it or not, and whether they manage it or not. The Investment Magazine Fiduciary Investors Symposium has heard that even if they haven’t invested in natural capital as a discrete asset class, they should be aware of the risks they face.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks with Conexus Financial editor-in-chief Aleks Vickovich.
Mine Super and TWUSUPER have completed the first phase of their merger, though the completion date has been pushed out to early 2025 “to focus on a smooth transition”.
Chief investment officer of the $175 billion Aware Super, Damian Graham, said the government has significantly underestimated the capital needed to reach its 1.2 million new homes by 2029 target. The federal budget put forward an $11 billion package for housing this week, but Graham said the real cost may be closer to “hundreds of billions”.
Andrew Gregory, head of advice for the $135 billion profit-for-member fund UniSuper, is confident qualified advisers will complement the advice landscape and is “excited” about how they will sit in the fund’s business model. However, he is clear there needs to be well-defined guardrails over what advice is given and an effective way to triage into holistic advisers when the need arises.
Images from the 2024 Investment Magazine Fiduciary Investors Symposium, held in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, on 14 to 16 May.
The investment intelligence behind Australia’s largest asset owners and their teams
In-depth interviews with leaders, experts and visionaries in the institutional investment community
Updates on the latest industry policy developments and regulation
The challenges and innovations of custody, technology and operational due diligence
Investment Magazine provides in-depth, monthly analysis of trends and developments for all the businesses in which superannuation funds engage‚ including asset allocation, investment manager selection, custody and fund accounting, member administration, group insurance and compliance.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land upon which Conexus Financial sits, the Cadigal of the Eora Nation. We recognise their continuing connection and unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and community. We pay our deepest respects to them and their culture, and to Elders both past and present.
