FSC chief executive joins OECD expert group on retirement
Financial Services Council CEO Blake Briggs has been appointed to the Private Pensions Expert Group of Business at OECD.
HESTA investment committee chair awarded in Australia Day honours
Independent director and chair of HESTA investment committee, Susanne Dahn, have been made a member of the Order of Australia in the 2024 Australia Day Honours for their services to the business, finance, and banking industries.
Industry super heavies appointed to Future Fund board
Former Industry Super Australia chair Greg Combet has been appointed to succeed Peter Costello at the Future Fund, while former QSuper CEO Rosemary Vilgan has been named a board member. The move indicates an expansion of the industry super movement’s influence over the $212 billion sovereign fund and has excited environmentalists about the prospect of a greener mandate.
Low returns stereotype ‘misunderstands’ social housing investments
In the race to secure superannuation capital which is increasingly flowing to mature overseas markets, Housing Australia CEO Nathan Dal Bon says the Australian social and affordable housing sector needs more time to prove its worth.
Asset owners and managers diverge on ESG voting
Two different paths have formed as asset managers have struggled to live up to the expectations of asset owners over ESG engagement in investee companies. A conservative approach to voting for proactive measures has led to managers with net zero targets failing to fulfil those commitments.
Aware Super goes international for head of public market equities
Aware Super has named Agnes Hong as its head of public market equities. Relocating from Philadelphia, she will oversee a portfolio of roughly $90 billion.
Pacific Life Re announces global restructure
Reinsurance company Pacific Life Re has moved to a product-based organisational structure globally.
The super sector has a problem with ‘hubris’
The superannuation system has been a wonderful achievement for Australia, ensuring regular workers and not just the rich receive the benefits of markets. But with increased scale and power, some of its leaders may be losing touch with everyday members, and on the challenging topics of customer service and retirement preparedness, some are in denial.
Rob da Silva joins Research IP
Rob da Silva has joined Research IP following his departure from SQM Research last year.
Merger pressure eases but corporate funds in play
The big wave of superannuation mergers is slowing down as the industry is better able to navigate the Your Future Your Super performance tests and regulators ease up on the pressure. But some big companies are still eager to offload their corporate funds, and the digital, product and service benefits of scale are still a driver.
Cross-subsidisation challenge may hinder RIC progress
All super funds are being called on by the government and regulator to make more progress on providing retirement income solutions to members. But APRA data shows funds have starkly differing levels of exposure to retirement, and those with relatively few members in pension phase face the challenge of effectively cross-subsidising that minority with fees from the bulk of members in accumulation. This helps explain why the business case is still unclear for many.
Northern Trust raids Robeco for quantitative solutions talents
Northern Trust Asset Management has appointed Milan Vidojevic as its director of quantitative solutions, international.
