Financial Advice
AustralianSuper in digital advice tie-up for 3.6 million members
The nation’s largest profit-to-member super fund has selected Ignition Advice as its partner to roll out digital financial advice to 3.6 million members starting later this year. The move comes as a growing number of funds turn to digital services to improve the access and affordability of advice to members, especially as they transition into retirement.
Investments
Canada establishes new SWF amidst global push for nation-building investment
Canada has established its first national-level sovereign wealth fund with a seed of C$25 billion to underwrite “nation-building” projects like ports, mines and energy infrastructure. In an unusual funding mechanism, the fund will issue a retail product that will allow individual investors to invest with the SWF and “participate in Canada’s growth”.
Leadership & profiles
Departing TelstraSuper investment head to fill HESTA portfolio design role
TelstraSuper acting CIO Kate Misic has moved to HESTA as head of portfolio design as her old fund enters the final stages of its merger with Aware Super.
Technology
Governing with AI at the speed of markets
APRA-regulated super funds are managing more than $3 trillion in retirement savings that weren’t built for the speed at which material investment decisions now need to be made. Artificial intelligence offers a practical – and lawful – way to close the gap.
12 – 14 May, 2026
Fiduciary Investors Symposium
21 July, 2026
Insurance in Super Summit
19 August, 2026
Retirement Leaders Summit
Leadership & profiles
Brandweiner the right choice for Future Fund’s mandate balancing act
Industry veteran Richard Brandweiner has been appointed as the next chief investment officer of Australia’s sovereign wealth fund. Brandweiner, who has long argued that institutional capital has an obligation to shape the Australian economy, joins the Future Fund as it navigates an expanded mandate to invest in areas of national priority.
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
Retirement Magazine in print
Founded in 2024, Retirement Magazine is a print and digital publication for decision-makers in and over Australia’s retirement system, including superannuation fund C-suite executives and trustee boards, regulators, policymakersand influencers including academic researchers, industry and consumer advocates. Its goal is to be a “nudge” to the system to encourage world-leading policy and business settings for the decumulation phase of superannuation.
Governance
Why funds need to deal with TPA’s ‘free rider’ problem
More and more super funds are pivoting to the TPA approach, but will need to confront the long-standing issues with accountability that come with it if they want that model to be sustainable into the future.
Governance
Aware backs tougher law to ensure company action against modern slavery
Aware Super has backed the call for a legislative change that will introduce mandatory human rights due diligence for large Australian companies, as head of responsible investment Liza McDonald said it’s a “reasonable request” which will help asset owners understand and manage the governance risks in their portfolios.
Industry & regulation
Diversa applies for $239m First Guardian government bailout
Diversa Trustees has applied to the government for a bailout of First Guardian investors worth approximately $239 million, arguing the losses were a result of fraud and it will be in the best financial interest to members.
Investments
The world won’t wait for the investment committee
The institutions managing long-term savings might not be built to respond at the speed the world now moves. The gap between knowing and acting – which, ultimately, is where all risk lives – is one they can’t afford to keep open.
Investments
Private credit managers say investor concerns are overhyped
Investment leaders in private credit have dismissed concerns about the asset class, arguing the real issue is a mismatch between the liquidity of the asset class and the expectations of non-institutional investors.
