Investments
‘Not an ATM’: Sicilia shrugs off private credit liquidity fears
The chief investment officer of the $150 billion industry super fund says that Hostplus’ portfolio will weather the ongoing downturn in software companies and that moves by a number of large private credit managers to gate their funds are a result of the asset class being offered to retail investors who should not have assumed the funds would be liquid enough to get money out when everybody else is trying to do the same.
Investments
Realities behind the SaaS sell-off
The roughly US$2 trillion ($2.8 trillion) sell-off in the global software sector since September 2025 is, while a painful drawdown for growth investors, also a timely reminder that asset owners should be more alert to stock-specific dispersion and hidden concentration risk inside portfolios, writes JANA head of research execution, Matthew Gadsden.
Opinion
We need tough talk on mental health and the future of insurance
Insurance in superannuation is an ingenious and underrated plank of our social safety net. But the rising prevalence of mental health claims, compounded by problematic legal definitions around trauma and financial advice, threaten the sustainability of life insurance in Australia.
Profiles
‘Not afraid of the size we are’: NGS pushes ‘alternative scale’ as churn slows
NGS Super is on a mission to reduce its member churn with a bid to lean into its “alternative scale” as a small player in a superannuation landscape dominated by increasingly mammoth funds. Chief executive Natalie Previtera says the transition to Grow – which she calls the Ferrari of admin systems – is one of the first crucial steps.
12 – 14 May, 2026
Fiduciary Investors Symposium
21 July, 2026
Insurance in Super Summit
19 August, 2026
Retirement Leaders Summit
Podcasts
‘Crazy’ to bet against US, AI momentum: CFS Super CEO
While the US is becoming an increasingly chaotic force in geopolitics, and valuations around its technology companies are called into question, CFS Super chief executive Kelly Power said investors going against these forces would be fighting a losing battle. Listen to her conversation with Conexus Financial founder and managing director Colin Tate on the sidelines of the historic Australian Superannuation Investment Summit last week.
Profiles
NGS bids for top-performing super fund title with internal, data edge
NGS Super chief investment officer Ben Squires wants the fund to become not just a top quartile but the best-performing super fund in Australia. In an interview with Investment Magazine, he outlines how the fund is betting on deeper in-house capabilities and enhanced data access to get there.
Profiles
How Future Group built ‘a culture designed to fly’
The $16 billion Future Group punches above its weight when it comes to forming public opinion and shaping policy on sustainability and ESG issues. Chief investment officer Ed Tomlinson says a trust-based team approach and an ongoing commitment to allowing employees to work from home help it to foster the values it needs to be effective.
Member engagement
Super funds urged to lift member outcomes despite reform delays
Australia faces similar demographic challenges to other developed economies in providing a high standard of living to retirees in an ageing population. But we have weakened our system through blocking access to financial advice and delaying reforms to reverse the roadblocks, superannuation industry leaders told the Retirement Policy Outlook 2026 roundtable, hosted by Investment Magazine sister publication Retirement Magazine in partnership with Acenda. The roundtable also featured insights from ASIC Commissioner Simone Constant; APRA deputy chair Margaret Cole; Resolution Life founder, chief executive and chair Sir Clive Cowdery; and Dr David Bell of The Conexus Institute.
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.
Governance
‘Investment diplomacy’: ART chair lauds super’s soft power role
Outgoing Australian Retirement Trust chair Andrew Fraser says superannuation funds can claim some credit for the Albanese government’s handling of geopolitical risk and the volatile Trump White House in a parting ode to the $4 trillion sector’s growing global influence. But the comments to the corporate regulator’s annual forum came alongside a warning from ASIC Commissioner Simone Constant that member experience should be just as paramount as super’s market and economic power.
Industry & regulation
Funds face new discretion under plan to block abusers from death benefits
The Albanese government is exploring legislative options to stop domestic violence abusers from gaining control of their victims’ superannuation through death benefits. While this could give trustees greater discretion in assessing a deceased member’s circumstances, complicated cases may add further strains to an already stressed payout process.
Investments
AustralianSuper’s call for leverage is bold but unnecessary
AustralianSuper’s chief liquidity officer Chandu Bhindi has publicly proposed the idea of allowing some super funds to directly use leverage, enabling them to better manage liquidity requirements in crisis situations rather than being forced to sell assets at stressed prices. While the idea has some merits, overall it is not necessary and could increase system risk.
Private equity
AustralianSuper plots private equity expansion
AustralianSuper is planning on boosting both its allocation to private equity and the number of external managers it uses in the “highly attractive asset class” amidst a broader shift in how super funds are investing across the private markets.
