Age of activism UniSuper's recent, very public opposition to the Westfield restructure illustrated at least one thing: super funds have clout. Gone are the days when trustees delegated all investment decisions - including shareholder voting rights - to an assortment of external fund managers. Now, some of the big funds have their own in-house managers who have the expertise to make complicated judgments. And as the episode with Westfield showed, they are not afraid to use this expertise.
But what does this mean for businesses? Will super funds become increasingly active in the governance and decision-making of the companies they own? Will they use their clout to force companies to do things they wouldn't otherwise have done? Will they even use their financial muscle to force environmental and social change, divesting from fossil fuels, tobacco and weapons manufacturers? Or is this all hyperbole? FS Super associate editor James Fernyhough sat down with UniSuper chief investment officer John Pearce to
 Hall of fameLawrie Cox has made extraordinary grassroots contributions beyond the superannuation and aviation industry. Karren Vergara writes why AvSuper's independent ...  Deep impactBig Super Day Out traverses vast terrain to reunite Indigenous people and the disenfranchised with their lost superannuation one postcode at a time. This ...  Game changersAt less than two years old, GROW Super has clocked up some incredible milestones and defied the 'cowboy' label along the way. Two co-founders share how ...  A bold moveSpearheading a landmark management buyout takes courage and vision. Jim Lamborn will be known as the transformational figure who reshaped the investment ...  Close to homeCon Michalakis left a flourishing career in New York to return to his hometown of Adelaide. This move proved rewarding for Statewide Super, which has ...  Striving for fairnessChris Davies is bringing a strategic and fresh perspective to the superannuation industry. He tells Emma Rapaport about his rise to the top of the nation's ...  Road to recoveryMental illness strikes tens of thousands of financial services employees every day. Margo Lydon tells Emma Rapaport about her journey to putting mental ...  The super agendaMartin Fahy is bringing a strategic and holistic perspective to the superannuation industry. He tells Emma Rapaport about his rise to the top and vision ...  First class adminA former manager in the aviation industry, Link Group's Suzanne Holden says there are more similarities in financial services than one might expect.  Climate callingSuperannuation funds are transitioning to low carbon economies with an increased focus on climate-specific investment strategies. Mercer's Alexis Cheang ... |
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Leading the way
SHARON DAVIS
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FUTURE GROUP AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FUTURE GROUP AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD
Sharon Davis has always been fascinated by the human condition; it has driven her passion for people, her career, and building a better future for the next generation and beyond. Eliza Bavin writes.
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