#1 fund for weathering market ups and downs3
SuperRatings' Pension of the Year three years in a row4
We consider environmental, social, and corporate governance in our investment strategy
In 2017, the Board confirmed QSuper’s status as a universal owner and advocated extending its management of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) risks to our portfolio arrangements. (A universal owner is large enough to own a slice of the entire economy and has a very long-term investment horizon.)
QSuper completely excludes investments in some companies from our portfolio:
This applies to our entire listed equities portfolio across our investment options: Lifetime, Moderate, Balanced, Aggressive, Australian Shares, and International Shares. The only exception is our Self Invest option, where all socially responsible investment decisions are up to the member.
QSuper also believes effective stewardship can play a role in improving the potential to provide long-term, sustainable returns for our members. We generally prefer engagement to divestment in managing ESG risk and achieving change. This means we will seek to influence a company, either directly or through an industry organisation, to make changes in the way it does business.
We are committed to reducing carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, aiming to align our portfolio to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) The ACSI is a not-for-profit organisation, formed in 2001 to provide corporate governance research and services to its members. We’re a foundation member. Each year, ACSI meets with companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange to communicate investors' expectations and concerns about ESG matters.
Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) This collaboration of Australian and New Zealand investors has over $2 trillion under management, focussing on the impact that climate change has on the financial value of investments. IGCC encourages government policies and investment practices that address the risks and opportunities of climate change for the ultimate benefit of super fund members and account holders.
Climate Action 100+ This initiative brings together more than 450 investors with over $39 trillion in assets under management to ensure the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take necessary action on climate change. As a member of CA100+, we have helped companies commit to cutting emissions, improving governance, and strengthen climate-related financial disclosures.
40:40 Vision This initiative aims at ensuring gender diversity in executive leadership in ASX 200 companies.
We invest in share markets across the world. By voting at annual general meetings and other decision-making forums, we can have a positive influence on how companies are run.
The Board is guided by ACSI's Governance Guidelines when determining voting decisions for Australian companies, and by Glass Lewis on decisions about firms overseas.
Find out more about our proxy voting activity
We know that investment decisions can affect our society and our environment. This is why we offer the Socially Responsible option.
Since 1 July 2020, QSuper has managed our Socially Responsible option in-house. We look for and invest in assets that will make positive contributions to the issues our members have told us they care about, and we screen out investments with negative impacts.
Learn more about our Socially Responsible option