Perhaps the assumption that markets are still anchored by predictable economic policies needs to be challenged. For the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall, political volatility – once background noise – is potentially reshaping investment risk at a structural level.
Despite authorities taking their foot off the environmental, social and governance pedal and recent volatility in equities and bonds, the benefits of Artificial Intelligence and improved investor transparency are just beginning.
ACSI taps Davidson for vacant top spot
(Pictured: Louise Davidson)
Louise Davidson, the ESG investment manager at Cbus, has been appointed chief executive of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, a position made vacant by the resignation of Gordon Hagart in February after 18 months in the role. Davidson had been at Cbus since 2009.
ACSI has 31 Australian super funds members, with combined assets of $400 billion and in recent years has expanded its membership to include six international pension funds, bringing its total assets for which it speaks to $1.6 trillion.
Prior to her role at Cbus, Davidson was manager of sustainability and governance at Industry Funds Management between 2007 and 2009. She is also deputy chair of ESG Research Australia and the secretary of Investor Group on Climate Change.
When Hagart, who replaced the founding chief executive Ann Byrne in September 2013 after her retirement, resigned this year Gerard Noonan, ACSI chair, was quoted as saying the resignation was “unexpected and regrettable”. Hagart returned to live in Europe.
Noonan said last week: “Louise is well known in the nation’s boardrooms where much of ACSI’s important work is conducted. She’s determined to improve corporate governance in listed companies as well as encourage company boards and management to take more seriously their environmental and social impact.”
