This quarter has seen a perfect storm of challenges to Australian society. The bushfires, the escalating coronavirus pandemic and a global shock to output and the economy have produced unprecedented turmoil in our communities. This session will hold a candid conversation about the role of financial services in holding the nation together.
Speaker: Geoff Lloyd, chief executive, MLC
Moderator: Colin Tate, chief executive officer, Conexus Financial
Length: 38 mins
The total portfolio approach has allowed Australia’s sovereign wealth fund to capture the themes that will power markets and economies for decades to come, said director of thought leadership Craig Thorburn – but that doesn’t mean it’s not hard to scale.
The $23 billion pension fund of the state of Geneva in Switzerland is favouring Japanese equities and seeking opportunities to acquire them when prices decline amid factors including attractive dividend yields, the monetary policy by the Japanese central bank and stable consumer habits.
In his first public comments since being named chief investment officer of Australia’s sovereign wealth fund in August, Ben Samild has said fostering a team culture of “purpose and joy” is among his top priorities.
With the right governance models pension funds can play a role in broader societal issues, such as mental health in the workplace, while still delivering financial security for members. A unique “democratic governance structure” at the Danish Velliv Association allows it to manage multiple objectives, chief executive Lars Wallberg said.
Private equity has the potential to play a strong role in decarbonising portfolios, but many funds are lagging both in transparency and in action towards net zero, investors from Harvard and Oxford endowments and the French fund Caisse de Depots said.
Renowned geopolitics professor Stephen Kotkin remains an “unbelievable optimist about where the world is,” despite the ever-present potential for catastrophe and unprecedented challenges from climate change, geopolitical power dynamics, artificial intelligence and other technological developments.
Responsible investing forces investors to take a wider perspective and directly confront ambiguity and brings a wide range of benefits to organisations including clearer purpose, better talent attraction and the ability to navigate complex multi-stakeholder issues, experts including Saker Nusseibeh say.
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