FS Sustainability

Net zero, energy transition key election items: Grattan

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   Ahead of the federal election, the Grattan Institute has highlighted the move to net zero and energy transition as areas that should be prioritised by whoever wins.

Podcast: Harnessing synthetic biology for sustainable mining and pollution mitigation

THE GREENER WAY   In this episode of The Greener Way, guest host Michelle Baltazar interviews Nicole Richards, chief executive of Allonnia, about the company's use of synthetic biology to address sustainability issues.

Glass Lewis acquires investment stewardship platform

MATTHEW WAI   Global corporate governance data provider Glass Lewis has acquired a Stockholm-based technology platform to enhance institutional-level investment stewardship data and workflows.

Woodside investors urged to sack the board over dud returns

ANDREW MCKEAN   Woodside's board is on notice as the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) urges investors to clean house, blaming directors for chronically weak returns and climate risk failures.

Future IM/Pact expands partnerships, appoints chair

MATTHEW WAI   Future IM/Pact has expanded its private wealth partnerships with the addition of four financial institutions, while also welcoming a new chair of the advisory board.

Podcast: Decommissioning offshore oil and gas with Joshua Runciman

THE GREENER WAY   Oil spills, leaks and contaminants can wreak havoc on marine life, and abandoned and decaying platforms and pipelines can cause large-scale damage through chemical and heavy-metal pollutants.

Major instos, family offices headline Impact Investment Summit

KARREN VERGARA   The 2025 Impact Investment Summit Asia Pacific is set to be the biggest ever, featuring heavyweights from Macquarie Group, such as Viktor Shvets and former chief executive Nicholas Moore, set to headline this year's event that focuses on scaling investments for positive impact.

Family offices share sustainable investment preferences

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   A survey of 150 global family offices found about 30% are looking to invest in renewable energy battery storage, while a further near 30% already have money in solar power generation.

ASFA acts to remove First Nations access issues

MATTHEW WAI   The peak industry body published a draft Guidance Note on Severe Financial Hardship Withdrawals for member consultation, marking a significant "milestone" in making it easier for First Nations people to access their superannuation.

Investors still drawn to DEI

ROSE MARY PETRASS   Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Goldman Sachs are the latest to de-emphasise diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies due to new US government directives.

ESG funds third-best performing asset class

KARREN VERGARA   ESG-focused managed funds were the third-best performing asset class in the year to January 2025, achieving a 17.7% return on a median basis, new Rainmaker Information data shows.

Macquarie, Westpac invest in social enterprise fund

ELIZA BAVIN   The Australian government has partnered with investors to create a new fund that will fund social enterprises which provide employment.

Deputy chair appointed to ARENA board

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   A deputy chair has been named on the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) board for the first time, while a new appointee has also been welcomed.

Ethinvest names general manager

JAMIE WILLIAMSON   Ethinvest welcomed a general manager this month, hiring Australian Unity's former head of responsible investment and stewardship.