Liza McDonald: Aware Super’s ESG and Impact Investment Approach

Liza McDonald is head of Responsible Investment at Aware Super, one of Australia’s largest super funds, which means she and her team are not only responsible for the retirement savings of millions of Australians, but they also have shareholdings in companies all over the world, which gives them an opportunity to engage, and maybe even influence these companies to make positive change. Aware Super is not only leading in being one of the largest funds in Australia, it’s also leading in terms of its approach to sustainability. They committed to net-zero last year, they’ve divested from coal, and they’re expanding their impact investment footprint. I spoke to Liza about all these topics and more. She was generous in helping us understand her investment and analysis approach, as well as her philosophical view of using investment capital to drive change. We also dug into how Aware Super works with outside fund managers. We discussed the criteria they look for in terms of ESG and sustainability, and their plans to bring more of it in-house. And, a small update on some of the numbers mentioned in the conversation. When we discuss Aware’s Impact investment portfolio the current status is 14 assets, valued at $2.9 billion. I really enjoyed this one: I hope it offers insights to both the retail crowd, who are looking for a super fund that’s aligned with their values, as well as institutional investors who are keen to understand what Aware Super looks for in their ESG mandates. You can find all the links and show notes on my website at… www.johntreadgold.com Enjoy