FS Sustainability

Podcast: Championing First Nations Women

THE GREENER WAY   How can investing in First Nations women help close Australia's prosperity gap and create stronger communities, businesses and future leaders?

Podcast: Urgent calls for deforestation-free lending

THE GREENER WAY   What role do Australian banks play in deforestation, and how can financial institutions better manage nature-related risks within their lending portfolios?

First Nations benefit fund executives breached duties: Court

MATTHEW WAI   The Federal Court found that former Youpla Group chief executive Bryn Jones and director Ronald Pattenden breached their duties as directors.

Australian Ethical drops KPMG as auditor

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Australian Ethical will drop its decade-long auditor KPMG and will soon begin the competitive tender process for a new external auditor from FY28.

Anti-slavery commissioner calls for smarter due diligence for SMEs

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Australian anti-slavery commissioner has proposed to cut out repetitive questionnaires for more targeted modern slavery checks for SMEs.

FSU calls for universal PPL

ELIZA BAVIN   The Finance Sector Union is calling for universal paid parental leave allowing all parents equal access to parental leave regardless of their caring role with full wage replacement.

ARENA launches $30m startup fund

VINNY VUCAGO   The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has launched a new $30 million funding program to help early-stage technologies from development towards commercialisation.

Government grants $10m to First Nations clean energy projects

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   The government has opened a grant of up to $10 million to help First Nations organisations advance their clean energy projects.

Flexible work fails to follow women into leadership

VINNY VUCAGO   While a greater number of women are advancing into management roles, inflexible leadership positions and unequal caring responsibilities are forcing more women to leave senior positions.

Mining, property fuel Aussie billionaires' wealth: Report

KARREN VERGARA   Australian billionaires' riches are highly concentrated in mining, financial services, technology and property, accounting for 0.7% of the total US$15.1 trillion in global wealth studied by the 2026 Billionaire Census.

Rest lifts MPower commitment to $250m

VINNY VUCAGO   Rest has increased its investment in renewable energy and battery storage, committing a further $100 million to Wollemi Energy Group's MPower platform as superannuation funds continue to explore opportunities linked to the energy transition.

Future Group finalises change of trusteeship

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Future Group's Stewarda has taken over the trusteeship for its superannuation fund, Smart Future Trust, from Equity Trustees Superannuation Limited (ETSL), effective November 1.

Green moves: Frontier Advisors, OMERS

RIDDHIMA TALWANI   Frontier Advisors has appointed former Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) specialist Aneesha Singh as responsible investments consultant, strengthening its advice to asset owners on climate, sustainability and responsible investment.

AllianceBernstein overhauls thematic equity team

KARREN VERGARA   AllianceBernstein has overhauled its global equity team focused on achieving environmental and social outcomes, appointing a new lead for the division and announcing the exit of two long-serving portfolio managers.