Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) chief executive, Ann Byrne will step down from her position later this year.
ACSI president Gerard Noonan said Byrne's five years with the organisation supported its growth into a major force in corporate governance in Australia and bolstered super funds focus on the environmental and social impact of companies.
"Ann's direct style and her intellectual savvy are well known to many chairs and directors of the stock exchange's top 200 companies," Noonan said.
"She has been an articulate advocate on ESG issues for many years and has a deep understanding, on behalf of millions of super fund members, of the importance of improved corporate governance in Australia's corporate landscape."
Byrne has spent the past year involved in a major project to re-organise ACSI's governance and representative structure, Noonan said.
Byrne is former chief executive of UniSuper and Superannuation Trust of Australia (now AustralianSuper) and will continue in her role as elected member of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) organisation, which she has held for three years, until October.
ACSI has started an international search for Byrne's replacement.
Jim Chalmers has defended changes to the Future Fund’s mandate, referring to himself as a “big supporter” of the sovereign wealth fund, amid fierce opposition from the Coalition, which has pledged to reverse any changes if it wins next year’s election.
In a new review of the country’s largest fund, a research house says it’s well placed to deliver attractive returns despite challenges.
Chant West analysis suggests super could be well placed to deliver a double-digit result by the end of the calendar year.
Specific valuation decisions made by the $88 billion fund at the beginning of the pandemic were “not adequate for the deteriorating market conditions”, according to the prudential regulator.