NGS Super will roll its green shares option into a socially responsible investment (SRI) option later this year.
Despite Super Ratings reports showing a move away from standalone SRI options towards environmental, social and governance (ESG) overlays, chief executive of NGS Super Anthony Rodwell-Ball said the investment options had been developed in response to member demand.
He said its current Green Shares option had a purely environmental focus whereas the SRI option would inject slightly more social and governance factors into investment decisions excluding tobacco, pornography and armaments.
Although members would gain access to an investment option that lent itself to ESG considerations, Rodwell-Ball said the fund’s portfolio was still managed responsibly.
He said NGS Super was the first institutional investor into Social Venture Australia’s social benefit bond, investing half a million dollars into providing preventative social security programs.
The super fund announced that Gregory has been appointed to its executive leadership team, taking on the fresh role of chief advice officer.
The deputy governor has warned that, as super funds’ overseas assets grow and liquidity risks rise, they will need to expand their FX hedge books to manage currency exposure effectively.
Super funds have built on early financial year momentum, as growth funds deliver strong results driven by equities and resilient bonds.
The super fund has announced that Mark Rider will step down from his position of chief investment officer (CIO) after deciding to “semi-retire” from full-time work.