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About ACSI
The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors ("ACSI") is a not for profit organisation formed in April 2001 to provide independent research and education services to superannuation funds, in relation to the corporate governance practises of companies in which they invest.
ACSI's services are designed to:
- equip trustees with the tools to develop and implement a corporate governance policy;
- keep trustees up-to-date on corporate governance practices of listed companies so that trustees can effectively manage investments risks;
- provide trustees with regular publications including newsletters, research papers, codes of conduct and best practice guides.
Objectives
Our overriding objective is to ensure that trustees are properly equipped to deal with corporate governance issues, in a practical way and that is consistent with the general duty to protect and advance the investments of superannuation fund members.
ACSI's Objectives:
- To undertake and commission independent research into corporate governance practices for members. Member funds and organisations determine ACSI's research agenda;
- To provide members with information that assists the development and implementation of a corporate governance policy;
- To provide regular corporate governance education seminars and an annual conference on corporate governance for members;
- To provide members with a Voting Alert Service on the corporate governance practices of Australia's S&P/ASX 200 companies to aid with voting and engagement decisions.
Top of PageNational Secretariat
The national secretariat comprises of the President, Executive Officer, Policy and Research Officer and an Administration Officer.
Michael O'Sullivan, President
Michael O'Sullivan is currently the Chair of Care Super an industry fund with $2.6b in assets. He was until recently the National Executive President of the Australian Service Union. Michael sees ACSI as the catalyst to superannuation trustees to find practical and sensible ways to deal with corporate governance issues that impact on fund investments.
Sue Dahn, Deputy President
Sue is a Director of the Emergency Services and State Super Fund and Chair of its Investment Committee with responsibility for some $18B of member’s assets.
She is a Partner in the Melbourne firm of the Pitcher Partners national association of accounting firms, where she heads the investment advisory practice that advises private clients, family groups, superannuation funds and not-for-profit clients.
Ann Byrne, Chief Executive Officer
Ann joined ACSI in 2008 with a history of superannuation / pension fund management at UniSuper, the superannuation fund for staff of Australia’s 37 universities and Superannuation Trust of Australia, now Australian Super, a multi industry fund created for the manufacturing sector. In 2007 Ann was awarded the Fund Executive of the Year and was a member of the Board of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia.
Ann is an experienced director and has been part of the Boards of Adelaide Airport and Tiaki and Taumata New Zealand Plantations. Ann is currently a Board member of Stolen Generations Victoria Ltd, a member of the Business Finance and Audit Committee of Oxfam (Australia) and a member of the Monash University Department of Accounting and Finance Advisory Committee.
She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Monash University Accounting and Finance School.
Phillip Spathis, Executive Officer
In addition to the responsibilities of Executive Officer at ACSI, Phil is also a solicitor with Superannuation law firm, IFS Legal. Phil has written extensively about ethical investment and corporate governance issues that impact on superannuation funds.
Rosalind McKay, Policy and Research Officer
Ros has over 10 years experience in the superannuation industry both in Australia and in the UK, having worked for regulators and industry bodies in auditing, membership and policy and research roles.
Meredith Squires, Research Officer (Engagement Support)
Prior to joining ACSI, Meredith worked for an environmental regulator and has also previously worked as a solicitor in private legal practice and for a financial institution.