Insights

With company reporting season winding down, let’s consider the difference between reported and realised CEO pay and why ACSI monitors both.

The demonstrated links between employee wellbeing, productivity and performance are why, as long-term investors, ACSI’s members focus on workplace safety issues, including mental heath.

Not long after ACSI was born, its founders turned their attention the material risks of poor corporate governance. As company collapses back then illustrated, poor governance practices can threaten corporate performance, destroy shareholder value and jeopardise members’ financial interests.

ACSI’s annual CEO pay study has been running for 25 years, almost as long as ACSI itself. It’s a priceless, scrupulously researched record of long-running trends in executive pay.

ACSI President Debby Blakey reflects on a quarter century of collective investor stewardship and looks ahead to the challenges and opportunities shaping markets. She calls on investors, companies and leaders to show courage and accountability in building long-term value.

Some call it red tape, but it’s clear that Australia’s capital markets are underpinned by governance settings promoting accountability, transparency and confidence – factors that are critically important to those investing long-term on behalf of millions of superfund members.

At the recent ACSI conference CEO Louise Davidson outlined how Australia's unique corporate governance landscape has worked well for investors and companies.

Political events overseas have ushered in a wave of – mostly negative – opinions about investors and companies focusing on sustainability issues. Some are trying to overlay the US experience here, seeking to make these issues political footballs, but for Australian investors, sustainability is about supporting companies to perform well and consistently over the long-term, writes ACSI CEO Louise Davidson.

Proxy advisers play a crucial role in facilitating informed shareholder voting. ACSI CEO Louise Davidson asks why Josh Frydenberg has taken aim when no harm has been identified to justify the new rules, nor the speed of their introduction.