Super Review

Australian Ethical has recorded a new funds under management (FUM) milestone of $14.5 billion after strong end-of-financial-year superannuation inflows helped offset challenging market conditions and weakness across parts of its investment business.

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating has proposed a sweeping overhaul of Australia’s retirement income system, arguing superannuation funds should play a much larger role in helping retirees access the Age Pension and manage their retirement.

The Albanese government has unveiled what it describes as a world-leading artificial intelligence framework, introducing national standards for AI and large data centres as it seeks to attract investment while tightening oversight of the rapidly expanding sector.

Victorian Funds Management Corporation (VFMC) chief executive, Kate Galvin, has been appointed to the board of the International Centre for Pension Management (ICPM). The ICPM is a global research partner network for large pension and institutional funds, allowing member organisations to share research and collaborate on investment challenges and governance strategies.

Fixed pay for ASX 100 CEOs is lower now than in 2012, according to ACSI, as super funds and institutional investors put pressure on remuneration committees to avoid salary surges witnessed overseas. The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) report into executive pay CEO Pay in ASX 200 companies has tracked CEO remuneration for 24 years.

Brighter Super has reported positive returns across its diversified investment options for the 12 months to 30 June 2026, with its Growth option returning 10.18 per cent for accumulation members and 11.25 per cent for pension members. Brighter Super’s MySuper option returned 9.56 per cent for accumulation members, placing it alongside several large industry funds that generated returns around the 9 per cent mark over the financial year.

Australian Food Super has become one of the first superannuation funds in Australia to introduce an artificial intelligence-powered retirement planning experience, unveiling a new member tool designed to make complex superannuation projections easier to understand.

Mercer Super has appointed Court Haas as interim chief executive of the fund, effective 13 August, following the departure of Claire Ross after almost 17 years in senior leadership roles across three continents. Haas currently serves as Mercer Pacific’s chief financial officer, where he oversees the firm’s financial strategy and operations across the region. He will take over from Ross, who most recently held the roles of Mercer Pacific chief operating officer and chief executive of Mercer Super.

The superannuation industry has pushed back against a consumer advocacy group’s assessment of fund call centres, arguing the research paints an incomplete picture of member service while reaffirming support for mandatory customer service standards.

The Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) has named 12 super funds as Australia’s 2026 Responsible Super Fund Leaders, recognising organisations it said are setting the benchmark for responsible investment as scrutiny of environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices intensifies. Announced at the RIAA Conference Australia, the 2026 recognitions included 12 Responsible Super Fund Leaders, 47 Responsible Investment Leaders and 25 Responsible Investors.