Gender Equity

International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Request of Information Consultation on Agenda Priorities to shape the next two-year work plan of the ISSB.

The Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) has congratulated the incoming Government of Australia, and has called for the establishment of a national sustainable finance strategy which can unlock investment opportunities and underpin strong action on climate change and other key societal issues. “From climate change to housing affordability to gender equality, many of the issues the electorate has deemed important at this election mirror the big issues which investors are pushing for action on,” said RIAA CEO Simon O’Connor. RIAA is calling on the Government to establish a whole of government approach to embedding sustainability into the financial system, to underpin a strong and prosperous economy, to position Australian competitively and to help address local and global challenges.

Retail supply chain management, workplace safety, gender diversity on boards, farming and antibiotic use, and climate change are among the key issues being researched by broking firms in Australia to inform responsible investment strategies. At the 8th Annual ESG Research Australia Awards held in Sydney today, Citi and Credit Suisse took out the awards for excellence in ESG research. The Awards, attended by Australia’s leading superannuation funds, fund managers and broking firms, recognise excellence in environmental, social and governance (ESG) research with three awards, including best new ESG research, best ongoing research and best ESG broking firm. 30 pieces of ESG research conducted during 2016 were nominated from seven broking firms, including Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML), Citi, CLSA, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan and Macquarie Bank. Nominations were assessed by the ESG RA Research Evaluation Committee, comprising superannuation funds and fund managers. The winners of this year’s ESG Research Australia Awards are: Best Piece of New ESG Research by an Individual Analyst or Team: Get Inside the Carbon Black Box, Look Down the Carbon Value Chain by Sandra McCullagh and Zoe Whitton, Credit Suisse Best Piece of Ongoing ESG Research by an Individual Analyst or Team: Safety Spotlight: ASX100 Companies & More by Elaine Prior and Joel Quintal, Citi Best ESG Broking Firm: Citi