This year has been marked by global uncertainty and cost of living pressures. AustralianSuper’s focus has been helping members feel confident about their super and retirement by delivering strong long‑term performance, great value and by providing the guidance and support they need, when they need it.
30 June 2026 Chief Executive update
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Show transcript
Hello, I'm Paul Schroder, Chief Executive of AustralianSuper. This year, helping you feel confident about your financial future has never been more important.
As a profit-to-member fund, everything we do is focused on helping you achieve your best financial position in retirement, including providing guidance and support whenever you need it.
Despite continued uncertainty across the global economy, and in investment markets, AustralianSuper delivered strong investment returns this financial year. The Balanced investment option, where most members invest, returned 9.77% this year, and has seen an average annual return of 8.47% over the past ten years. For members with a Choice Income pension product, the Balanced option returned 10.82% this year, with a ten-year average annual return of 9.24%.
These are strong results, especially given the volatility caused by geopolitical tension and conflict in the Middle East. Our long-term active management approach had the portfolio well positioned for this environment and the benefits of diversification were apparent, with investments in unlisted assets supporting performance. It's always worth remembering that super is a long-term investment, often spanning decades, and our global investment team remains focused on navigating short-term volatility to deliver strong long-term returns for members.
This year also marked a transition in our investment leadership as we farewelled long-standing Chief Investment Officer, Mark Delaney, and appointed Shaun Manuell to that role. Shaun has led our Australian Equities team for more than a decade, growing internally managed investments from around $1 billion to $100 billion, and he brings a strong track record of delivering investment outperformance.
At AustralianSuper, we're focused on making it easier for you to engage with your super and feel confident in the decisions that you make. Over the past year, we've continued to invest in improving services while maintaining a strong focus on value and low administration fees. We've expanded our digital tools and online services, making it simpler to manage your super, your insurance, and retirement planning anytime, anywhere. We've strengthened how we support members at key life moments and are working to have more personalised and accessible digital guidance available for every member. At the same time, we've continued to strengthen cyber and data security to help protect your account and safeguard your information. Every dollar we invest is focused on delivering value, improving your experience, while keeping more of your money working for your future.
Looking ahead, we're implementing our long-term strategy to deliver real outcomes for members. We're advocating for improvements in the system so it's fair, equitable, and truly super for all. And we're working to simplify the transition to retirement and ensure the system is flexible and sustainable as Australians live, work and retire differently. Each of your goals, your circumstances, and your journeys to, and in, retirement are unique and we're here to help you navigate your path with confidence.
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Strong returns for members in 2025-26
While markets remain exposed to geopolitical tensions and ongoing volatility, all investment options delivered positive returns for the 12 months to 30 June 2026.
The Balanced option, where most members are invested, delivered strong performance this financial year, returning 9.77% for super accounts and 10.82% for Choice Income (Pension) accounts.
The High Growth option benefitted from a strong year for growth assets, delivering 11.58% for super and 12.88% for Choice Income accounts.
Over the past 10 years, to 30 June 2026, the Balanced option for super members has delivered an average annual return of 8.47% and for pension members an average annual return of 9.24%, demonstrating the strength of our long-term investment approach. For a member who has been with the Fund since the beginning, in August 1985, a balance of $10,000 back then will have grown to over $359,000 at 30 June 2026 (after administration fees and investment fees and costs) with no additional contributions1.
Super is a long-term investment
For most people, super is a long-term investment - often spanning 50 years or more and while changes in account balance can be worrying, market fluctuations over time are a normal part of investing. Our experienced global investment team are active investors and use their expertise and the Fund’s strengths, to continue to adapt to changing conditions, managing risk and investing in a way to create long-term value for members.
Learn more about our investment performance and outlook
Farewell Mark Delaney, welcome Shaun Manuell
During the year we farewelled long‑standing Chief Investment Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Mark Delaney and announced the appointment of Shaun Manuell to the role of Chief Investment Officer. Shaun has the skills and experience to continue Mark’s work having led our Australian equities team for more than a decade with a strong track record of delivering investment out-performance.
Read more about Shaun’s appointment
Net benefit is the number
Net benefit is the number that really matters when it comes to assessing how your fund is performing. In relation to your super, net benefit is the investment return minus the administration and investment fees and costs, transaction costs and taxes.
See how AustralianSuper performs when it comes to net benefit
Supporting you to grow your super
With 3.6 million members today - and five million expected within the decade - we know that clear information and reliable support can help you make the most of your super. Over the past year, we have:
- Enhanced data and cyber security, building on existing cybersecurity measures to further protect your account.
- Supported more timely and accurate super contributions through the Payday Super changes.
- Continued improvements in how we manage claims, in our Bereavement Centre and for insurance claims.
- Expanded education and guidance, with new digital resources, webinars, calculators, and a 15% increase in the number of qualified financial advisers2 to help you.
Every dollar we invest is focused on delivering value – improving your experience while keeping more of your money working for your future.
A system that works for all Australians
Australia's super system is a global benchmark and AustralianSuper remains committed to helping strengthen it for the benefit of all Australians. We continue to advocate for improvements to the system so it’s fair, equitable, and truly – super – for all including low-income earners, women, younger workers, First Nations Australians, and those in non-traditional work. We're also working to simplify the transition to retirement and ensure the system is flexible and sustainable as Australians live, work and retire differently.
Learn more about our policy and advocacy
Here for you
From humble beginnings to Australia’s largest super fund3 managing the retirement savings of one in seven working Australians4, our story is your story. Whether you're just starting out or planning your retirement, we're here to help you navigate your path with confidence.
Investment returns aren’t guaranteed. Past performance isn’t a reliable indicator of future returns.
- AustralianSuper investment returns are based on crediting rates, which are returns less investment fees and costs, transaction costs, the percentage-based administration fee deducted from returns from 1 April 2020 to 2 September 2022 and taxes. The analysis is net of administration fees with ending balance results rounded to the nearest $1,000. Returns don’t include insurance and other fees and costs that are deducted from account balances. Investment returns aren’t guaranteed. Past performance isn’t a reliable indicator of future returns. Returns from equivalent options of the ARF and STA super funds are used in calculating return for periods that begin before 1 July 2006.
- Personal financial product advice is provided under the Australian Financial Services Licence held by a third party and not by AustralianSuper Pty Ltd. Fees may apply.
- APRA Quarterly Superannuation Fund Level Statistics March 2026. Released June 2026
- Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (Labour force) and AustralianSuper Member Data, December 2025.
