Investment approach

A long-term investor with a clear purpose

As Australia’s largest superannuation fund¹, we invest the retirement savings of more than 3.5 million members².

Our purpose is to help members achieve their best financial position in retirement.

Given most Australians start contributing to their superannuation (compulsory retirement savings) from when they start working, superannuation is a long-term investment.

In fact, the average age of AustralianSuper accumulation members is just 41 years of age².

Learn more about Australia’s superannuation system.

Maximising value creation for members

We are a profit-for-member fund and act solely in the best financial interest of members.

This underscores our absolute focus on driving long-term value creation and risk-adjusted returns for members.

Our investment philosophy

We invest with one goal in mind: To help members achieve their best financial position in retirement.

We believe active management and a long-term, global focus delivers the best returns. And we always work as One Fund to leverage our collective skills and insights to deliver the best outcomes for members.

Investing for the long-term

The role of superannuation is to to support wealth creation during the accumulation phase – plus income generation in the retirement phase.

This means we invest for the long-term, using time horizons measured in years and decades - not just weeks and months.

An active investor

We apply our deep investment expertise to identify assets, sectors and markets that we believe will outperform the broader market. We also work to integrate consideration of relevant ESG factors into our investment decision-making and stewardship processes, with the application of our approach varying by asset class and investment characteristics. See here for more details.

A global approach

We invest in the best opportunities and talent around the world. Our global pool of talent generates on-the-ground insights and investment opportunities.

Investing as One Fund

We believe the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. That means we work as One Fund – working collaboratively to build a portfolio that outperforms. We achieve this through the pursuit of a shared purpose and diverse ideas and perspectives.

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Investment management approach

Investment origination and management are undertaken:

Directly by our in-house investment team; and
Through a global network of aligned investment partners and managers, who provide access to valued skills, insights and investment opportunities.

We use our deep investment experience to actively invest and position the portfolio through asset allocation, sector mix and security selection.

Our teams are structured into four key portfolio groups.

One Fund approach

Our One Fund approach means that our teams don’t operate in silos. We work in an open and collaborative environment, leveraging the skills and insights of our multi-asset class platform. Our One Fund approach also makes us more agile, allowing us to respond more quickly to market opportunities.

Our Investment team

Our investment capability

Almost 60% of the portfolio is now internally managed². With more than 400 in-house investment professionals across 7 global offices, we have deep expertise across all asset classes.

Discover our capabilities

Future-focused investment approach

As Australia’s largest superannuation fund, we have not only the size and scale, but also the capability, vision and courage to adapt and invest for the long-term.

Long-term value creation

As a large and growing global investor with a long-term investment horizon, we can invest in large-scale investment opportunities through market cycles.

This includes direct investments in private markets. As at 30 June 2025, 27% of the Balanced Option was invested in unlisted assets³.

Our direct investment capability, stable capital base and strong recurring cash flows also supports agile execution. We don’t need to sell assets to fund new opportunities and can support long-term value creation through ownership.

Strategic partnership and collaboration

We believe that partnership supports value creation and seek to partner with high-quality, like-minded investors. Our deep sector and transaction experience adds value to our investments and partnerships.

Innovation, vision and courage to adapt

We have a long and successful track record of evolving our investment strategy and approach as the Fund has grown and markets have changed. This includes actively building out our direct investment and private markets capability. We also continue to build out our on-the-ground global presence in key markets, such as London and New York, to support our investment activity and value creation for members.

Global recognition

AustralianSuper has been awarded Fund of the Year for 2024 by Global SWF⁴ for our leadership among Australian superannuation funds, growing investment activity and significant international expansion.

Who we partner with

We have a strong appetite for direct and co-investment opportunities and seek to partner with high-quality, like-minded investors.

Who we are

Our responsible investment approach

At AustralianSuper being a responsible investor means actively considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues with the aim of creating better long-term financial outcomes for members.

We also offer members a screened investment option, which excludes certain assets based on ESG criteria.

Socially Aware investment option

ESG and Stewardship program

ESG issues present investment risks and opportunities in our portfolio which can impact members’ investment returns. Our ESG and Stewardship policy guides our ESG and Stewardship program.

We aim to identify the ESG issues that can most impact the investment value of companies and assets, consider these when we invest, and advocate for their effective management during ownership. We work individually and with others to address these ESG issues at the company and system levels.

The application of our ESG and Stewardship program varies by asset class and investment characteristics, including whether we’re investing directly or through external managers, or whether our investment is actively or passively held. We undertake more in-depth integration and stewardship activities in the companies and assets we invest in directly.

Our ESG and Stewardship program has three pillars:

Learn more about our approach to ESG
Our commitment to Net Zero 2050

AustralianSuper has made a commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 in the investment portfolio (based on scope 1 and scope 2 emissions of portfolio investments).

Our ability to achieve the net zero commitment is dependent on policymakers and portfolio companies making and delivering on their own net zero commitments.

Given the scale of policy, economic and societal change required, and given the inherent challenges associated with long-term forecasts, there is some unavoidable uncertainty as to whether the commitments of policymakers and portfolio companies will be met in a timely manner.
Learn more about our climate change approach

Learn more about how we invest

Our capabilities

AustralianSuper’s global in-house investment team invests across all major asset classes, markets and points of the capital spectrum.

Discover our capabilities

Our asset class groups

Our investment team is structured into four key portfolio groups, with dedicated specialists across Australian & International Equities, Private Equity, Real Assets, Private Credit, Fixed Income & Currency, and Liquidity & Implementation.

Discover our asset classes

Our investment team

With deep sector and transaction experience across all asset classes, our internal investment teams manage almost 60% of our portfolio¹.

Meet our investment team