Lisa Carroll

CFA Society Australia is proud to announce that eight organisations across super funds, asset managers, and consultants have adopted the voluntary CFA Institute Inclusion Code (Australia).

Grounded in global standards, the CFA Institute Inclusion Code has been adapted for Australia through consultation with a working group of leading firms, ensuring its relevance to the Australian investment industry. Since the Australian launch of the code in September 2024, the signatories who have adopted the code total eight and include:

1. HESTA
2. Frontier Advisors
3. ECP Asset Management
4. Elston Asset Management
5. MFS International (Australia)
6. CFA Society Australia

Lisa Carroll, CEO, CFA Society Australia, commented: “We applaud these organisations which, alongside CFA Society Australia, have committed to the Inclusion Code after its first year. This milestone illustrates the Australian investment industry’s commitment and leadership to building a more inclusive investment profession.”

Sonya Sawtell-Rickson, Chief Investment Officer, HESTA, commented: “At HESTA we are committed advocates for a more sustainable and inclusive economy. We believe that more diverse and inclusive teams have greater insight and perspective, enhancing decision making and contributing to stronger long-term performance that improves investment outcomes for our members.  HESTA is proud to be a signatory of the CFA Institute Inclusion Code. It is an important step in increasing inclusive cultures in the Australian financial industry.”

Sarah Maynard, ASIP, Global Senior Head, Inclusion Code, CFA Institute, commented: “The Inclusion Code offers organisations a foundation for embedding inclusive practices into strategic talent management and decision-making processes. There is growing recognition that inclusion supports sound business governance and strengthens relationships with clients, employees, and investors alike. As organisations continue to align their operations with stakeholder expectations, the Code provides a practical framework for integrating inclusion into strategy and accountability — reinforcing long-term value and resilience.”

The CFA Institute Inclusion Code is available to investment organisations in Australia of any size that seek to shape a more inclusive future for the investment industry. It provides six metrics-based principles and an implementation framework for signatories to voluntarily measure, report, and improve inclusion in their workplaces. Signatories agree to inclusion through recruitment, retention, leadership development, and across their organisational cultures.

The six principles to which signatories voluntarily commit are:

• Pipeline: Expanding the inclusive talent pipeline.
• Talent Acquisition: Designing, implementing, and maintaining inclusive and equitable hiring and onboarding practices.
• Promotion and Retention: Designing, implementing, and maintaining inclusive and equitable promotion and retention practices to reduce barriers to progress.
• Leadership: Using an organisation’s position and voice to promote inclusion and improve inclusive outcomes in the investment industry. Organisations will hold themselves responsible for their firm’s progress.
• Influence: Using an organisations role, position, and voice to promote and increase measurable inclusive results in the investment industry.
• Measurement: Measuring and reporting on progress in driving better diversity, equity, and inclusion results by providing regular reporting on the firm’s related metrics to senior management, the board, and CFA Institute.

Furthermore, the firms have voluntarily committed to meeting the following foundational reporting requirements within two years of signing the Australian Inclusion Code:

• Establishing senior leader ownership and an oversight governance process.
• Publishing formal, written, publicly available communications outlining the organisation’s Inclusion strategy, policy, commitments, and high-level objectives.
• Adopting an implementation plan to integrate inclusion within the signatory organisation’s people, processes, and policies.

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Lisa Carroll

CFA Society Australia has been launched following the amalgamation of three local CFA Societies, giving a stronger voice to Australian CFA charterholders and raising the recognition of the CFA credential in Australia.

CFA Society Australia launched the new brand in Brisbane last week in an event for members and candidates, and at further events in Melbourne on 16 May and on 23 May in Sydney, followed by a Perth celebration on 30 May.

Lisa Carroll, CEO of CFA Society Australia said the transition to the CFA Society Australia from CFA Society Sydney, CFA Society Melbourne and CFA Society Perth, will bring together over 3,500 investment professionals under one community, giving them one combined influential voice.

“We are uniting over 3,500 CFA charterholders across Australia and 5,000 CFA Program candidates under one brand, CFA Society Australia, making us one of the largest professional societies in the Asia Pacific region. This is a powerful step towards empowering our members who are committed to the highest standards of professionalism in the Australian investment industry,” said Ms Carroll said.

“Importantly, speaking with one voice will raise recognition of the CFA designation and strengthen the professional standing of our members, which will likely translate into a positive impact on members’ career advancement and opportunities,” she said. “Our members will benefit from a more extensive network nationally and globally. At the same time, we are better positioned to enhance the efficiency of delivering member services across Australia, while retaining the community spirit in each of our chapters in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney,” Ms Carroll said.

Michael Clancy, Chair, CFA Society Australia Board and CEO of Qantas Super, said the transition to CFA Society Australia presents a significant opportunity to strengthen and grow the investment profession in Australia by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence.

“The change will enable us to engage with employers, government and regulators nationally, while continuing to provide member services which are tailored to each geography we serve,” Mr Clancy said.

Margaret Franklin, CFA President and CEO of CFA Institute, said the new organisation will create a stronger and more influential organisation and more efficient society that will better serve CFA charterholders and the public interest. “CFA Society Australia can more effectively create thought leadership, support the growth and reputation of the CFA charter and forge institutional partnerships with far reaching benefits. The organisation can also influence policy markets, promote the adoption of industry standards and share regional and global content for the benefit of its members,” said Ms Franklin.

“The societies in Australia have long served as distinct influential groups that drove innovation for investment professionals of their respective regions. Collectively, the future possibilities will be even greater. We look forward to working closely with the new board and staff of CFA Society Australia, which will advance our mission of leading the investment profession globally in ethics, education and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society. Together we are building a more resilient, diverse, influential and sustainable investment profession that serves the greater good.”

CFA Institute will continue to deepen its engagement with Australia, giving Australia a stronger voice in the global community. Australia has become one of CFA Institute’s ten priority ‘Global Financial Centre’ markets.  “As one of ten priority markets, this will help sustain higher levels of member services and the opportunity to provide input to CFA Institute’s strategic priorities and programs,” Ms Carroll said.

Media Contact

Nicki Bourlioufas

Telephone: +61 786 933

nicki@spotoncpr.com

About CFA Society Australia 

CFA Society Australia is part of the worldwide network of CFA Institute member societies that lead the investment profession globally by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society. CFA Society Australia represents the interests of over 3500 investment professionals through advocacy, education, events, and professional dev

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