Mr Gracey will transition portfolio responsibility to Head of Equities Nathan Parkin, who will assume full management of the Fund from the end of September, with Mr Gracey remaining in an advisory capacity until mid-December 2025.

Deputy CIO John Woods said, “Andy has made a valuable contribution to the firm over the past 20 years, and we’re thankful for his dedication and long-standing service. We’re grateful for his commitment to both the firm and our clients, and we wish him all the best in his next endeavour. We’re pleased to have a capable and experienced successor in Nathan, and we’re confident in the continued investment discipline and focus on values that have been hallmarks of our approach.”

Departing Portfolio Manager Andy Gracey said, “I’ve enjoyed the past 20 years at Australian Ethical immensely and am proud to have reached this milestone. I have complete confidence in Nathan’s leadership and was thrilled when he accepted the role. I’ll continue to support the business and the team through to my departure in December, and I look forward to working closely with everyone over the next five months.”

Head of Equities and incoming Portfolio Manager of the Fund Nathan Parkin said, “It’s an honour to carry on Andy’s exceptional management of the Fund.  We’re excited by the continuing opportunities for clients in small and micro-caps, utilising our excellent pedigree in researching this part of the market.”

Mr Parkin brings more than 30 years’ experience in Australian financial markets, including two decades in small and mid-cap management. Previously he managed up to $6.5bn in Australian equities portfolios as Deputy Head of Equities at Perpetual Investments and co-founded Ethical Partners Funds Management where he was the Investment Director.  

Since its inception 10 years ago, the Emerging Companies Fund has delivered 12.2% returns pa compared to its benchmark of 6.8% pa over the same period^[1].

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[1] Performance information is correct at 30 June 2025. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The information provided does not constitute personal financial advice and has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before making an investment decision, carefully review the FSG, PDS and TMD at australianethical.com.au to consider if the product is right for you.

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John Woods

Australian Ethical’s Balanced Fund, its MySuper option, delivered 10.5%¹ (after fees) in the year to June 30, 2025, demonstrating the strength of its ethical investment approach in the face of challenging market cycles.  

Australian Ethical’s Growth Fund delivered 11.5%¹, and its High Growth Fund delivered 12.8%¹. All Australian Ethical’s super options are certified Sustainable Plus by the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia^[2]. 

Australian Ethical Deputy CIO John Woods said, “Our performance is proof that ethical investment can generate strong returns while enabling our members to invest in line with their values. “It’s pleasing to see that our fund performance has been positively impacted by our limited exposure to fossil fuel companies. As pioneers of Australia’s ethical investing movement, we go further to ensure our members’ retirement savings are invested to deliver the future they want for themselves and their world.

“Our ethical approach enhances due diligence and risk management, adding additional protection to the portfolio through periods of market volatility. It also means we favour future-focused investments that in line with our Ethical Charter seek to do good by people, animals and planet, and importantly that will have a place in our world for many decades to come.” 

In addition to the performance benefit from the limited exposure to resources and fossil fuels, disciplined processes led the team to trim overvalued holdings and invest in higher-quality opportunities across sectors and asset classes. The team has also identified alternative defensive exposures, bolstered allocations to private markets, and actively managed fixed income amid public market volatility.  

Australian Ethical uses its position as an investor on behalf of its members to influence the companies it invests in, policy, and the economy, to encourage positive change.    

In the last financial year, its ethical stewardship program focused on engaging with companies like QBE Insurance and Westpac to encourage these financial institutions to switch off financing to new fossil fuel projects and encourage the companies towards a net-zero future.  

Over the long term, Australian Ethical’s Balanced Fund delivered a 6.8% p.a. return over 10 years to June 30, 2025^[1]. The Fund is weighted 62.5-82.5% growth assets and 17.5-37.5% defensive assets. It aims to achieve returns of 3.25% above inflation after investment fees and taxes over a 10-year period.  

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Notes:
[1] The annual return for the period to 30 June 2025 after fees. https://www.australianethical.com.au/super/performance-and-prices/ 
[2] https://www.responsibleinvestment.org/find-certified/products/

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Ludovic Theau will join the firm as Chief Investment Officer effective 3 April 2023. Ludo is the former Chief Investment Officer of the $30bn Clean Energy Finance Corporation. He has more than 30 years of investment management and investment banking experience across Europe and Australia with global organisations including Hastings, Westpac, ABN Amro, Macquarie, UBS and BNP Paribas.  He has deep experience in multiple asset classes including infrastructure, structured debt, public equities, private markets and private equity/venture capital. Ludo’s extensive international experience, and depth of knowledge in responsible investing makes him a perfect fit for the next phase of growth at Australian Ethical.

Australian Ethical’s Head of Asset Allocation, John Woods, has been promoted to the role of Deputy Chief Investment Officer and Head of Multi Assets. A registered CFA, John has 17 years of investment experience across asset allocation and prior to joining Australian Ethical in 2021, held senior investment roles at as well as strategy and portfolio management roles at CLSA, Macquarie Group, and IBM.

Alison George will commence in the new role of Head of Impact & Ethics effective 1 May 2023. Alison will lead Australian Ethical’s widely recognised and industry leading ethics research team and also be accountable for the ongoing development of the company’s impact framework and delivery. This will further ensure the company achieves maximum positive impact from every dollar of invested capital and from its significant advocacy and thought leadership agenda. Alison has more than 25 years’ experience across impact investing, ESG, sustainability and accounting services.  She has held previous senior investment and leadership roles at Regnan, Monash Sustainability Enterprises, Essential Services Commission and EY.

Head of Ethics Research, Dr Stuart Palmer, will step into the role of Ethical Futures Lead. In this new role, Stuart will focus on bespoke dedicated areas of research and analysis relating to the ethical investing landscape.

Managing Director John McMurdo said “Australian Ethical’s significant leadership and global reputation, enables it to attract and retain domestic and international candidates of the highest calibre.  The appointments of Ludo, John and Alison reinforce this position, and further enhance our leadership in ethical investing not only in Australia, but globally.”

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John McMurdo

Australia’s original responsible investment and super fund manager Australian Ethical has launched one of Australia’s first 100 per cent ethical multi-asset high growth funds (the Fund), with an opening balance of $250 million repurposed from its former Advocacy Fund.

The Fund grows Australian Ethical’s line-up of actively-managed multi-asset options. It is open to all retail, wholesale and institutional investors through managed funds. It will also be available as an investment option for Australian Ethical Superannuation members.

It will allow everyday Australians to access illiquid assets, which historically have been the domain of wealthy impact investors and venture capitalists, with up to 20 per cent of the strategic asset allocation providing exposure to alternative assets like private equity, venture capital and infrastructure.

These assets offer the potential for better returns, while bringing greater diversification to the portfolio. This is achieved by extending the range of investment opportunities available into emerging sectors and companies at a different stage of maturity.

Examples of such investments Australian Ethical has previously made include allocations to the Right Click Capital Growth Fund, Artesian Clean Energy Seed Fund, Main Sequence CSIRO Innovation Fund, and Morrison & Co Growth Infrastructure Fund.

The Fund will therefore allow everyday Australians to allocate a portion of their money to potentially world-changing markets such as climate technologies, renewable energies, medtech and biotech.

This is particularly pertinent given climate is now the number one investment thematic for ESG investors.

In addition, the Fund will provide exposure to unlisted property holdings, which produce strong income and growth characteristics, in addition to providing diversification benefits.

The management fee for the Fund will reduce to 0.99 per cent for super, and 0.90 per cent for the managed fund, while the recommended minimum investment timeframe will increase from 7 to 10 years.

These changes will improve the diversification of assets, reduce the risk profile of the option, and target a more clearly defined after fees investment return objective of CPI+ 4.5 per cent per annum.

John McMurdo, CEO and MD of Australian Ethical, said: “We’re excited to be offering a 100 per cent ethical multi-asset high growth fund, giving everyday Australians the chance to put their money towards some world-changing industries.

“The launch of this Fund builds on our visionary roots and pushes the envelope of ethical investing in Australia by connecting everyday investors with transformational projects.”

John Woods, Head of Asset Allocation at Australian Ethical, said: “This high growth, multi-asset fund allows us to invest in some of tomorrow’s most innovative initiatives, and complements our enviable track record of delivering competitive returns through investing ethically in other asset classes.

“The most recent IPCC report made clear that decarbonising the global economy at the rate required will take a massive structural reallocation of capital to a net-zero economy combined with tremendous advances in technology. This Fund enables our customers to address both by investing significantly less carbon-intensive assets while also using their money to unleash the potential of some of tomorrow’s most innovative initiatives.”

Despite the Advocacy Option changing, advocacy remains a critical component of Australian Ethical’s purpose, which is to invest for a better world. Australian Ethical regularly advocates for change within companies it invests in, and also those that don’t meet its Ethical Charter. In the last financial year, it engaged with more than 500 companies, with recent examples available here.

Australian Ethical also engages with the government on policy issues relating to climate, biodiversity, human rights, and animal protection.

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