Mr Gibbs said: “It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of Australian Ethical through a time of great progress for the company and the sector. As Australian Ethical marks 40 years of ethical investment leadership, I am deeply proud of what the Board, management team and our people have achieved together. I have great confidence in the strength of the business, the quality of the Board and the momentum behind Australian Ethical’s purpose and strategy. I look forward to supporting an orderly transition over the coming months.”

On behalf of the Board, Managing Director John McMurdo said: “Steve has been a remarkable steward of Australian Ethical. Under his leadership, the company has grown from $700m in funds under management to $14.5 billion and joined the ASX300. Steve has embodied the purpose of the organisation — investing for a better world — and is widely acknowledged across the sector as a passionate and committed advocate for a more sustainable planet and better outcomes for people and animals. Steve will leave Australian Ethical next year with the deep gratitude of the Board, management, shareholders and the many stakeholders and causes he has so successfully supported and championed.”

Australian Ethical has been undertaking a Board renewal process over recent years, with Brian Bissker appointed to the Board in 2025 and Karen Orvad appointed in early 2026. The company is also well advanced in the selection process to appoint two further directors in the first half of 2027. Mr Gibbs has agreed to remain as Chair until no later than 30 June 2027 to support a successful transition.

Mr Gibbs will also retire from the Australian Ethical Foundation by 30 March 2027, and from Australian Ethical Superannuation Pty Limited by 31 December 2027.

This announcement is authorised by the AEI Board.

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Commenting on Richard’s departure, AEI’s Chair Steve Gibbs said: “Richard has brought deep investment insight and a strong commitment to responsible and impact‑led investing, and we thank him for his valuable contribution and service to Australian Ethical. We congratulate him on this exciting role at the Future Fund and wish him all the best for the future.

Reflecting on his time on the AEI Board, Richard Brandweiner said: “It has been a privilege to serve on the Board of Australian Ethical during a period of significant growth and capability building for the organisation. Australian Ethical is a for purpose and for-profit business that for 40 years has pioneered ethical investing, leading the industry and role modelling best practice. I’ve always believed that investing can and should deliver both positive returns and positive impact, so it was a real privilege to support an organisation that walks the talk in this respect, and I leave confident in its long‑term direction and continued ability to deliver positive outcomes for members, investors and the wider community.”

Richard joined the AEI Board on 1 September 2024, and his resignation is effective from 4 May 2026.

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Karen is a highly experienced Non-Executive Director, Board Chair, and Audit and Risk Chair.

Having started her Chartered Accounting career at KPMG in 1997, Karen gained expertise across external audit and people and culture consulting before moving into the risk and governance advisory practice where she was appointed Partner in 2015. During her time at the firm, she led national and international teams advising on board governance, culture, risk management and internal audit programs for a range of listed clients including some of the worlds most recognised brands.

Since retiring from the partnership in 2018, Karen has held senior executive audit and risk roles in ASX listed companies in both the aviation and financial services sector and developed a diverse and impact-focussed board portfolio.

Australian Ethical Investment Chair, Steve Gibbs said: “We are fortunate to have someone of Karen’s calibre join the Board. She has a distinguished track record in governance, audit and risk as well as defining and developing strong organisational and team cultures. Karen’s skills will be an important addition to our Board as we continue our focus on building the business resilience and governance practices appropriate for us to scale over the coming years.

Karen’s appointment is part of an ongoing Board renewal program at Australian Ethical Investment and follows the appointment of Brian Bissaker (former CEO of Colonial First State and Virgin Money) in April 2025 and the retirement of Kate Greenhill from the Board in October 2025. The Board renewal program also extends to the Australian Ethical Superannuation Board with the recent announcement that Mark Puli (former CEO of ESSSuper) joined the AES Board in February 2026,

Karen is also currently: the Chair of top tier social and affordable housing not-for-profit, St George Community Housing (SGCH);  a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Risk and Audit Committee of a significant for-purpose provider of  residential aged care, retirement living and homecare services, Bolton Clarke; Deputy Chair of Aspect ( Autism Spectrum Australia), a not-for-profit  providing education and support services to autistic children and adults; and Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee of AusPayNet (Australian Payments Network), a membership organisation facilitating innovation and governance around the future of payments in Australia. She is also an independent member of the NSW Treasury and Energy Co Audit and Risk Committees.

Speaking about her appointment, Ms Orvad said:  “I’m pleased to join the Australian Ethical Board. It’s a very strong business, well positioned for further growth over the coming years. I’m looking forward to sharing my audit, risk and regulatory experience to support business resilience and the delivery of the strategy.”

“I very much believe in Australian Ethical’s mission and in the role that ethical investing plays in delivering strong long-term returns while investing for a better world. It’s an exciting time to join the Board and the broader team.”

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Brian Bissaker

Australian Ethical Investment has announced the appointment of Brian Bissaker to its Board as an independent Non-Executive Director, effective 15 April 2025.

Brian has a successful career spanning more than 30 years in financial services and consulting, including as CEO of Colonial First State, CEO of Virgin Money and Group Executive of Bank of Queensland.  Brian has also held numerous Board positions and is a former adjunct professor at the University of Sydney Business School.

In addition to the Australian Ethical role, Brian currently holds Board positions with MetLife Insurance Australia, IMB Bank and is Chair of leading private girls’ school, Monte Sant Angelo College.

Australian Ethical Investment Chair, Steve Gibbs said “Brian is a seasoned financial services executive and highly experienced Non-Executive Director, with a distinguished track record of business success.  We welcome his deep investment management and governance experience to the Board to further accelerate both our growth and our impact.

“We have an ongoing process to ensure the timely renewal of the AEI and AES Boards, and we’ve been pleased to welcome significant talent in Richard Brandweiner, Fiona Reynolds, and now Brian to the team over the past Financial Year.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Bissaker said, “Australian Ethical’s growth in recent years is admirable – leveraging its authenticity as a genuine ethical business to achieve rapid and significant success.

“It’s proof that you can be a financially successful business and deliver great outcomes for customers and the world more broadly.  I am looking forward to working with the Board and the management team as the business embarks on its next phase of growth.”

The appointment of Brian to the Australian Ethical Investment Board follows the retirement of Mara Bún in October 2024 after 10 years as Non-Executive Director, and the appointment of former Pendal CEO, Richard Brandweiner as Executive Director in September 2024. Fiona Reynolds joined the Australian Ethical Superannuation Board in July 2024.

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Pete Ceglinksi

Australian Ethical (ASX: AEF) is proud to announce the recipients of its largest ever Community Grants program.

This year, Australian Ethical is donating $360,000 to 20 grassroots organisations that are making a difference to the planet, people or animals in Australia and overseas.

Selected from over 380 applications, each of the 20 winning organisations will receive a grant of up to $20,000 to help create better outcomes in communities around the world.

Nick Chadwick, Australian Ethical Foundation Officer, said: “We recognise that strong, vibrant communities are often sustained by the efforts of locally-led organisations who work tirelessly to make a difference.

“Not only did the shortlisted 32 organisations receive a flood of community support during the selection process, but they also received more than 18,000 votes from Australian Ethical members and the public which goes to show just how valued they are.

“We are thrilled that the 20 grant winners represent such a wide range of organisations under our three core pillars of people, planet and animals to meaningfully extend the impact of Australian Ethical to communities around the world.”

Pete Ceglinksi is CEO and co-founder of the Seabin Foundation, a charity that is reducing plastic pollution in the ocean and is one of this year’s grant recipients. He said: “This grant will help a lot! We do not have external funding, nor have we taken on seed capital, so this grant means we can install two more bins on the east coast of Australia and run more education programs to help people understand how to reduce waste.”

Australian Ethical’s grants program is a defining feature of the company’s role as one of Australia’s leading purpose-driven organisations. Funding for the grants comes from The Australian Ethical Foundation, which receives 10% of Australian Ethical’s yearly profits^[1] to allocate to charitable, benevolent and conservation causes in line with the Australian Ethical Constitution.

To date, more than $3.8 million has been donated with the Community Grants program supplemented by strategic multi-year grants and impact investments. Australian Ethical employees also devote hundreds of hours to volunteer with non-profit organisations to drive change at the local community level.

Australian Ethical has been helping people invest for a better future for over 33 years. As a certified B Corp, it is an investment manager with a difference: one that doesn’t compromise returns for ethics or ethics for returns but achieves both to benefit people, planet and animals.

Steve Gibbs, Australian Ethical Acting CEO, said: “Australian Ethical occupies a special place in the financial services landscape because we are driven by a bigger purpose than just making a profit and our success proves that business can and should make a positive impact in the world.

“Thanks to our continuing growth, we have more money available for grants this year than ever before and it is an honour to be able to support these 20 organisations who are as passionate about making the world a better place as we are.

“On behalf of Australian Ethical, congratulations and good luck to all this year’s grant winners.  We wish you every success.”

2019 Community Grant winners

People:

• Refugees Welcome Australia
• Abundant Water
• Love Mercy Foundation
• The Community Grocer
• Hobart Women’s Shelter
• Free to Shine

Planet:

• Seabin Foundation
• Environs Kimberley
• Renewable Energy Development Trust
• Positive Change for Marine Life
• Food Ladder
• Pocket City Farms
• Green Heroes

Animals:

• Action for Dolphins
• Friends of the Koala
• Wildlife Asia
• ACT Wildlife
• F.A.W.N.A NSW
• Greyhound Rescue
• Little Oak Sanctuary

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[1] Every year Australian Ethical distributes up to 10% of its yearly profits (after tax and before bonuses) to charitable organisations and social impact initiatives through the Australian Ethical Foundation. When Australian Ethical first began in 1986, this commitment was embedded in its constitution.

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