Australian Ethical Investment is one of the founding B Corps in Australia. Certified since 2014, they’ve been recognised for their commitment to protecting animals, people and our environment from harmful investments. They’ve also been honoured as Best For The World in Governance 3 years in a row.
We hear from Allyson Lowbridge, Chief Customer Officer at Australian Ethical Investments as she shares what initiatives they’ve got planned for the coming year to continue their winning streak in being Best For The World.
1. What makes your company Best For The World?
As one of Australia’s fastest growing funds, Australian Ethical has been helping people invest for a better future for over 33 years. We are a super and 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. We believe that our continuing success proves that money can make a positive impact in the world and offer a range of super, pensions and managed fund products that align with people’s values while delivering competitive returns.
2. What makes you stand out from other companies?
As Australia’s leading ethical wealth manager, we have been providing a growing number of Australians with wealth management products that offer strong returns without compromising on values for more than 33 years.
We do this by going beyond simply avoiding companies that have a negative impact and proactively seeking out those that are doing good. This means investing in clean energy, innovation and sustainable products in pursuit of a better future for everyone as well as actively advocating for more ethical corporate behaviours and more transparent climate change impact reporting.
Since 2000, we have donated 10% of our profits (before bonus and grant expenses) to charities and not-for-profit organisations, delivering more than $3 million to support organisations building strong and vibrant communities across Australia and overseas.
3. How do you plan to celebrate?We plan to celebrate by continuing to grow the good within our community and beyond!
4. Part of being “Best for the World” is striving to always use your business as a force for good. What initiatives do you have planned for the coming year to continue to be Best for the World?
At Australian Ethical, we have built a strong community with our members where they look to us to provide leadership on issues that are important to them and we know that right now nothing concerns them more than climate change.
That’s why later this month we will be taking part in the global climate strikes on 20 September and supporting all our employees who choose to march as well as using social media to inspire our 120,000 followers to take part too. We’ll also be continuing to develop our campaign to help all Australians lead a 1.5 degree life with a list of actions people can take to transition to a low carbon life as well as announcing the recipients of our Community Grants to organisations in the community working tirelessly to make a difference.
5. What advice do you have for other B Corps and purpose-led businesses that want to improve their impact?
Simply to keep telling their story so together we can build awareness of the positive impact purpose-driven businesses have on the community.
