AOverview
Australian Ethical is a superannuation and investment fund manager that channels money into well-managed, ethical companies to deliver both competitive returns and positive social and environmental impact. It works by selecting investments that support people, quality, and sustainability while avoiding those that cause harm to people, animals, society, or the environment. Unlike many competitors, ethical investing is central to everything the firm does, not a side feature. The company’s goal is to grow members’ wealth while using investing as a force for good, with about $12.95 billion under management for over 130,000 funded customers as of 30 June 2024.
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About Australian Ethical
Industries
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Sydney NSW, Australia
Founded
1986
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Simplify's take
What believers are saying
- FY26 revenue rose 9% to A$129.5 million, while NPAT jumped 29%.
- Growth Opportunities Fund posted 21.2% gross returns through June 2026, beating its target.
- Reichstein Foundation chose Australian Ethical in September 2026, validating its mission-aligned investment platform.
What critics are saying
- Steve Gibbs exits by June 2027, forcing a risky board and culture transition.
- FY26 margin slipped to 0.89% after lower-margin fixed income and super fee cuts.
- Brand trust dies if divestments like Tesla and Fortescue disappoint performance-seeking members.
What makes Australian Ethical unique
- Australian Ethical’s Ethical Charter still governs every portfolio, including super and wholesale funds.
- CEFC backed its April 2026 Growth Opportunities Fund with A$125 million and seed capital.
- Forty years old, A$14.5 billion FUM, and ASX300 status give rare ethical-brand credibility.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Wellness Program
- Flexible Work Hours
- Unlimited Paid Time Off
- Paid Vacation
- Hybrid Work Options
- Employee Share Plan
Company News
Australian Ethical scraps KPMG as auditor, opens tender process. Reading Time: 3 mins read Australian Ethical has shelved KPMG as its external auditor after 13 years and opened up a competitive tender process. The audit provision will start from FY28 onwards with shareholders asked to vote on the successful firm's appointment at the AGM in November 2027. The fund manager said its decision stemmed from the scrutiny on KPMG's audit practices including information exposed by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services. Steve Gibbs, Australian Ethical chair, said: "Whilst we have been well served by KPMG as our external auditor since 2013, we have decided that now is the right time to run a competitive tender for our external audit in FY28 and beyond." Although it acknowledged KPMG's Action Plan to rectify its governance, culture and ethics, it said KPMG is not invited to participate in the tender. Speaking at the Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Supplementary Budget Estimates on 29 October, ASIC chair Sarah Court, said: "We have several investigations into KPMG underway, including into the alleged misuse of confidential client information, whistleblower victimisation concerns and auditor transparency reporting. This work is a priority and we will pursue any regulatory or enforcement action that may be warranted." Australian Ethical's follows a similar move by big four bank ANZ to end its own relationship with KPMG which had been in place since 1969, a duration which the bank said "no longer considered appropriate". "While both group lead audit engagement partner and the engagement quality control review partner have been regularly rotated during this time, a tenure of this length is no longer considered appropriate and has been under consideration by the board for some time. "ANZ intends to conclude the competitive tender process by end of April 2027, with the new external audit services firm expected to commence in financial year 2029." In its quarterly results for the three months to 30 September, Australian Ethical said funds under management (FUM) fell slightly from $14.5 billion in the previous quarter to $14.4 billion and the firm attributed this to positive superannuation net flows. It noted investment performance during the quarter reflected a challenging market environment with inflationary pressures, higher interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty weighing on Australian equities, which offset stronger international equities performance. Super saw net flows of $130 million which meant super FUM rose from $10.4 billion to $10.5 billion during the quarter. Managing director, John McMurdo, said: "The first quarter demonstrated the continued momentum and resilience of its business. Money Management welcomed more members to its super fund, increased superannuation net flows compared to the corresponding quarter last year and launched a new middle market product with the support of a founding investor. "While challenging investment markets and some wholesale redemptions affected headline FUM, these factors do not change our confidence in the long-term growth opportunity. We remain focused on attracting and retaining super members, expanding our reach in the middle market and delivering long-term value for customers and shareholders."
Aus Ethical chair prepares to exit. Investment manager Australian Ethical Investments chair Steve Gibbs will step down next year following 14 years at the helm as part of the firm's ongoing board renewal process. Reading Time: 3 mins read Australian Ethical Investments chair Steve Gibbs will step down next year following 14 years at the helm as part of the firm's ongoing board renewal process. Gibbs commenced as chair of the board in February 2013, replacing André Morony who had been in the role for two years, and is now set to depart no later than 30 June 2027 to support the transition to his yet-to-be-determine successor. He will also retire as chair of the Australian Ethical Foundation by 30 March 2027 and chair of the Australian Ethical Superannuation board by 31 December 2027. Australian Ethical has been carrying out a board renewal process over recent years, with Brian Bissker and Karen Orvad being appointed to the board in 2025 and 2026, respectively. The firm said it is also "well advanced" in the selection process to appoint two more directors in the first half of 2027. Australian Ethical managing director John McMurdo said the firm has undergone a significant period of growth during Gibb's tenure and thanked him for his contributions over the years. "Steve has been a remarkable steward of Australian Ethical. Under his leadership, the company has grown from $700 million in funds under management to $14.5 billion and joined the ASX300," McMurdo said. "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." Gibbs added: "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." In March, Orvard was appointed as a non-executive director on the board, bringing more than three decades of experience in advising on board governance, culture, risk and internal audit programs across the financial services sector in Australia and the UK. Meanwhile, the year prior saw Kate Greenhill retire from the board in October 2025 and Bissaker commence as non-executive director in April.
Australian Ethical Investment Chair Steve Gibbs retires
Australian Ethical chair to step down in 2027. The latest issue of Financial Standard now available as an e-newspaper Executive Appointments | / | / | / | / | Australian Ethical chair to step down in 2027 BY MATTHEW WAI | THURSDAY, 24 SEP 2026 11:43AM Australian Ethical chair Steve Gibbs has decided to retire from the board at the end of the financial year, putting an end to his 14-year tenure. Gibbs' departure is part of an "ongoing board renewal process" and he will support an orderly transition, the ethical investment manager said. Commenting on his departure, Gibbs said he was proud of the progress the company made under his leadership. "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," he said. "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." Meanwhile, Australian Ethical John McMurdo thanked Gibbs for his contribution. "Steve has been a remarkable steward of Australian Ethical. Under his leadership, the company has grown from $700 million in funds under management to $14.5 billion and joined the ASX300," McMurdo said. "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." Gibbs will also retire from the Australian Ethical Foundation by 30 March 2027, and from Australian Ethical Superannuation by 31 December 2027. Australian Ethical welcomed Brian Bissker and Karen Orvad to the board in recent years as part of the transition and is "well advanced" in the selection process to appoint two further directors in the first half of 2027. Read more: Steve Gibbs, Australian Ethical Investment, Australian Ethical Foundation, Australian Ethical John McMurdo, Brian Bissker, Karen Orvad VIEW COMMENTS Related News | | | Future Fund names new investment chief | | | | Australian Ethical FUM approaches $14bn | | | | Australian Ethical PM departs | | | | Australian Ethical promotes pair to accelerate growth | | | | Australian Ethical calls out QBE | | | | FSC releases claims handling standard for super funds | | | | Australian Ethical, Christian Super confirm merger | | | | Investment Leadership Awards finalists revealed | | | | New equality push in investments | | | | Australian Ethical continues growth trajectory Editor's choice. After more than seven years at Colonial First State, the firm's group executive for distribution will leave before the end of the year. After a surprise 51,000 employment drop in July, jobs rebounded by a solid 39,500 in August, leading economists to believe the RBA will be forced to hike interest rates this month. Washington H. Soul Pattinson saw its profit climb over 500% in the 12 months to July 31, as the ASX-listed manager continues to anticipate strong performance in the current financial year. The Reserve Bank's annual assessment of the ASX found it is still not meeting expectations in several important areas, including governance, operational resilience and risk management. Further Reading
Reichstein Foundation partners with Australian Impact Investments and Australian Ethical. 9 September 2026 Reichstein Foundation The Reichstein Foundation is pleased to announce a new investment partnership with Australian Impact Investments (Aii) and Australian Ethical, marking an important next step in aligning its endowment with its mission. Aii will provide investment advisory services for its portfolio, with its assets invested in the Australian Ethical Balanced Income Fund, in which Reichstein is a founding investor. Its investment approach recognises that all capital has impact and commits the Foundation to working towards a portfolio that is 100% aligned with its vision and values. Reichstein believe that its responsibilities extend beyond its grant-making and that its investments can also be a powerful tool for advancing its mission. Its search for advisors capable of delivering its required rate of return while better aligning its investments with its values began with the Endowments for Impact Challenge (EFIC), Australia's first collaborative open tender competition to find the nation's best mission-aligned, responsible and impact investment advisors. EFIC helped Reichstein identify a strong field of potential partners and in 2025 Reichstein invited all six finalists to tender for financial services. Drawing on EFIC's assessment framework, its Investment Committee evaluated candidates on their experience in managing responsible and mission-aligned portfolios, their ability to provide suitable responsible and impact investment opportunities, and their capacity to deliver on its return expectations, amongst other criteria. After extensive deliberations, the Investment Committee awarded the tender to a joint proposal from Australian Impact Investments (as EFIC winners) and Australian Ethical, with its endowment to be invested in the Australian Ethical Balanced Income Fund. This new Fund has been developed to meet the evolving needs of foundations, not-for-profits and other values-driven wholesale investors seeking a diversified portfolio that integrates competitive financial returns with responsible investment practices, including a 10% allocation to impact assets. A distinctive feature of the Fund is its Purpose Circle, which will bring fund holders together to engage directly with fund managers. By creating a peer network for mission-aligned investors, the Circle's intention is to provide a practical platform for shared learning, collective influence, and deeper dialogue between the charitable and financial sectors. Jill Reichstein, Chair of the Reichstein Foundation and the Foundation's Investment Committee, said: "This appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the Reichstein Foundation as we refine our investment approach and grow our impact. Our commitment to responsible stewardship remains central, and we believe this partnership will help us better advance our mission." Reichstein extend its thanks to the firms that responded to its tender for their excellent applications and deep engagement, and to its Investment Committee for their stewardship of this process.
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About Australian Ethical
Industries
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Sydney NSW, Australia
Founded
1986
There are no jobs for Australian Ethical right now.
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today
We update Australian Ethical's jobs every few hours, so check again soon!Browse all jobs