PRI board asset owner election candidates: HESTA’s Angela Emslie

Name: Angela Emslie
Title: Independent Chair
Signatory organisation: HESTA Super Fund (Australia)
Signatory organisation seconding your candidacy: Cbus Super

CANDIDATE STATEMENT
Thank you for considering me as a candidate for the PRI Board.
An enthusiastic supporter of PRI’s work, I firmly believe in the role the PRI plays in not only raising awareness and promoting the benefits of long-term responsible investing, but also in leading change in the asset owner, manager and broader investment community.
My motivation and expertise will make a positive and valuable contribution to the governance and future direction of PRI.
As Chair of the Board of the AU$32B HESTA Super Fund for almost 6 years and a Director since 1994, I have led the Board’s strong commitment to ESG, underpinned by the recognition that ESG factors impact long-term investment performance.
A career history that includes directorships at three large super funds – all PRI signatories – and an Australian asset consultant, has given me a broad perspective on the approaches adopted by asset owners, to responsible investment.
If appointed, I will bring to the PRI Boardroom extensive leadership and governance experience and a unique range of perspectives and insights drawn from my diverse career:
■ Australian asset owner ─ with AU$2 trillion, Australia is the world’s fourth largest pension market
■ Large and fast growing defined contribution scheme
■ PRI signatory with longstanding and demonstrated commitment to responsible investing
■ Professional Trustee Director and Board Chair
■ Female leadership
■ Association management across a range of membership organisations.
My track record and enthusiasm for contributing to, and representing Australian superannuation funds is demonstrated by my longstanding directorship and presidency of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST) and involvement with other collective industry strategies and projects.
Extensive networks among Australian asset owners and managers coupled with HESTA’s ongoing leadership in ESG, affords me opportunities to be a PRI ambassador and in this capacity, I will strongly advocate for responsible investment in the Asia-Pacific region.
It’s important the board supports the PRI executive team to develop the strategy, resourcing and oversight to take the PRI to the next stage of its development. If elected I will provide a valuable contribution to support the PRI in its goal to move from awareness-raising, to impact, while continuing to service a diverse and growing signatory base.
My extensive experience with association management and membership organisations has given me a strong appreciation for the challenges of providing leadership while managing diverse stakeholder interests, competing needs and development of collective impact strategies.
*BIOGRAPHY*
With an impressive career spanning 34-years, Angela now combines a unique portfolio career in Australia as a company director and management consultant. She has extensive governance and investment expertise, having served on a range of superannuation (pension) funds and related boards over 20 years.
Currently, Angela’s primary role is as Chair of the HESTA Board which invests AU$32b on behalf of more than 800,000 defined contribution members.
Angela brings stakeholder management skills, insightful analysis and an ability to conceptualise and synthesise ideas to all of her roles.

OTHER CURRENT POSITIONS:
■ President Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST), the principal advocate and peak representative body for the AU $650b Australian not-for-profit superannuation sector
■ Director Frontier Advisors, a leading Australian asset consultant with more than AU $240b under advice
■ Director Suicide Prevention Australia, the peak body for the suicide prevention sector in Australia
■ Advisory Council Member, Industry Super Australia (ISA), an organisation that manages collective projects around
research, policy development, government relations and advocacy
■ Founding Director LIME Management Group, providing management consulting services primarily to health and
community services

FORMER POSITIONS:
■ Director of Australian super funds: CareSuper, VicSuper and Vision Super
■ Served as a senior manager at peak employer organisation, the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (VECCI). In this capacity, she represented industry at state, national and international levels on matters such as: economics and industry policy, the provision of quality education and training, investment, and safety, health and environment.

QUALIFICATIONS:
■ Bachelor of Economics, Monash University
■ Graduate Diploma – Management, RMIT
■ Master of Business, RMIT
■ Fellow, Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (FAIST).