UniSuper hires ESG head

UniSuper, the $108 billion industry und has recruited Jodie Barns as ESG manager.

Barns joins the fund from the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors where she has been specialising in climate risk for more than seven years.

During her almost seven-year stint at ACSI, she has provided research to the country's asset owners on how investee companies approach climate change, decarbonisation and transition plans.

She also led the engagement meetings with Australia's most carbon-intensive or fossil fuels-based companies.

UniSuper head of ESG Lou Capparelli welcomed the appointment:

"We're pleased to welcome Jodie. With deep experience in engaging on ESG issues, Jodie strengthens our team, helping all our members save for a future worth retiring for," he said.

"UniSuper snapped her up because of her incredible experience with ESG issues. UniSuper takes an industry leading approach to ESG, with considerations factoring into everything the fund does - so having great talent in that space is obviously important for their daily operations.

"Specifically, she joins the team responsible for qualifying and quantifying ESG considerations in investments and operations, which informs decisions taken in investments."

The superannuation fund said it continues to seek opportunities in a decarbonising market.