Disclaimer:  Information in this blog is general in nature only. What is right for me, might not be right for you. No individual person’s needs or objectives have been taken into account. Any mention of a company is not a recommendation to buy or sell.

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I am relatively new to ethical investing, as I hope are a good chunk of the people joining SIX’s growing community - hello to you all!

My background is in building community members’ ability to influence federal politics, which I did for many years with the Australian Conservation Foundation. I’ve now turned my mind to how community members can create influence through the financial system. I’m enjoying getting my head around ethical investing.

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I’ve started by investing in companies that are part of SIX’s shareholder activist campaigns. These campaigns take the approach of buying shares in companies that we want to do better on climate, nature or social justice issues, and then using our voice as shareholders to push for change. 

I bought the minimum amount of shares you can buy when purchasing shares on the Australian Stock Exchange in both of the supermarket giants, Coles and Woolworths. I didn't buy these shares for financial rewards (though those would be a bonus), but because I want to help save the Maugean Skate from extinction as part of the Save the Skate campaign.

Those shareholdings meant I was part of the minimum of 100 shareholders needed to lodge a resolution for the campaign at these companies’ Annual General Meetings (AGM), and I had the right to attend and speak at the AGM.

Which I did, speaking up at the Coles AGM.

You can read the full ethical profiles for these companies in the SIX app, or learn more about the Save the Skate campaign.

That’s something I hope new ethical investors learn - that your shareholding gives you the right to ask questions of and seek information from a company about ESG (environmental, social and governance) issues or other things that matter to you. You can contact or email the company through their investor relations team, and attend their AGM to put your questions directly to the board of directors. Based on my experience so far, it seems that companies tend to care more about the views of their shareholders than about anyone else.

- WOW Woolworths JOIN CAMPAIGN

- COL Coles JOIN CAMPAIGN

Although these AGMs are over for 2024, I’ll be holding onto these shares. That’s partly because SIX may choose to re-submit the resolution for 2025 if the companies fail to act to help save the Maugean Skate, and I want to again be part of the supporting shareholders. And partly because I am choosing to invest for the long-term, so I don’t want to sell after only a few months! Also, by holding onto the shares I can continue to engage with both of these companies throughout the year.

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My other shareholding is in childcare provider G8 Education, to support SIX’s paid parental leave campaign. We’ll be putting pressure on them to provide their employers, many of whom are women and take on the bulk of unpaid time caring for children, with paid parental leave. That AGM will be early in 2025 - so anyone who wants to support this campaign but isn't quite sure where to start with shareholder activism can learn more on SIX’s campaigns page.

You can read the full ethical profiles for this company in the SIX app, or learn about the Paid Parental Leave campaign here.

- GEM G8 Education JOIN CAMPAIGN

In the new year, I’ll be looking to develop more of an investment strategy, including learning more about ETFs. They’re essentially a "basket” full of different securities (tradable financial assets). Rather than buying shares all in one company, ETFs allow you to invest in many companies with one trade and so can be handy for spreading out where your money is invested - which I like in terms of spreading out the risk!

You can learn more about trending ETFs, and the companies mentioned in this blog, in the SIX app. You can also read about ethical ETFs on the ASX in this blog by Adam Verwey, SIX co-founder and CEO.

You should do your own research or seek personal financial advice before investing to ensure you make decisions that are right for you. This blog is issued and prepared by Sustainable Investment Exchange Pty Ltd.

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