Australian Council of Superannuation Investors

What Australian Council of Superannuation Investors does

ACSI is an Australian member-funded stewardship organisation founded in 2001 to provide a collective voice on financially material ESG and corporate governance issues for the country's superannuation funds and institutional investors. The organisation's members collectively manage more than $1.9 trillion in funds under management, and ACSI leverages this scale to engage directly with ASX300 company boards, conduct evidence-based research, and advocate for regulatory reforms that support long-term sustainable financial markets.

The core product surface is the ACSI Delta member portal, which delivers voting recommendations and engagement workflows to members, supplemented by a portfolio of publications including the 24-year longitudinal CEO Pay in ASX200 study, the biennial Governance Guidelines, climate disclosure and modern slavery research reports, and the Australian Asset Owner Stewardship Code. Underlying these products is a research methodology rather than a technology stack: ACSI commissions external partners such as Ownership Matters, Vivid Economics, and Pillar Two for analytical work and delivers outputs through research reports, member events, and education programs such as the Responsible Investment Essentials course co-developed with PRI Academy.

ACSI operates a subscription membership revenue model with two tiers — Full Membership for Australian asset owners and managers, and International Membership for overseas asset owners — with pricing undisclosed publicly. The go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, targeting enterprise-sized superannuation funds and institutional investors; ACSI's Board comprises 15 Full Member representatives, embedding member governance into the operating model. With a headcount of approximately 25 staff across Melbourne and Sydney offices, the organisation generates scale through member leverage rather than headcount expansion.

Name

Australian Council of Superannuation Investors

Legal name

Australian Council of Superannuation Investors limited

Website

https://acsi.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACSI is a member-funded Australian stewardship organisation, founded in 2001, that represents superannuation funds and institutional investors managing over $1.9 trillion in collective assets, providing voting recommendations, ESG research, ASX300 company engagement, and policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Institutional Investor Stewardship Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSAAALAD

Stewardship & Active Ownership (Engagement, Proxy Voting, Shareholder Advocacy)

Financial & Insurance/Asset & Wealth Management/Asset Management — ESG/Sustainable & Impact Investing

SECONDARYFSAAAOAJ

Proxy Voting & Governance Services

Financial & Insurance/Asset & Wealth Management/Custody, Depositary & Asset Servicing (Custody, Corporate Actions, Securities Lending)

Keywords

• ESG stewardship services
• Institutional investor advocacy
• Corporate governance research
• Proxy voting recommendations
• Responsible investment education

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: ACSI generates revenue through membership fees from Australian and international asset owners and institutional investors. Membership options include Full Membership for Australian asset owners and managers, and International Membership for overseas asset owners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ACSI is a membership-based investor stewardship organization that provides research, company engagement, voting recommendations, and policy advocacy to Australian and international superannuation funds and asset owners with more than $1.9 trillion in combined funds under management. Members access the ACSI Delta portal, annual longitudinal research on CEO pay and climate disclosure, governance guidelines, and collective engagement with ASX-listed companies on financially material ESG issues.

Product overview

ACSI is a membership organization providing a unified platform of research, engagement, and advisory services to Australian superannuation funds and institutional investors with over $1.9 trillion in funds under management. The core product is the ACSI Delta member portal, which provides access to Voting Alert Services (VAS), research reports, and company engagement tools. Key products include the biennial ACSI Governance Guidelines, annual CEO Pay in ASX200 Companies research, Promises, Pathways and Performance climate disclosure reports, ESG Reporting Trends assessments, and Modern Slavery research. ACSI also offers the Australian Asset Owner Stewardship Code, the Responsible Investment Essentials education course (partnered with PRI Academy), and the ACSI Panel Pledge initiative. These products collectively support active ownership through evidence-based research, company engagement, policy advocacy, and education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ACSI Delta Member Portal Member login portal providing access to ACSI's research, voting alerts, and engagement services for superannuation fund members.
• Voting Alert Services Subscription service providing voting recommendations and alerts on shareholder meetings for ASX-listed companies, available to ACSI members.
• ACSI Governance Guidelines Biennial publication outlining member expectations on governance practices of listed companies, providing the basis for company engagement and voting recommendations.
• CEO Pay in ASX200 Companies Annual longitudinal research report tracking CEO remuneration trends and outcomes in Australia's largest listed companies, including unique realised pay data.
• Promises, Pathways and Performance: Climate Change Disclosure in the ASX200 Annual research assessing climate-related disclosure and management practices among ASX200 companies.
• Australian Asset Owner Stewardship Code Voluntary code providing stewardship principles and guidance for Australian asset owners to fulfill fiduciary obligations to beneficiaries.
• Responsible Investment Essentials Course Foundational course on sustainable finance and responsible investment developed in partnership with PRI Academy for Australian investment professionals.
• Modern Slavery Research Reports Research assessing ASX200 company compliance with Australia's Modern Slavery Act 2018, including guidance for investors and companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Termination payments for ASX100 CEOs dropped to $8.38 million in FY24, down from $33.52 million prior year - saving investors an average of half a million dollars per CEO termination
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACGA is an independent Hong Kong-based organization promoting best practice corporate governance in Asia through research, advocacy and education. ACSI is a member, building networks on the global stage with like-minded organizations.
• Council of Institutional Investors (CII)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCII is a non-partisan US association of asset owners from superannuation and pension industry. ACSI is a member, collaborating on policies that enhance long-term value for asset holders.
• International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICGN is a leading authority on global standards of corporate governance and investor stewardship. ACSI is a member promoting high standards of practice from companies and investors.
• Global Network of Investors Associations (GNIA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGNIA is an ICGN-led international collaboration of investor-led organizations promoting shareholder rights. ACSI participates to share governance priorities beyond domestic jurisdictions.
• International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIRC is a global body promoting integrated reporting and thinking as mainstream business practice. ACSI is a member supporting communication about business development.
• Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRI is a UN-backed organization and leading proponent of responsible investment worldwide. ACSI has been an active participant since 2006, encouraging members to sign up and providing frameworks to implement PRI guidelines.
• UN Global CompactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN Global Compact aims to mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies to tackle global sustainability issues. ACSI is a member supporting alignment with Ten principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.
• PRI AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACSI partnered with PRI Academy to launch Responsible Investment Essentials: Australia, a foundational course for Australian investment professionals. ACSI members receive 20% discount using code ACSIRIEA20.
• Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACSI collaborated with AICD on 'Governing for Net Zero: The Board's Role in Organisational Transition Planning' and 'Governing company culture: Insights from Australian directors' research reports. Also collaborated on Positive Duty research.
• Ownership MatterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for ACSI's CEO Pay in ASX200 companies annual survey, providing data and analysis for the 24-year longitudinal study.
• Pillar TwosupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommissioned by ACSI to produce 'Compliance without ambition: Taking stock of ASX200 reporting under Australia's Modern Slavery Act' - detailed analysis of company reporting under Modern Slavery Act.
• Vivid EconomicssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommissioned by ACSI to produce 'Climate Change - Transition Risk in the ASX200' report providing investors with detailed analysis of transition risks and opportunities.
• Australian Human Rights CommissionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned by ACSI to produce 'Equality across the board: Investing in workplaces that work for everyone' research on sexual harassment in ASX200 companies, led by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins.
• CCLAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerACSI commissioned research assessing ASX20 companies against the CCLA Corporate Mental Health Benchmark to understand baseline state of mental health reporting in Australia.
• Investor Group on Climate ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACSI is an active member of this domestic policy body working on climate change issues affecting Australian investors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS): Global leader in proxy advisory, governance analytics, and ESG solutions for institutional investors. Directly comparable to ACSI's Voting Alert Services and engagement offerings but operates globally with significantly larger scale.
• Glass Lewis: Global proxy advisory firm providing voting recommendations and governance research to institutional investors. Comparable to ACSI's Voting Alert Services but operates at much larger scale and globally across multiple markets.
• Ceres: US-based sustainability nonprofit working with institutional investors and companies on climate and ESG issues. Comparable to ACSI in mission but broader in scope, serving US institutional investors and corporates rather than Australian super funds.

Direct peers

• Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA): Hong Kong-based independent organization promoting corporate governance best practice in Asia. ACSI is a member of ACGA, and both organisations provide research, advocacy, and education to institutional investors on governance issues in the Asia-Pacific region.
• International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN): Global authority on corporate governance and investor stewardship standards. ACSI is an ICGN member; both organisations promote high standards of governance and provide a coordinated investor voice on ESG and stewardship policy.
• Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI): UN-backed global proponent of responsible investment. ACSI has been an active PRI participant since 2006. Both organisations support ESG integration frameworks, stewardship, and policy advocacy for institutional investors.
• Council of Institutional Investors (CII): US-based non-partisan association of pension funds and asset owners focused on corporate governance and shareholder advocacy. ACSI is already a CII member; both organizations deliver proxy voting research, policy advocacy, and engagement programs on behalf of institutional investors.
• Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC): Australian investor coalition on climate change. ACSI is an active member. IGCC focuses specifically on climate policy and net-zero transition, while ACSI has broader ESG mandate, making them complementary peers serving overlapping Australian institutional investors.

Regional players

• Eumedion: Dutch platform for institutional investors focused on responsible stewardship and corporate governance in European-listed companies. Comparable to ACSI in mission and member-based model but operates in a different geographic market.
• UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF): UK membership association for sustainable and responsible investment. Comparable to ACSI in promoting ESG integration and stewardship among institutional investors, but primarily serves the UK market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-council-of-superannuation-investors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Australian Council of Superannuation Investors