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Louise Davidson has over 30 years experience in ESG – environmental, social and governance – or sustainability. Her tenure as Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) CEO has seen significant improvements in the way listed companies manage important issues including boardroom diversity, climate risk and human rights.
Introduced to the world of feminism via her parents’ involvement in second wave protests, she’s maintained an interest in supporting change for women ever since.
Louise is a passionate advocate, with elpful insight from her years of career experience. I hope you enjoy the episode!
In this episode we discuss:
- Louise’s passion for her work, and the economic and social transformations from having widespread superannuation.
- Attending second wave feminist protests as a child on her father’s shoulders.
- The importance of Board gender diversity, and the huge impact ACSI has had in the last 20 years.
- Merit, and other arguments she’s heard for why women shouldn’t be on Boards (surely the weirdest is that we don’t like dirt and flies!?).
- The power of collective action.
- The challenge mothers have fitting work around their primary carer roles.
- The value of shared care, and men taking part in both the burden and the joy.
- Return to office mandates, who they affect, and how flexibility supports diverse workforces.
- The value of networks and sponsorship.
- The Mother’s Day Classic, and Louise’s story of losing her own mum to breast cancer, and having breast cancer herself.
About Louise Davidson AM
Louise Davidson AM has spent her career with a focus on building long-term value for the millions of beneficiaries of Australian superannuation funds. Most recently this has included elevating the importance of environmental, social and governance factors in managing material financial risk in super fund investment portfolios.
As CEO of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) since 2015, Louise oversees ACSI’s program of company engagement, research and policy advocacy, backed by 30 years of senior experience in the financial services and ESG sectors. Her tenure as ACSI CEO has seen significant improvements in the way listed companies manage important issues including boardroom diversity, climate risk and human rights.
Prior to being appointed ACSI CEO, she was Investment Manager, ESG at Cbus superannuation fund, responsible for establishment and implementation of the ESG program within the fund’s investment portfolio.
Louise is the co-founder of the Mother’s Day Classic, which has raised more than $47 million for breast and ovarian cancer research since 1998. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2019 for her significant service to the superannuation sector and to breast cancer research.
She is deputy chair of the Federated Hermes Client Advisory Board, and a former director of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the International Integrated Reporting Initiative and former chair and director of the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation.
Louise has three adult daughters, that she raised while navigating her career.