Kerry Series, Inspire: How to have impact in listed markets

Good Future

This month, I’m exploring how we can have impact by investing in public markets. Impact investing has a long history in private markets, but when it comes to investing in public companies that are listed on a stock exchange, it’s a lot harder, to measure your impact, and to influence the companies you’re investing in. My guests are all pioneering investment managers that all have their own strategies; and their foundational philosophies for pursuing impact are unique. This week, it’s Kerry Series, and his fund the Inspire Australian Equities. Kerry’s worked across the length and breadth of equities management in Australia, but it’s launching his own equities fund that I feel he’s found his groove. The firm is based in Sydney and they focus solely on the Australian Stock Exchange, they’re doing pioneering work in identifying high-impact companies, while also engaging with them to do even better. So much so that they’re the first Australian listed equity product to be certified as ‘impact’ under RIAA’s updated RI Certification, assessment framework. But First, I’d like to introduce you to the sponsor of this series and that’s, the ACCR, the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility. The ACCR engages with companies as a shareholder, advocating for them to improve their environmental and social practices, and in the process make the company more sustainable. It’s no easy feat, but through a modest holding of shares, and with the help of a high-performing team, they put forward shareholder resolutions that focus on positive social and environmental outcomes. They’re a group of pragmatic lawyers and finance experts, and by utilising shareholder resolutions, they approach some of Australia’s biggest companies in a forum they can’t ignore. Now to put a resolution forward, at least 100 shareholders in a company must come together. So, if you hold shares in ASX-listed companies and want to be involved in holding them to account on their environmental and social impacts, then let ACCR know about it. Head to www.accr.org.au/shareholders to get involved. They’re independent, not-for-profit and they’re taking action for more sustainable businesses in Australia. I really enjoyed this conversation, and I hope you get a lot of out of it. We dive deep into Kerry’s investment approach, and so I do need to emphasise that, as always, nothing in this podcast is financial advice. Please do seek your own professional advice before making investment decisions. Catch the full disclaimer at the end of the episode. Enjoy