Conexus Financial, publisher of Top1000funds.com, further cements its position as a global influencer with the appointment of Fiona Reynolds as chief executive.
For the past nine years Reynolds has been based in London as the chief executive of the Principles for Responsible Investment a UN-supported network of investors that she has grown to more than 4,000 signatories, representing $121 trillion in AUM and 180 staff around the world. During her tenure sustainable investment has become mainstream and the PRI has become one of the most important investment institutions in the world.
Conexus Financial already has a strong footprint in the global pension market particularly through its influential Fiduciary Investors Symposium and Top1000funds.com publication which focuses on leading the global investment industry to continuous improvement. The appointment of Reynolds, a global influencer, will expand this.
Reynolds said she was attracted to Conexus as a purpose-driven organisation and platform for change and was passionate about contributing to solutions focused on the end member.
“How do we really build a financial system that works for the many not the few?” she said. “We need to think about the world into which people are going to retire, not just annual returns. People, profit and planet must go together. For me personally I’ve always worked in areas and with people I believe are mission driven and that is evident at Conexus Financial.”
Through Conexus’ global footprint it has pushed the industry to question whether status quo processes and behaviours to tackle risks and opportunities will be sufficient in the future, and actively campaigns for diversity, sustainability, transparency, innovation and better alignment of fees in the investment industry.
Reynolds’ achievements as chief executive of the PRI for the past nine years brings further kudos to these campaigns and a focus on better outcomes for members and the better allocation of capital.
In addition, as the Australian superannuation market further professionalises with new legislation and consolidation among funds, Reynolds will be able to bring her global view to the domestic landscape and hold superannuation funds and providers accountable for global best practices. Prior to joining the PRI, Reynolds spent seven years as chief executive of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees where she played an active role advocating for superannuation policy changes for working Australians.
Founding CEO of Conexus Financial, Colin Tate AM, will become executive chair of the business focusing on expanding its global offerings and its domestic impact through The Conexus Institute.
“I am proud of what we have achieved at Conexus Financial so far and we have much growth in front of us,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with Fiona and to building Conexus to become an even more influentialplatform for change.”
Reynolds also serves on the board of the UN Global Compact, the council of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), the Global Advisory Council on Stranded Assets at Oxford University, the UN Business for Peace Steering Committee and the Steering Committee for Investors on Climate Change, Climate Action 100+ and the Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking global committee, the Advisory Board of the UK Green Finance Institute and the Advisory Board for Greening the Belt and Road – a UK/China Initiative.
Conexus Financial is the publisher of Top1000funds.com, Investment Magazine and Professional Planner, and host of more than 20 annual events in the global and Australian institutional and wholesale markets.
Reynolds will take up her position as CEO of Conexus Financial in February 2022.
