The $22 billion industry superannuation fund, Unisuper stepped up its focus on sustainable investing, signing the United Nations Principle of Responsible Investment (PRI) and releasing an investment governance policy.

In 2006, the fund joined the Enhanced Analytics Initiative (EAI), an international initiative with global institutional investors which, encourages investment research in environmental, social and governance factors (ESG).

"Unisuper's leadership in the fields of investment sustainability and governance will help manage perceived risks in the fund's portfolio, positioning Unisuper for the long-term in the Australian superannuation industry," Unisuper chief executive Ann Byrne said.

Unisuper is the 11th Australian pension fund to sign the PRI agreement.  The fund will be meeting with its investment managers to discuss the aims of the PRI agreement and encourage them to include ESG issues into their investment processes.

Under its investment governance policy, Unisuper aims to strike a balance between the rights of shareholders and the needs of the company board and management. 

The fund will also incorporate proxy voting guidelines that are consistent with those developed by the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI).

The fund adopted these guidelines because they were produced for not-for-profit superannuation funds. Unisuper is also a founding member of ACSI.