As Deputy Chief Investment Officer and Head of Real Assets at Aware Super, Damien Webb explain how his role can help deliver great outcomes for our members.
What is your role?
I’m responsible for delivering Aware Super’s real assets investment program. Real assets are investments within our property, infrastructure and agriculture asset classes. Each asset class has a sizeable investment team that drives our investment activity. I also support the broader team in our strategic plans to be a world class investment leader with a members-first philosophy at the core.
How does your role help Aware Super members?
Our fund invests in assets like shares and cash, as well as high quality assets that are difficult to access because they require large investment amounts and detailed due diligence. Our fund’s size and scale enable members to share in the benefits of investing in such assets, not normally available to individual investors. When deciding to invest in infrastructure or property, we look for businesses that can deliver solid long-term capital growth and an attractive, often inflation-linked income stream. This all contributes to strong long-term returns to you as a member.
What is your team investing in?
We invest in ‘real’ assets such as property, and infrastructure like hospitals, windfarms, an almond farm, and essential worker housing. They’re all physical examples of how we do well for members by delivering strong returns, while doing good in our community.
Last year we made some key investments in Australia and overseas. We expanded our property portfolio with City ID in Amsterdam and Spanish rental housing group Vivenio, and at home we continued to increase our commitment to essential worker housing. In the infrastructure space we made an investment in Vocus and extended our commitments to renewables by increasing our investment in Tilt Renewables.
“Alongside the investment team, I’m driven to invest in high-quality, value-adding assets.”
Learn more about how we manage your investments
What motivates you?
My passion for investing to help secure a better financial future for our members gets me up each day for work. Alongside the investment team, I’m driven to invest in high-quality, value-adding assets. In my new role as Deputy CIO, I’m excited to help the investment team’s bold plans for further direct engagement and offshore expansion. And working with a great team and trusted external partners makes that motivation all the easier!
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How we manage your investments
If you're unsure about which investment option will suit you, you can get financial advice. This can be done over the phone or face-to-face, by booking an advice appointment with us.
Website disclaimer:
Personal advice requires the provider to act in the client’s best interests and take into account the client’s circumstances. These rules do not apply to general advice. This communication contains general advice only and no personal advice. We have not taken into consideration any of your objectives, financial situation or needs or any information we hold about you when providing this general advice. Further this communication does not contain, and should not be read as containing, any recommendations to you in relation to your product. Before taking any action, you should consider whether the general advice contained in this communication is appropriate to you having regard to your circumstances and needs, and seek appropriate professional advice if you think you need it. Contact us to make an appointment to see one of our representatives. You should also read our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) before making a decision about Aware Super. These documents are available on our website at aware.com.au/pds or call us and we’ll send you a copy. Issued by Aware Super Pty Ltd ABN 11 118 202 672, AFSL 293340, the trustee of Aware Super ABN 53 226 460 365. Financial planning services are provided by our wholly owned financial planning business Aware Financial Services Australia Limited, ABN 86 003 742 756, AFSL No. 238430. You should read their Financial Services Guide before making a decision. View the general advice warning and conditions of use for this website.
Unique Superannuation Identifier (USI): 53 226 460 365 001 Superannuation Fund Number (SFN): 272 632 944 Superannuation Product Identification Number (SPIN): FSS0100AU
