Have you just made your first ASX share investment?
Did you know you can attend company annual meetings (AGMs) and have your voice heard on key issues like CEO pay and environmental policies?
Today’s guest is Rachel Waterhouse, the CEO of an organisation you might not be familiar with, but probably want to be, the Australian Shareholders Association, or the ASA for short.
In a nutshell, the ASA aims to be the voice of retail shareholders, people like you and me who own shares in ASX-listed companies.
Rachel was formerly the General Manager of engagement at the Governance Institute of Australia and has an MBA, Grad Dip of Applied Corporate Governance and Risk Management, and a Bachelor of Business.
Rachel and Kate talk about what the ASA does, what shareholder advocacy looks like, and ways to take a more active role, including attending AGMs and voting on key issues.
- What does the ASA do?
- Why is it important that we look at how a company is run? What do you look for in the board and company leaders?
- What is the difference between retail and institutional shareholders? How does that power imbalance impact smaller shareholders?
- Can you explain some of the opportunities shareholders have, like AGMs and voting on issues?
- Is it important for retail shareholders to engage with the company by attending AGMs and voting on issues of importance?
- The ASA website highlights how effective engagement is the best form of shareholder activism, and your answer to this is company monitoring. What is the role of a company monitor?
- What areas do company monitors look at in detail (fair treatment of shareholders, directors and boards, ESG & remuneration)?
