Policy & Philanthropic Impact | Conexus Financial

IMPROVING THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM

Conexus Financial undertakes a range of philanthropic and public policy engagement activities in support of its mission to influence the global finance industry in ways that result in better outcomes for end consumers.

Conexus Financial sometimes takes editorial positions on social or political issues and has donated to and supported a range of community and charitable organisations. But it is independent of political parties and does not lobby or make formal representations on behalf of corporations.

Supporting an independent media ecosystem

In May 2026, Conexus Financial contributed to the Australian Government's consultation on the News Bargaining Incentive — the draft legislation that determines how revenue from large digital platforms flows back into the Australian news industry.

As an independent publisher of specialist financial journalism, Conexus joined the Digital Publishers Alliance in advocating for a distribution framework that recognises small and medium publishers alongside larger incumbents. The submission argued for broader eligibility criteria, so that funding reaches a diverse cross-section of Australian media rather than concentrating with a handful of legacy outlets.

Conexus believes a healthy news ecosystem depends on a plurality of independent voices. Engagement with public consultations of this kind is part of its broader commitment to supporting quality journalism and a well-informed public.

Read our submission

The Conexus Institute is a not-for-profit think-tank established in 2020 to be a catalyst for improved retirement outcomes for Australian consumers. It applies a “research-for-impact” model to improve public policy relating to superannuation and retirement.

The institute connects the dots between industry, academia, regulators and policymakers and aims to be a constructive critic willing to challenge the status quo. It is philanthropically funded by, but independent of, Conexus Financial.

VISIT

Recent Thinking

Maximising the role of unlisted assets in portfolios

Why the IMF is wrong on illiquid assets

Investing for retirement

Case for a Retirement Licensing Regime

The Global Pension Transparency Benchmark is a world first global standard for pension disclosure, bringing a focus to transparency in a bid to improve pension outcomes for members.

The GPTB ranks 15 countries on public disclosures of key value-generation elements for the five largest pension fund organisations within each country. The GPTB focuses on the transparency and quality of public disclosures with quality relating to the completeness, clarity, information value and comparability of disclosures.

The overall country and fund scores look at four factors: governance and organisation; performance; costs; and responsible investing, which are measured by assessing hundreds of underlying components.

VISIT

150

Countries Analysed

750

Funds Reviewed

1560

Questions Asked

11,7000

Data Points Analysed

Colin Tate, Conexus Financial and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese

Colin Tate, Conexus Financial and Financier and former Member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors of the United States, Kevin Warsh

Conexus Financial’s Colin Tate and Australia's Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, The Hon Daniel Mulino MP.

Deputy Leader, Liberal Party of Australia, Jane Hume

Colin Tate, Conexus Financial, and Condoleezza Rice, former US Secretary of State

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong

Former assistant Treasurer of Australia Stephen Jones

Shadow Home Ownership Minister of Australia Andrew Bragg

Shadow Treasurer of Australia Angus Taylor

Environment Minister of Australia Tanya Plibersek

Australian Securities and Investments Commissioner Alan Kirkland

Colin Tate, Conexus Financial; Jenny Johnson, Franklin Templeton; and Condoleezza Rice

engagement with policymakers

Conexus Financial Political Series events featuring Australian leaders including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor and more.

Affiliation with the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, with speakers including former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Professor Stephen Kotkin addressing the Fiduciary Investors Symposium.

Membership of the Digital Publishers Alliance, advocating for the interests of independent publishers and news producers.

Membership of the Federal Labor Business Forum, a platform for dialogue and collaboration between the Australian Labor Party and the business community, aiming to address economic policies, industry challenges, and promote mutually beneficial partnerships.

Proud to support the following organisations

Australians for Mental Health is a community driven, national organisation fighting to make mental health a national top priority, all across Australia.

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The Digital Publishers Alliance (DPA) is a not-for-profit industry association developed and run by leading independent digital-first publishers.

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Neuroscience Research Australia is an independent, not for profit medical research institute based in Sydney, Australia.

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Sydney Theatre Company offers audiences an eclectic program of Australian plays, interpretations of the classic repertoire and the best of new international writing.

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A trusted network of passionate professionals who help Australians living with a personal health crisis and experiencing significant financial hardship to improve their financial wellbeing.

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Wayside Chapel provides unconditional love, care, support and essential services for people experiencing homelessness and social isolation in Sydney.

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