Floods, Video Games, Cobalt & Tesla...behind the scenes with BetaShares

In this discussion with Greg Liddell,  Director of Responsible Investments at BetaShares, we talk about the active management of passive funds that is going on behind the scenes by the BetaShares team. The sustainability focused Exchange Traded Funds (ETF's) that we focus on in this interview aren't actively traded, but are run like index funds, with an ethical overlay. However for Greg & the BetaShares Responsible Investment Committee, they actively deal with a range of issues relating to the companies held in these portfolios, and will engage with those companies via dialogue and voting to make their voice heard. For example we discuss General Insurers and the way they deal with extreme weather events such as the recent floods on the east coast, controversy at video game manufacturer Activision Blizzard, and a range of other issues such as mining cobalt in the Congo, Board diversity, animal welfare and reducing emissions...not to mention why they don't currently hold Tesla!  I hope you enjoy this discussion with Greg Liddell of BetaShares.   You can check out BetaShares at www.betashares.com.au.  For more information about James Baird and JustInvest Financial Planning see: justinvest and ethicalinvestment.    We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we recorded on, the Wardandi Noongar people. We pay our respects to them and their culture; and to elders past, present and future.