The latest insights from the industry.

As the UK Stewardship Code moves from its 2020 framework to the 2026 regime, firms face a fundamental shift toward outcome-led, long-term stewardship reporting.

Stewardship is no longer just about policies and reporting. Done well, it becomes a growth engine - building trust, confidence, and stronger client relationships.

This year’s AGM season closed with mounting investor dissent. At ANZ, frustration over scandals, executive pay and climate issues drove heavy votes against remuneration and multiple shareholder resolutions. Similar protests played out across banks, miners and tech firms, with investors challenging boards on governance, incentives and climate strategy, signalling declining tolerance for weak oversight and slow progress.

Boardroom upheavals and investor revolts dominated AGMs this fortnight. At Australia’s Wisetech, mass board resignations over founder Richard White’s role and misconduct allegations sparked a 20% share drop and a 49% vote against pay. Reece and Ramsay Health also faced strong pushback on remuneration. Globally, Oracle drew ire for lavish incentives, while News Corp’s dual-share control and Novo Nordisk’s board coup tested governance norms. Even Campbell’s and Cracker Barrel s

While building internal tools can seem practical, purpose-built engagement platforms offer far greater long-term value. They come ready with advanced analytics, automated reporting, and seamless integrations - capabilities that internal builds rarely match. With continuous updates and scalability built in, purpose-built solutions free teams to focus on strategy instead of software maintenance.

Shareholders voiced growing discontent this fortnight, with protests over pay, governance, and climate action across major AGMs. From Fox’s family-controlled board to Nine Entertainment’s pay reform and SGH’s dynastic rewards, investors pushed back. Climate plans at Sasol and Origin split opinion, while Coles faced ESG pressure. Even beauty giants Coty and Estée Lauder saw dissent - proof that shareholder scrutiny is sharper than ever.

Tesla’s AGM was far from routine. From Musk’s staggering $1 trillion incentive plan to major pushback on pay and governance, the vote delivered some of the most striking results of the year. Our special edition breaks down what really happened once insider stakes are removed, why key proposals nearly tipped, and what it all means for investors. Read the full blog to get the complete picture.

Discover how Impactive helps investors turn stewardship into measurable impact - bringing the CFA Institute’s guidance on listed-equity impact investing to life through structured engagement, SMART objectives, and transparent reporting.

This edition of Most Significant Votes highlights key AGM outcomes across the Southern Hemisphere - from dramatic board oustings at James Hardie to major pay rebellions at CSL and Implats - offering insights into shareholder accountability and governance trends shaping global investment decisions.

The leaked SFDR 2.0 proposal points to an ESG shake-up: simplified templates, new product classes, and tougher standards for sustainability claims.

The Southern Hemisphere voting season has kicked off with a dramatic start, as major shareholder revolts highlight growing scrutiny on climate strategies and executive pay. From AGL Energy’s bruising 41% rejection of its climate plan to strong opposition votes at APA Group and South32, investors are demanding clearer roadmaps for decarbonisation and stronger links between pay and performance. Meanwhile, notable tensions over remuneration surfaced at FedEx, Babcock Internation

As stewardship programmes grow in scope and complexity, many asset owners are still relying on spreadsheets, email threads, and shared drives built for a simpler era. The result? Wasted time, missed follow-ups, and mounting reporting headaches. This article explores five signs your stewardship infrastructure is holding you back -and what modern, automated systems can enable instead.

Paul Lee’s Most Significant Votes blog has moved to Impactive Tech, continuing its influential analysis of shareholder voting and corporate governance. The series provides rare insight into how independent institutional investors actually vote at major AGMs worldwide.

The collapse of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance marks the end of voluntary climate pledges - and the start of a new era of data-driven accountability.

We’re excited to launch Impactive Intelligence, an AI platform that transforms fragmented ESG data into clear, actionable insight. It delivers a dynamic view of market-wide stewardship activity, empowering smarter, data-led engagement. Join our early access programme to help shape the future of sustainable finance.

In Net Zero Investor, our CEO Mais Callan argues it’s time to modernise stewardship. Despite growing investor engagement on ESG issues, the current system remains fragmented and inefficient. Drawing on insights from our AI-powered platform, she outlines a smarter, more scalable path forward.