Brighter Super, Queensland’s third-largest non-government financial institution*, has reached the two-year mark of its five-year plan to invest an additional $500 million in Queensland, with almost half already committed to infrastructure, agriculture, real estate and logistics, and high-growth local businesses.
This includes a $50 million partnership with QIC, backing Queensland-based start-up businesses such as Future Maintenance Technologies (FMT), Gilmour Space Technologies, SwarmFarm Robotics and ProcurePro – prioritising high-growth companies in advanced manufacturing, agtech, aerospace and technology.
“The strategy is designed to ensure more of Queenslanders’ retirement savings are invested back into the state, while also ensuring the fundamentals stack up for our members. It represents a long-term commitment to Queensland’s economic future,” Brighter Super chief executive officer Kate Farrar said at the Queensland Futures Institute Finance Summit.
Farrar said Queensland’s strong population growth, infrastructure pipeline and expanding innovation economy provide strong opportunities for investment, particularly in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Additional key investments under the Queensland Investment Strategy, supported by Brighter Super’s investment partners, include:
- $100 million Queensland real estate assets through global asset manager, Barings, focused on industrial and logistics assets across south-east Queensland and regional hubs.
- $75 million through the Queensland Regional Agriculture and Food Trust with Riparian, supporting regional producers, water assets and agricultural infrastructure.
“Brighter Super is ahead of schedule, with $225 million already committed under the strategy with investments to date focused across four key sectors: property and logistics, agriculture, infrastructure and high-growth businesses,” she said.
This milestone builds on the more than $1 billion already invested by Brighter Super in Queensland and reflects the fund’s continued long-term commitment to supporting the state where most of its members live and work.
As a core component of the state’s financial services sector, the fund has over 340,000 members, and over $37 billion in funds under management as at 31 December 2025.
“We have seen a decline in locally headquartered financial capability, raising an important question about who will continue backing Queensland into the future,” Farrar said.
“For Brighter Super, that is as much a responsibility as it is an opportunity, to maintain a credible, locally focused investment capability that understands Queensland and can invest in the state with confidence.
“With around 85 per cent of our funds under management coming from Queensland members, we’re ensuring that Queensland’s retirement savings are invested back into projects that help secure the state’s future.”
To learn more about how Brighter Super is backing Queensland’s future, visit the Brighter Super website.
*Based on assets under management of non-government financial institutions in Queensland.
