Australia's biggest superannuation fund, AustralianSuper, has given new impetus to investments in infrastructure by creating a new head of infrastructure role.

The fund has appointed Jason Peasley to the role.

Peasley was previously director of Artisan Investment Managers, an independent boutique adviser for infrastructure investors and operators, which he helped found in 2009.

He also worked at Hastings Fund Management as head of transactions and at Deutsche Bank as director of infrastructure.

Peasley will start at AustralianSuper on 14 April and will report to the fund's chief investment officer, Mark Delaney.

"AustralianSuper currently has over $5 billion in infrastructure assets and we plan to grow investments in this area significantly over the next few years," Delaney said.

"AustralianSuper currently invests in assets, such as Pacific Hydro, which are projects on a scale of national importance. We are looking to increase our holdings in assets of this scale and significance in future."

Infrastructure has become an important asset class for future investment returns, as many funds have taken the view that equity markets will remain volatile and relatively flat in the years to come.

Earlier this year, Industry Funds Management, which provides funds management services to AustralianSuper, also added additional resources to its Melbourne-based infrastructure group, saying it was a growth area for the firm.
 
AustralianSuper is also in the process of recruiting a head of policy, a new role that emphasises the importance of engaging with the government.

"The superannuation industry in Australia is largely a product of government policy and to influence this for the benefit of our members we need to be actively engaged with the policy development process," AustralianSuper chief executive Ian Silk said.
 
"We believe the new head of policy will help spearhead this engagement."

The head of policy will lead AustralianSuper's work in analysing the implications of public policy proposals and seek to influence public policy in the interests of the fund's members.

The person in this role will also be responsible for research, analysis and consideration of the strategic implications of current and potential superannuation and other relevant public policy development, and develop the fund's position on policy issues.