Founded in 1872 as a single pharmacy, Soul Patts listed on the ASX in 1903 (ASX: SOL), making it the second-oldest continuously listed company in Australia. Soul Patts is a diversified investment house anchored by a clear purpose, generating enduring success for shareholders. The company has evolved considerably since its pharmaceutical days, with deliberate diversification into building materials, resources, media and telecommunications during the 1970s and 80s. Today, Soul Patts retains many of its heritage investments among an actively managed group portfolio with 200+ holdings across publicly listed companies (including large-cap and small-cap equities) and private companies (including wholly-owned subsidiaries, private credit investments, and property investments).

Soul Patts operates with a close-knit team of ~56 people, anchored in the values of integrity, initiative and accountability. The working environment is intentionally small, collaborative, and high in both challenge/high support, where robust debate, peer review, and shared accountability lead to better decisions and long-term value creation. In the most recent engagement survey, the company achieved a 90% participation rate, outperforming the financial services benchmark by 11%, and 95% of employees stated that they are proud to work for Soul Patts. Staff turnover is <1% annually, an exceptional indicator of loyalty, satisfaction and cultural strength.

Soul Patts’ Employee Value Proposition (EVP) integrates flexibility, wellbeing and ownership. Employees have access to equity participation, Bonus Leave, paid volunteer leave, salary sacrifice/novated leasing, and superannuation on unpaid parental leave. Wellbeing is embedded, not peripheral: an EAP for staff and families, mental-health partnerships (Black Dog Institute, The George Institute), R U OK? Day and Mental Health Month participation, and practical supports such as flu vaccinations and wellbeing workshops. A modern WHS framework aligned with psychosocial safety codes is governed at the Board level, with refreshed policy settings (e.g., Appropriate Workplace Behaviour, Whistleblower, Risk Appetite/Strategy) that meet regulatory obligations and promote a safe and respectful workplace.

The Culture Amp Performance & Goals framework aligns individual objectives with organisational strategy through self-reflection, mid-year check-ins and year-end reviews, deliberately designed to be rigorous yet practical during peak periods. Regular calibration ensures fairness and consistency, and leadership coaching lifts the quality of forward-looking feedback. Recognition is both formal and informal: STI/LTI mechanisms and equity participation link reward to value creation, while everyday visibility, town halls and team forums ensure contributions are seen and celebrated. Pay governance (via the PC&R Committee) emphasises transparency, market competitiveness and equity, including regular gender pay and pay-equity reviews.

Soul Patts supports employee development, from leadership masterclasses (Growth Faculty) and external programs to industry memberships and a structured performance and feedback cadence. Soul Patts invests in sponsored qualifications aligned with its strategy, supporting employees in completing law degrees, postgraduate governance, and postgraduate psychological science, thereby embedding specialist knowledge that strengthens risk management, decision-making, and organisational resilience. Through Women in Banking & Finance (WiBF), employees engage as mentors and mentees, building inclusive leadership skills and cross-industry networks. The company also sponsors university student associations and operates a paid, gender-balanced internship program, cultivating future talent and reinforcing its employer brand. These pathways ensure development isn’t episodic training; it’s a continuous, purposeful arc from early talent through to senior leadership.

At Soul Patts, Culture Amp insights are shared transparently, with action plans owned by leaders and reviewed at the Board level. The result is a workplace where employees feel heard, supported and included – and the metrics reflect it: 95% pride, +11% above benchmark engagement, <1% turnover. Policies are reviewed regularly to stay contemporary and inclusive, and the wellbeing agenda is reinforced through community connection – particularly the company’s 84-year partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), through which $735,000 was recently raised and donated to improve healthcare access for rural and regional Australians. Philanthropy is channelled through the Soul Patts Foundation, with refreshed pillars – supporting mental health, strengthening communities, and breaking down barriers for women – shaped with employee input, thereby strengthening the alignment between purpose and practice.

For more than a century, Soul Patts has been a disciplined, intergenerational investor with a people-first culture. By embedding culture, capability, and care into its investment and operational practices, the company creates value for employees, shareholders, and communities.

For more information about Soul Patts, visit soulpatts.com.au.