"Phenomenal" Women in Insurance Summit in Sydney

The panellists encouraged delegates to be relatable, show their whole selves, be candid, purposeful, courageous and curious. The discussion could be described as a tour de force in ways of being in the workplace.

Drew Schnehage, managing director for Innovation Group in Australia, was an able and thoughtful chair. Schnehage, originally from South Africa, set the scene by explaining the scale of her challenge when she faced the prospect of rebuilding her personal brand from zero.

“You leave South Africa after 28 years with your network in insurance and you come to a country where nobody knows you,” she said. “That was a big shock for me: how do you build your personal brand?”

Tetiana George, CEO and co-founder of Curium – proudly eight months pregnant – talked about her early career in Switzerland. George said that by virtue of being Ukrainian and a woman it became clear that, without even knowing it, she had a personal brand that influenced people’s opinions of her, at that stage often negatively. Her challenge, she said, was being able to control this narrative.

“So it’s in your face, you don’t need to overthink, it was right there,” said George. “I thought, what do I need to do to take control and steer the narrative? How do I become known for things that I want to be known for and not for this, which is clearly not me.”

George said your personal brand can’t please everybody. By way of example, she described how she sought feedback on a talk from two colleagues, one from Switzerland, the other an Italian. The Swiss thought she spoke too loudly, the Italian said she was too loud.

Fiona Bounias, general manager of member engagement and innovation at TAL provided examples of how to control the narrative. Bounias explained how, at her company, she has become an advocate for certain causes – like combining a career with children – simply by showing up and having the courage to be who she is.

For example, Bounias has an 8:30am team meeting on Zoom which takes place while she is dropping her children at school. She attends the meeting during this morning scramble to show colleagues what’s possible. Bounias described this as the “halo effect” and an important micro-gesture that can send a strong signal to others.

Not to be overshadowed by her flamboyant co-panellists, Lelani Jayasinghe, chief financial officer at Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance, talked with passion about accounting. Jayasinghe discussed the importance of finding your passion and how her enthusiasm for her trade led to a board position with the charity, Financial Services Accountants Association.

“I’m passionate about accounting and insurance, which is not something you should say out loud!” said Jayasinghe, to laughter from the audience.

The global brokerage Marsh was the event partner at the Summit. Caitlin Carson (pictured below) led her firm’s involvement.

“It’s been a phenomenal day of businesses sharing their diversity and inclusion wins but also their challenges and being very down to earth in the everyday of trying to achieve equity in our workplaces and in our industry,” said Melbourne-based Carson who is VIC state practice leader for FINPRO and also co-chairs the Women and Allies of Marsh resource group.

“It’s a phenomenal turnout,” she said. “I think there are about 300 people here today and probably something I’d like to specifically call out is we’d all love more men to come because we need our male counterparts to also champion change with us.”

Other highlights from the Summit included presentations on innovation and digital transformation, hybrid management strategies, inclusive decision making and mental wellness at the executive level.

Sponsors included Arnie, Brooklyn Underwriting, EstImage, Flynn Builders, Innovation Group and Sparke Helmore Lawyers.

The Insurance Business Australia Women in Insurance Summit will return next year.