ABOUT
The Women in Insurance Summit Australia is returning as a face-to-face event to further Insurance Business Australia’s ongoing mission to recognise, celebrate and promote diversity across the insurance profession. This inspiring summit was designed to encourage a wider representation of women in senior executive roles, overcome bias, break down leadership barriers and share strategies for building a diverse and inclusive workforce.
This summit features powerful keynote sessions, workshops, networking activities, presentations and panel discussions led by influential leaders from the industry on the issues that matter most. Highlights include presentations on innovation and digital transformation, personal branding, hybrid management strategies, inclusive decision making and mental wellness at the executive level.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect in person with like-minded professionals and champions for change supporting diversity. Join us 23 August 2023 for a day dedicated to inspiring women and an industry of change.
2022 FEATURED SPEAKERS

Lelani Jayasinghe
Chief Financial Officer
Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance

Kimberley Jonsson
CEO
CHU Underwriting Agencies

Claire Keating
Head of Human Resources Asia Pacific
Berkley Insurance Company

Fiona Hayes-St Clair
Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer
QBE

Prue Willsford
CEO
ANZIIF
2022 AGENDA
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Opening remarks from the chairperson
Sylvia Quang
Partner, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers and President, NSW, YIPs
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Welcome Remarks from Event Partner
Nick Harris
Chief Executive Officer, Pacific
MarshSponsored by
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OPENING KEYNOTE: Women leading the way – Inclusive decision-making
Join Kimberley as she discusses how the willingness to be inclusive in your decision-making practices can transform you into a more effective leader. She will share her wins, challenges, and transformative decisions that helped her become the CEO, alongside a predominantly female leadership team. In this session, you will learn how to develop the framework to increase women in leadership – and how to empower others to do the same.
Kimberley Jonsson
CEO
CHU Underwriting Agencies -
Speed networking
Expand your network, make connections, and meet fellow delegates in a structured networking session.
Sylvia Quang
Partner, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers and President, NSW, YIPs
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Morning tea and refreshment break
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PANEL: Innovative diversity and inclusion strategies to drive organisational change
While organisations have experienced significant changes to the way we work over the past few years, there is still a lot that needs to be done to overcome prevailing inequalities. In this session, hear how forward-thinking organisations are addressing key diversity challenges and what you can do as an individual to advocate for change.
- How are organisations addressing the leadership and gender pay gap, and what can individuals do to reduce the gaps?
- Navigating office politics, workplace conflict and other unspoken cultural rules
- How to authentically celebrate diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging at work
- Examples of inclusive hiring practices to ensure equal and diverse representation
Moderator
Sylvia Quang
Partner, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers and President, NSW, YIPs
Panellists
Gillian Davidson
Partner
Sparke HelmorePierre De Villiers
General Manager, People and Learning Centre of Excellence
AllianzJo McCauley
CEO
Southern Cross Travel InsuranceSam White
Founder and CEO
Stella Insurance -
Marsh’s D&I Journey – The Never Ending Story
Marsh share insights and stories from our journey to become a more inclusive and diverse workplace, including what we’ve learnt, why we do what we do, what we’ve implemented and what lies ahead in our future.
Kelly Butler
Chief Client Officer, Pacific
Marsh -
Networking lunch
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PANEL: Standing out from the crowd with your personal brand
Every insurance leader needs a strong personal brand that evolves as you advance in your career. It’s a matter of continually crafting and curating the skills and experience to bring out the best version of yourself. In this session, a panel of industry leaders will share advice on how to best articulate your personal brand and how it can be the key differentiator in your career.
- How to make a strong, lasting impression – from the office, in the boardroom, or on a Zoom call
- Improving your digital footprint: leveraging popular social platforms like LinkedIn to market and build your brand
- Tips for engaging internal sponsors to be your advocates
- Using your everyday creativity to help you emerge as an authentic leader
Moderator
Drew Schnehage
Managing Director – Australia
Innovation GroupPanellists
Lelani Jayasinghe
Chief Financial Officer
Aioi Nissay Dowa InsuranceKylie Macfarlane
Chief Operating Officer
Insurance Council of AustraliaTetiana George
CEO and Co-Founder
CuriumFiona Bounias
General Manager Member Engagement & Innovation
TAL -
Embracing risk-taking career decisions
Staying in your comfort zone can be the biggest obstacle to achieving success in your career path. How can you embrace change, challenge yourself and take that next step in your career? Hear how Demetra has taken on new challenges and opportunities to advance her career and skill development.
Demetra Day
Head of Distribution ANZ
Chubb -
Afternoon tea and refreshment break
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Dealing with mental wellbeing at an executive-level
Managers and executives are at the forefront of a rapidly changing workplace, experiencing high stress levels that are often ignored. Creating a culture of prioritising mental health can begin with empathetic and supportive leaders. Hear how [speaker] has learned to lead by example with self-care and prioritising mental wellbeing.
Dr. Sally Phillips
Head of Health Services, Life & Investments
Zurich Financial Services Australia -
PANEL: Managing a high-performance team
Building and sustaining an engaged and motivated team can be challenging in today’s uncertain climate and changing work environments. How can leaders develop a strong organisational culture to ensure their teams remain connected and productive? In this session, industry leaders will discuss how to create a collaborative and respectful culture, from building the business, to how it’s maintained through connectivity and mentoring.
- The future of work: Is remote working the new norm?
- What does culture, recognition, development and performance look like in a hybrid workforce?
- How does a flexible work policy affect team retention and recruitment?
Moderator
Danni Robson
Head of Product
ArniePanellists
Kathleen Warden
Head of Customer & Broker Engagement
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty InsurancePrue Willsford
CEO
ANZIIFNoeline Anandaras
Executive Manager – Digital Integration Services
IAGClaire Keating
Head of Human Resources Asia Pacific
Berkley Insurance Company -
Networking drinks
Sponsored by
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Event concludes
SPONSORS
Event Partner
Gold Sponsors
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Barista Coffee Sponsor
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Networking Drinks Sponsor
ASSOCIATE SPONSOR
Official Publication
Organised by
VENUE
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney
- 1 Martin Pl, Sydney NSW 2000
- +61 2 8223 1111
- [email protected]
- Visit website
What you’ll gain
Expand your professional network with an exciting face-to-face speed networking activity
Hear from an all-new speaker line-up featuring inspiring peers and leading organisations
Discuss important issues like the gender pay gap, leadership opportunities, mental wellness and workplace culture
Thanks for taking part with Women in Insurance Australia 2022
Missed this year’s event? Register your interest to participate in the next iteration of Women in Insurance 2023