We're proud and delighted that three of our female senior managers have been recognised in 2023 as Elite Women in Insurance by Business Insurance Australia: Chief Executive Australia and Asia, Sarah Lyons; Corporate Manager Jodi Sharman and Principal Broker, Disability, Gail Murray. In 2023 an important aspect of the nominations was not only that the candidates show their leadership and passion for the insurance industry, but that their commitment to diversity and inclusion and their involvement in local volunteer and charity work was also prominently highlighted.
How Sarah Lyons fosters opportunity and leads by example
Chief Executive since July 2017 and previously honoured as an Elite Woman in Insurance in 2019 and 2021, and included in the IBW Hot List 2022, Sarah Lyons is the first woman to lead a tier-one, international insurance brokerage in Australia, and the decades of insurance industry experience and strategic acumen she brings to her role are reflected in the year on year growth Gallagher has achieved under her leadership.
At the same time women now represent more than 50% of the Gallagher workforce in Australia, including occupying key senior roles. Sarah's commitment to inclusion and diversity in equality of opportunity is one of her guiding principles: "What we do is we create a level playing field for all colleagues to progress, irrespective of gender or background," she says.
While on a corporate level Sarah chooses charitable company partnerships with not for profits such as The Smith Family, JDRF for research into Type 1 diabetes, and Special Olympics Australia, on a personal level she walks the talk by taking the annual CEO Dare to Cure executive challenge to raise funds in support of The Children's Cancer Institute.
Earlier this year Sarah took on a skydive in support of the Black Dog Institute and, having previously immersed herself in a snake bath and walked on hot coals and broken glass, in October this year she will be taking on the Red Bull Aerobatic Flight challenge, travelling at 370+ kilometres an hour, with aerial loops, barrel rolls, upside down flying and tumbles to raise funds once again for The Children's Cancer Institute.
Successful business builder Jodi Sharman puts people first
Gallagher Corporate Manager Jodi Sharman has received previous industry recognition both as a finalist for the Top Insurance Broker and Top Thought Leader in the 2020 Advisr Insurance Broker Awards.
Jodi, who spoke with Insurance Business News last year, has two decades of experience in the industry, leading her own business in the highly competitive Melbourne market, has centred on providing the highest quality client service. With clients that range from local operations to large Australian commercial businesses, her team have looked after an impressive client base and are an industry success story when it comes to client retention.
Last year her business merged with Gallagher and as per her nature, Jodi's key concern was that her staff retained their job security. "They all had jobs, because that was definitely on the top of my list — I go, my book goes, my staff go," she explains.
Along with a track record of highly effective client claim advocacy she's also committed to fundraising for mental health, in response to personal tragedy. Recently she and her husband have been working with Guy Sebastian and the Sebastian Foundation and Corey McKernan and Walk With Me to raise funds for their mental health charities through the earnings from their fifties themed mobile food truck.
Canberra based Gail Murray blends compassion with industry experience
Prior to being recognised as one of the industry's Elite Women, Principal Broker, Disability Services, Gail Murray has been honoured as the 2019 ACT Insurance Industry Risk Mitigator of the Year and was also a finalist for the Insurance Business Australian Broker of Year in 2019, as well as in the Advisr Insurance Broker Awards 2020.
She is Gallagher's leading insurance expert in the disability and special needs space, with her clients benefiting from her tested and trusted guidance and advice.
"Gail couples passion with great industry and product expertise that ensures her clients understand their risks, have appropriate cover and get value for money," says Gallagher Head of Metro Branches Mark Saunderson.
Gail is closely involved with multiple disability and special needs organisations, currently fundraising for the ACT Down Syndrome Association and also volunteering with Special Olympics ACT.
Gallagher celebrates the inclusion of all three worthy entrants onto this year's Elite Women in Insurance list. Their leadership, community outreach and professional standards are leading the way and provide confidence in the future for both their clients and colleagues.
