Market: AU
Company: QBE Insurance
Job title: Head of Diversity & Inclusion
For Catherine McNair, creating an inclusive workplace is a way of life. With more than 10 years’ experience in effective and people-centred inclusion strategies, and more than 20 years in broader HR, she’s passionate about getting it right.
QBE itself is committed to a workplace culture in which all employees are respected for who they are and can bring their whole selves to work every day. So it was a significant milestone for the organisation – and a testament to McNair’s skill as an HR professional – to be named as one of Australia’s top LGBTI inclusion employers, receiving gold employer status in the 2019 Australian Workplace Equality Index. The ranking sees the general insurer advance from bronze status last year to become the highest-rated insurer on Australia’s benchmarking instrument for LGBTI workplace inclusion.
“Our organisation-wide commitment to diversity and LGBTIQ+ inclusion sees us focus on visible leadership, visible role models, and delivering differentiated ways in which we can continue to engage and educate our people on LGBTI inclusion,” McNair said. “This achievement recognises the progress we have made through that focus. ... It would not have been possible without [the Pride Committee’s] dedication and sustained commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive culture at QBE.”