Q: What is your most memorable achievement whilst working in your current role?
It is hard not to focus on the communication challenges posed by the pandemic. I think most people involved in communication will say it was a testing time with no rule book. It was a difficult, demanding and often an exhausting period, but without hesitation the value to our colleagues of maintaining that continuous flow of communication throughout made it all worthwhile.
That said, I am also particularly proud to have been one of the founding members of the Women in CILA group and to see how the diversity, equity and inclusion conversation has moved forward over recent years. It has been inspiring to see so many changes over the past few years at Crawford with recent highlights being the launch of a smarter working policy, an inclusive bank holiday program, menopause support framework, enhanced maternity/ paternity leave, and adoption leave policy. We have also launched projects to boost social mobility, and introduced changes to our recruitment processes and career progression strategies to open more doors for people regardless of ethnicity, gender, social background or skills base.
Q: What has been the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given?
“If you don’t believe in yourself, no-one else will.”
Q: What has been the key positive or negative impact of change in your area of the market?
The most positive thing for me in the sector has been the huge growth in the number of opportunities now available to women in insurance. It gives me great pleasure to know that at Crawford we have two women presidents in Asia and the UK.
There is still more to do if we are to create a more diverse and inclusive environment in which a much broader spectrum of employees has access to the same level of career potential that our exciting and dynamic sector offers.
I am passionate about doing whatever I can to make a difference.
Q: If you were not in your current position, what would you like to be doing?
I started writing a book about 10 years ago and I’m still trying to finish it. I’d like to think that I’d be a best-selling author of crime fiction with empowered and fierce women at their heart. I’m determined to get there one day!
Q: What three items would you put on display in a museum of your life and why?
My Southend United scarf, my Jane Austen book collection and an English Bull Terrier. My three main passions!
Q: What three guests would you invite to a dinner party?
So difficult to choose three people but first on my list would be my dear friend, Arthur Rackstraw. He hosted the best lunches and dinners in the insurance sector, and you never knew what he’d say next. I would dearly love one last lunch with Arthur as I miss him dreadfully. Apart from Arthur, it would have to be Emmeline Pankhurst and Alan Shearer.
