Every International Women’s Day, GB recognises and celebrates the accomplishments of the inspiring women we work with. This year we asked our GB fam to nominate an inspiring woman that they work with, and we were overwhelmed with many worthy nominations. After a tough process, nine women were selected to be profiled for 2021, based on their amazing leadership and accomplishments over the past 12 months.

All of the women featured in these interviews will represent GB at the Women in Insurance Leadership Summit.

Meet Harriet Berkeley, a collaborative, motivational, and driven member of the Gallagher Bassett family.

As GB’s Australian Marketing Director, Harriet is responsible with connecting GB with its audiences in Australia, driving meaningful engagement across the communities in which GB operates.

Harriet is a Marketing Director at GB, and inspiring female leader that demonstrates to those around her how impactful it is to be a strong communicator.

Harriet’s ability and determination to get things done is second to none. A colleague nominated Harriet, after recognising her talent, abilities and personal attributes as an influential figure in GB’s future. In her first year at GB, she played a key part in the development and success of the MyPulse brand, a key deliverable for a major contract with the Tasmanian government.

We sat down with Harriet to talk about her career, her motivation, and why she believes International Women’s Day is important.

Do you have a career highlight to date?
One of my life/ career path highlights to date was making the move to London at 25. The decision to move to London was not only to help further my career but also to push myself out of my comfort zone - moving away from Brisbane and what I had known for 25 years. The four years I spent in London gave me confidence, helped me understand a different way of life and allowed me to achieve things I wouldn’t have imagined, both personally and in my career. It pushed me to really take the time to find out what I wanted to achieve in my career and what I needed to do in order to get there.

Since moving back to Brisbane, I have tried to ensure that the things I learnt in London are being utilised in my day-to-day life and career. Introducing GB marketing to the world of agencies has been a highlight for me. Working and learning alongside agencies enhances what we already have in place and enriches it with new ways of thinking that leads to better aligned strategies. Working on the MyPulse Program was also a big GB career highlight.

What motivates or drives your passion for the insurance/risk management industry?
Like everybody, I have faced some challenges over the last year, however through those challenges it has allowed me to push myself and believe in my skills and abilities in order to get the job done.

Working on projects that are going to help those in need is what motivates and drives me the most, in particular the My Pulse Program. Knowing that we were creating a program that was going to help people in need, gave me a huge sense of job satisfaction.

Would you recommend the insurance/risk management industry for the next generation of women entering the workforce?
I would recommend this industry to anyone who is looking to be challenged daily, willing to work collaboratively within your immediate and wider team and to anyone who wants exposure to various areas of a business.

What do you like most about Gallagher Bassett in five words or less?
The GB culture and team collaboration

How is Gallagher Bassett helping you face your future with confidence?
Working for GB has been very fulfilling both professionally and personally. I consistently feel supported not only from my immediate team, but also from the wider business and my stakeholders globally. GB has helped me to face my future with confidence, taking ownership of my responsibilities and decisions and knowing how to back myself within the workplace. One of my favourite things about GB is knowing the support and backing I have from my immediate team. Whether I’m experiencing a challenging work situation or having a personal dilemma, they are always there to support and help me through it – it is extremely important to me to have great team culture and GB does really well to ensure this.

Who is your inspiration or role model?
Zoe Foster Blake is an inspiration to me. Not only is she extremely entertaining on her social channels, but she’s also the founder of Go-To skin care, published author, columnist, and a blogger. Zoe is a huge advocate for women in business, team spirit and the power of a positive mindset. I love her emphasis on fun and she states that fun is the most important part of everything she does. She is extremely relatable and isn’t afraid to put herself out there and take risks – a social trailblazer.

What does equality mean to you? And what is your commitment to helping forge women’s equality?
Equality to me means equal opportunity and recognition regardless of race, gender or orientation.

My commitment is to continue to support positive visibility for women and continue to support women who are needing help starting out in a marketing career.