Recently, Liam O'Neill was appointed to General Manager of Self and Specialised Insurance for Gallagher Bassett (GB). With 18 years in workers' compensation, including five years at GB, Liam has been instrumental in resetting relationships within WorkSafe Victoria and leading key initiatives such as launching the Mental Health Hub and optimising the claims model.

"I aim to build strong partnerships as a trusted expert and expand our services to cover the entire ecosystem of incident, injury, and claims management for current and future clients."

-Liam O’Neill

Learn more about Liam below and his vision for expanding GB's self-insurance operations and forging new partnerships:

As the new General Manager of Self and Specialised Insurance, what objectives do you have in mind for Self Insurance and the NT Government contract? 

My objectives are to empower staff to provide high quality service and return-to-work outcomes and drive innovation and collaboration with clients. I aim to build strong partnerships as a trusted expert and expand our services to cover the entire ecosystem of incident, injury and claims management to current and future clients. 

With your extensive experience in Workers' Compensation, how do you plan to enhance client support and satisfaction within our insurance operations? 

I believe that clients want a trusted partner for expert advice, risk reduction, and timely employee return-to-work support. They want proactive, collaborative, and well-managed claims.  

With that in mind, I plan to: 

    • Ensure the business unit has the right structure, roles, capability, and support for true client partnerships. 
    • Establish strong communication channels, seek client feedback, provide expert advice and address concerns promptly. 

Following the resetting of critical relationships within the WorkSafe Victoria business, how do you envision applying similar strategies to foster strong partnerships in your new role? 

In my experience, building relationships with all stakeholders is the key. True partnerships involve collaboration, understanding, acknowledging when you are both right and wrong, and the ability to disagree.  

Considering this, we aim to:  

    • Be a valuable part of their business. 
    • Assess current relationships and identify improvements. 
    • Communicate openly and transparently with stakeholders, listening to their needs. 
    • Develop partnerships based on trust, respect, and shared goals. 
    • Review and adjust partnerships for continued success. 
    • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional value. 

 

What personal interests or hobbies do you believe contribute to your leadership style or overall wellbeing? 

I prioritise wellbeing and health by ensuring proper sleep, exercise, meditation, and healthy eating. This helps me perform my best at work and at home. I like to encourage my leaders and teams to also prioritise their wellbeing so they can effectively support themselves and those who rely on them. 

A message from our Chief Operating Officer, Lionel Charmetant:

"Liam's dedication and expertise have driven significant advancements within our organisation. We are confident that he will continue to lead with the same passion and commitment in his new role, contributing to our ongoing success and growth."