Gallagher Bassett People and Culture Leaders Recognised in Australian HR Awards

By: Emily Innes Tanith Jones

Gallagher Bassett's (GB) commitment to its industry-leading culture has been recognised in the 2026 Australian HR Awards — highlighting the impact of our focus on capability, care, and long-term career development.

Excellence Awardees were announced on Monday 29 June, with GB's Chief People Officer, Tanith Jones, named in the HR Director of the Year category; People and Culture Manager, Emily Innes, named in the HR Manager of the Year category; and the People and Culture team as a whole named in the HR Team of the Year (>1000 employees) category.

Building the sustainable workforce for the future

This recognition comes as Australia's insurance industry faces talent shortages, changing workforce expectations, and growing demand for specialist claims expertise. For GB, the recognition reflects the company's strategy of building the sustainable workforce for the future. This strategy addresses the industry's challenges through ongoing investment in talent acquisition, meaningful retention strategies, and continuous professional development.

"Building a sustainable workforce means more than just filling roles," People and Culture Manager, Emily Innes said. "For us, it means attracting people with the right ability, mindset and cultural fit, then helping them build their future."

Rather than relying on quantity, GB has invested significantly in raising internal capability. Its approach centres on hiring for values, potential, and transferable skills, then supporting employees through structured onboarding, technical development, leadership coaching, and clear career pathways.

Creating meaningful long-term careers

GB's workforce strategy is particularly important in claims management, where specialist skills are in high demand. By combining targeted recruitment with development programs, mentoring, and wellbeing support, GB is building an environment where employees can develop meaningful long-term careers, supported by clear pathways, technical expertise, and leaders who coach and empower their teams. For clients, this means greater continuity, deeper knowledge, and more consistent service from people who understand their business, their injured workers, and the outcomes they need to achieve.

"In claims, workforce sustainability is directly linked to client service," Chief People Officer, Tanith Jones said. "When our people have manageable workloads, [and] feel safe and supported by capable leaders, they are better placed to make sound decisions, maintain strong relationships, and deliver better outcomes."

This latest industry recognition follows the company's acknowledgement as an HRD Australia 5-Star Employer of Choice² earlier this year.

For Jones, retention hinges on giving people the opportunity, support, and confidence to grow and do meaningful work.

"Retention is driven by quality leadership, meaningful work and genuine development opportunities," she said. "In what can be a complex industry, our goal is to ensure our people feel supported, challenged, and equipped to succeed."

Building resilience through people leadership

As the insurance sector continues to compete for skilled talent, GB's recognition in the Australian HR Awards highlights the essential role people leadership plays in business resilience. By investing in capability, wellbeing, and career pathways, GB is helping build a more sustainable future for its workforce and a better experience for Australia's injured workers.