AIA NZ wins award for diversity and inclusion

AIA New Zealand has received the Innovation and Wellbeing Award at the Financial Services Council (FSC) Awards for the diversity and inclusion initiatives that were implemented in its business.

Nick Stanhope, chief executive officer at AIA NZ, said the firm’s robust diversity and inclusion strategy sits in line with its proposition to reflect the community it serves.

“This includes making sure we have diversity in leadership, an inclusive culture and that we value our people as individuals with unique needs. We have a clear strategy and we’ve worked really hard to achieve it,” Stanhope said.

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AIA offered reassurances that it is committed to a gender diverse and inclusive culture – with 61% of its workforce being female and six out of 10 executive leadership team members being women.

The members of its executive leadership team are also ambassadors for key areas including age, gender, LGBTI, ethnicity and culture, disability, and families.

“At a day to day level we make sure we put this into practice by making sure we operate flexible hours, a balanced representation of male and female at the shortlisting stage of interviews, gender neutral bathrooms on each of our floors, Unconscious Bias workshops and a Women’s Business network. These are just a few of the ways we are trying to make a difference,” Stanhope said.

Other insurance stars recognised at the FSC Awards included Partners Life’s marketing team, Mark Banicevich of Partners Life, and Susan Basile of Bank of New Zealand Insurances.

Partners Life’s marketing team was awarded for the “Get Life Right” campaign receiving the “Team of the Year” award for its great teamwork and improvement of consumer outcomes while Banicevich received the “Emerging Leader” award for his outstanding commitment, achievement, and passion for the country’s financial services industry.

Susan Basile, chief operating officer at Bank of New Zealand Insurances, won the FSC Chairman’s Award for significantly contributing to the advancement, promotion, and improvement of the country’s financial services industry.