QBE Insurance Australia and New Zealand chief risk officer Mark Baxter has been named one of Australia’s Outstanding 50 LGBTI leaders.
Now in its second year, the Outstanding 50 LGBTI Leaders 2018 was unveiled by Deloitte and Google Australia to further develop workplace inclusion and create role models for LGBTI workers.
Baxter has more than 30 years’ experience in financial services and has held a number of senior leadership roles in Australia and in the UK, Hong Kong and South Africa. He has provided leadership and support to the LGBTI community as one of the early mentors for the Pinnacle Foundation, which supports gay and lesbian students.
Baxter was also a director of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Business Association. He’s also an active member of QBE’s thriving Pride Committee since joining in 2017.
“To be acknowledged among such a high calibre of Australian leaders, is truly humbling,” Baxter said. “Initiatives like this are important to shine a light on the diverse roles people in the LGBTI community play.”
The CRO said he strived to support others who are facing some of the challenges he had to overcome as he progressed through his career.
“Inclusion in the workplace is something I’m passionate about – being your whole self is empowering and we know it creates a happier, healthier, productive and ultimately more successful culture,” he added.
QBE Australia and Zealand chief executive officer Vivek Bhatia, meanwhile, said: “I’d like to extend my congratulations to Mark on this achievement and his leadership, not only in his professional life, but in the community.
“QBE is committed to a culture of inclusiveness and Mark, in particular, has been a huge supporter in leading that change,” he said.
This is the second time a QBE leader has been recognised, with QBE interim group chief risk officer Liam Buckley named on the inaugural list in 2016.
The 2018 list features 24 women and 26 men and also includes two transgender business leaders and an intersex leader. The list is geographically diverse with representatives from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Darwin and Adelaide.
