QBE takes out AHRI Award for LGBTIQ inclusion

QBE Insurance has taken out the prestigious Michael Kirby LGBTIQ Inclusion Award at the Australian HR Institute (AHRI) Awards – the industry’s premium HR awards event.

One of 26 awards established to profile the best in HR practice across the country, the Michael Kirby LGBTIQ Inclusion Award aims to recognise excellence in LGBTIQ inclusion initiatives and programs in the workplace. QBE was recognised as a joint winner with Brown-Forman.

QBE was acknowledged for its ‘bring your whole self to work’ initiative, which recognises the power and importance that LGBTIQ visibility has in driving an inclusive workplace culture. This was illustrated through the launch of the QBE Pride Committee in 2015, with visible role models resulting in a 250 per cent increase in the network over the first 12-months.

Members of the QBE Pride Committee attended the AHRI Awards dinner to accept the award on behalf of the organisation.

QBE’s Chief HR Officer, Eleanor Debelle, said the award win means a lot to the QBE Pride Committee and the organisation as a whole, as it strives to consistently increase its culture of inclusivity.

“As an organisation, we appreciate the importance of a workplace culture where all employees can bring their whole selves to work, so we’re incredibly proud to have won the Michael Kirby LGBTIQ Inclusion Award. 

“Our efforts to increase visible LGBTIQ role models has had a significant impact, and I’d like to say a big thank you to all our employees who have had the courage to stand on the platform and share their personal stories for the benefit of all. For some of the team, it meant being out for the first time in the workplace, continuing to highlight the importance of visibility. This was further amplified through our sponsorship of the Diversity Council of Australia’s recent Out at Work report.

“I’d also like to extend a congratulations to Brown-Forman and the rest of the finalists who are all working together on a common goal to build a better, more inclusive workplace.”

Click here to find out more details on the AHRI Awards.

For further information please contact:

Sarah Bond
Senior External Communications Specialist - QBE Corporate Communications
Phone: +61 466 028 302
Email: sarah.bond@qbe.com