Rebecca Gundalech, 22 February, 2024
For more than 30 years Christine McLoughlin AM has been a prominent figure in leadership and governance within some of Australia's largest and most regulated industries. Christine has been a director of the Suncorp Group since 2015 and Chairman since September 2018. She has been instrumental in leading the company's strategic approach to climate change and driving an influential advocacy agenda focussed on building greater community resilience to extreme weather.
Beyond her role as Chairman of the Suncorp Group, Christine co-founded the Minerva Network. Transforming the landscape for elite female athletes, the Minerva Network creates a platform where business leaders, athletes and mentors unite to unlock opportunities on and off the field. Currently, a network of approximately 300 Australian businesswomen is providing pro bono mentorship to over 600 elite female athletes across 70 sports, including the Matildas, netballers, and swimmers.
Find out more Christine’s career and leadership insights below.
What attributes do you look for in a leader?
Collaboration, curiosity, and authenticity are essential traits in a leader. To define strategic ambition, recognise opportunities, and develop sustainable solutions, curiosity is key. In a world that now embraces hybrid work, where humans and machines increasingly interact, collaboration is critical in driving business performance. Good collaborators can deliver faster and more innovative outcomes and by definition they must be open minded to debate as they navigate the broad landscape of stakeholders.
What advice would you give to aspiring business leaders who are looking to make a significant impact in their industry?
It is undisputed that we are now experiencing the next generational shift driven by technology and exploiting the digitisation of data. All aspiring leaders have a role in navigating the digital revolution for their industry. So, to make a significant impact I suggest getting fully across the tectonic shifts in your sector and exploit both the opportunities and issues that come from that.
A priority for all of us is to build pathways and capability to deliver impactful outcomes that can be leveraged in a sustainable way. Again, curiosity and working in partnership with others will help get you there.
Global warming is a big issue for our nation (and the globe) and of course for insurance. How might we “future proof” Australia, considering the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events?
The impact of extreme weather is a global conversation. Extreme weather events are presenting a real challenge for people, communities, governments, and the insurance industry right across the country. According to CSIRO – natural disasters are expected to cost the Australian economy almost three times more in 2050 than in 2017.
Suncorp has been at the forefront in arguing for greater investment by governments at all levels in community resilience and disaster mitigation to better protect people and communities, particularly those in high-risk areas, from extreme weather before disaster strikes. Our four-point plan to address natural hazard resilience and insurance affordability includes improved public infrastructure; subsidies to improve private dwellings, an overhaul of planning laws and a national tax reform agenda to remove inefficient taxes and charges from insurance products.
These issues cannot be solved by the industry or governments alone. We must work constructively together. We’ve seen encouraging progress but there remains so much more to do, with action on climate change just as critical. In my view, it is this collaborative approach to developing solutions that will ultimately help to future proof Australia against extreme weather events.
Minerva Network is now one of the nation’s premier brands in women’s sport - what inspired the creation of the Minerva Network? Through the eyes of professional women athletes what does it deliver?
The Minerva Network is a focused not for profit women’s mentoring organisation supporting professional women athletes across Australia since 2016. We are unique in that we bring together Australia’s best women athletes and professional businesswomen all at the top of their game – an unbeatable combination that’s inspiring and enabling the next generation of leaders across our communities. The mentoring and development activities provided by the Minerva Network (on a pro bono basis) is driven by needs defined by the athletes for what they can aspire to “on and off “the field. Our nation’s leading businesswomen volunteer their time and experience to Australia’s professional women athletes across 75 sports contributing to the development of future leaders and role models.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals for the Minerva Network and is there a role that can be played in delivering value for the Brisbane Olympics in 2032?
Minerva athletes are important role models for the athletes who aspire to competing in the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics. Our current sporting stars who transition to a fulfilling career post sport will underpin confidence in participation knowing there are vibrant pathways after pursuing a sporting career. Australia needs that pipeline.
Organisations like Minerva have a role to play in driving higher economic value of women’s sports, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games this year in Paris and then beyond is a perfect platform for us to do that.
Is there a role for business leaders to play in advancing community empowerment through education?
I’m a strong believer in the transformative power of education and this is something I’ve witnessed firsthand throughout my career, including during my time as Chancellor of the University of Wollongong.
At Suncorp Group, we take an innovative approach to ensure our people have the skills required to meet both current and future workforce needs, including through a range of tailored learning pathways and upskilling and reskilling programs. Education now must be considered through the lens of continuous learning, again largely due to the digital revolution we are living through.
Book tickets to the upcoming Business Leaders' Forum with Christine McLoughlin on Tuesday 26 March here.
