Welcome to TAL News & Views
Industry -
Welcome to the March 2025 edition of our newsletter.
As we recognise International Women's Day this month, I am reminded of TAL’s commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women within our workplace. Despite this celebration, we are witnessing a concerning trend where some global companies are rolling back their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives due to political pressures on gender identity.
However, at TAL, we are dedicated to our DEI efforts. Gender equity is not just a priority; it's a fundamental aspect of our commitment to excellence. We firmly believe that pay and gender equity are the cornerstones of a high-performing organisation – and as leaders in this space, we’re dedicated to setting the standard and driving meaningful change. We’ve made significant progress towards achieving gender equality, exceeding our target of 40% women in senior leadership roles and maintaining a near-gender pay gap closure. For ten consecutive years, TAL has received a Commonwealth Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) Employer of Choice for Gender Equality.
In line with this commitment, we welcome Jenny Nguyen, our Growth and Digital Experience GM to the TAL Gender Committee, further strengthening our efforts to promote gender equality within our organisation.
Service Standards
It was great to bring a number of you together in Sydney and Melbourne last week for a Partner Roundtable to discuss the incoming new mandatory Service Standards for superannuation funds. We’re committed to helping you navigate the changes smoothly, while continuing to deliver high-quality service and support for your members.
AFSA Spotlight on Insurance
It was a pleasure to meet with many of our partners at ASFA’s Spotlight on Insurance event in Sydney yesterday. In one of the sessions, TAL’s Jenny Oliver and Belinda Nicholson, Head of Protect (Insurance and Claims) at Aware Super, discussed our shared journey to create an integrated digital-first experience for Aware Super members. This digital-first approach simplifies the process for members to manage their cover and claims online. It has already shown impressive results, with 98% of Aware Super insurance applications now submitted online and over 40% of claim lodgements received by TAL within 24 hours.
A global perspective on digital transformation
Digital transformation is reshaping industries worldwide by driving innovation, efficiency and new business models. Stephen Barnham, Chief Information & Digital Officer at TAL’s parent company, Dai-ichi Life, explains how companies that embrace emerging technologies are not only enhancing the customer experience, but also creating new opportunities for growth and global collaboration.
Meet our partners: Kate Leplaw
In this issue, we interview Kate Leplaw, Head of Member Experience at AustralianSuper. Kate talks of the need for confidence and humility among the next generation of leaders and discusses the importance of providing personalised service to members during critical moments in their lives.
Embracing innovation and member engagement
TAL is leading the way with innovative solutions that go beyond just providing life insurance. Jen-Kui Maxwell, TAL’s Head of Marketing and Innovation, discusses how TAL is helping our partners tackle business challenges, enhance member engagement and leverage technology to deliver tailored, impactful solutions for their members.