The company was named the winner of the Women’s Employer of the Year award at the New Zealand Insurance Industry awards.

It was the first time the category, which recognises businesses working to improve gender diversity, had been included.

The judges recognised Asteron Life’s focus on gender diversity and tackling gender bias, including its focus on flexible work arrangements. Asteron Life’s achievements in relation to equal remuneration and supporting women to move into senior leadership were also commended.

Tereora said: “In the past, the insurance industry was mostly male-dominated. But we’re seeing positive signs that the gender balance is becoming more level. Even so, there’s still the opportunity for more women to move up and take on some of the leadership roles.”

“Equality in the workplace is something all employers should be striving towards,” she said. “Policies are needed to safeguard gender diversity”. 

The gender split of Asteron Life’s senior leadership team is 50:50.

Tereora is the first female chief executive for a company in the Suncorp Group.

She said she had benefited from the strategies the business had in place to increase the number of women in senior leadership roles and to drive greater gender equality. “We’re very focused on embedding gender diversity into the DNA of our culture. To benefit from female talent, our policies reflect our commitment to attract, enable, advance and retain female talent. We’re making a real effort to ensure everyone is given equal opportunities in the workplace.”

She said its focus on female talent retention and promotion was not at the expense of its male employees: “While we look through a female-oriented lens to make sure policies such as remuneration and recruitment are equitable, we’re committed to gender equality. Men are also afforded flexible employment conditions and career opportunities.”