GALLAGHER Bassett Australia (GB) has appointed Tanya Ward as chief financial officer (CFO).

A company spokesperson said Ms Ward’s new role would help to strengthen the organisation’s executive leadership team as it continues to focus on innovation, smarter ways of working and strong business outcomes.

Ms Ward brings more than 20 years of finance leadership to her new role, having previously held executive roles in the infrastructure, financial services and technology sectors, building deep expertise in financial stewardship, governance and strategic transformation. She is a Chartered Accountant and CPA. 

Prior to joining Gallagher Bassett, Ms Ward led end-to-end finance operations as general manager–finance at Queensland Airports Limited. She has also previously held senior finance leadership roles at Westpac and Pepper Financial Group.

Although new to the claims management sector, Ms Ward said she saw an opportunity to help bring a fresh perspective to the industry.

“Claims is a new space for me,” Ms Ward said. “It’s a complex sector, centred around teams that support customers in their time of need — meaningful work that happens at scale. My role as CFO is at the intersection where financial stewardship, operational rhythm and people outcomes meet.”

“Often, the best opportunities come from looking at established processes with fresh eyes and asking, ‘Is there a better way?’ I’m naturally drawn to where technology can remove friction, reduce manual effort, and free people up to focus on clients and outcomes.”

As CFO, Tanya Ward plans to focus on building strong relationships across the Australian operations and client base, while developing a deep understanding of the organisation’s strategic opportunities and commercial landscape.

Along with her business acumen, Ms Ward also brings a passion for diversity and mentorship with her to Gallagher Bassett, and hopes to continue supporting the development of women in leadership roles.

“I’ve seen how mentoring can shift confidence, build capability and open pathways,”Ms Ward said. “Diversity in leadership supports diversity of thought, which ultimately leads to stronger teams and better decision making.”

www.gallagherbassett.com.au

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Bruce Billson has welcomed the announcement of Lynda McAlary-Smith as his successor.

Ms McAlary-Smith is the current Victorian Small Business Commissioner and will commence in her new role on March 11, 2026 at the expiration of Mr Billson’s five-year term. 

“Lynda is an excellent choice as the next Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, given her established network of stakeholders, regulators and policy makers and experience in dispute resolution and advocacy in support of small business in Victoria,” Mr Billson said.

“I’m looking forward to supporting the transition and ensuring Australia’s small and family business community continue to have a strong and fearless ally in their corner, an authoritative and persuasive voice and an advocate of constructive policy measures and initiatives that will help to ‘energise enterprise’.

“After a record year of assistance requests, ground-breaking analytical and research insights and real and meaningful progress on many advocacy priorities including ‘right-sizing’ regulation, improved small business access to justice and then need for more targeted tax reform, ASBFEO has positive momentum that with Lynda at the helm, will no doubt carry forward and be added to.

Federal Small Business Minister, Anne Aly said the role of the ASBFEO had grown in importance over recent years and she congratulated outgoing ombudsman, Bruce Billson, on his skill in helping small business leaders to navigate challenges continually being thrown at the sector. 

“With more than 800,000 new small businesses since May 2022, it’s obvious that Australia is a great place to start and grow a small business,” Dr Aly said.

“The Ombudsman plays an important role in helping us to ensure small businesses have the conditions they need to not only get off the ground but to thrive.

“Ms McAlary‑Smith will be a strong advocate for the more than 2.6 million small businesses and family enterprises right across Australia.

“I also thank outgoing Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, for his significant contributions to the small and family business community and for his strong advocacy on their behalf.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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REGIONAL Development Australia (RDA) Brisbane has announced Nicole Duguid as its new chief executive.

Ms Duguid was most recently policy director at the Queensland Resources Council and has worked for the Queensland Government in infrastructure and regional economic development, for Whitsunday Regional Council, and was CEO of RDA Mackay Isaac Whitsunday. 

“Nicole stood out in a high-quality field of candidates due to her diversity of experience and connections across both government and commercial roles and her deep background in, and commitment to, community and economic development and the RDA network,” RDA Brisbane chair Kieren Dell said.

“Nicole has the skills and experience to not only expertly run RDA Brisbane, but to bring together diverse voices across the State to promote regional development,” Ms Dell said.

Ms Duguid said, “I'm thrilled to join the RDA Brisbane team and am eager to collaborate and deliver on regional economic development initiatives that have a lasting impact for our regions.

“The opportunity to work across industry and all levels of government to advance sustainable economic growth across Queensland is truly exciting. I look forward to leveraging my experience and connections to drive significant progress and make a positive impact for our communities.”

www.rdabrisbane.org.au

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ENVIRONMENTALIST, scientist, writer and researcher, Tim Flannery has joined RMIT University in the College of Design and Social Context.

In this capacity, Professor Flannery will play a key role in shaping the future of the RMIT South Pacific Initiative, and run an intensive course on ‘Leadership, Climate Change and the Pacific’. This work will focus on supporting and building resilient communities across the South Pacific, including the development of energy sovereignty, renewables, social cohesion, climate change impact governance, sustainable water, and climate resilient practices and infrastructures.

Prof. Flannery said he was thrilled to work with RMIT’s College of Design and Social Context at a time when RMIT was focusing on ‘regenerative futures’ and also seeking to bring new focus to its work across the South Pacific region.

“I applaud the forward-thinking agenda that RMIT’s College of Design and Social Context is bringing to advance societies across the South Pacific,” Prof. Flannery said. 

“Climate security – indeed all aspects of regional security – comes hand in hand with building capability and reciprocity across the region. RMIT as a dual sector, public-good university is an important contributor to this endeavour.”

Prof. Flannery’s work on human impact on the natural world has reached international audiences. He is well known for his documentaries including Climate Changers (2023), Wild Australasia (2003), The Future Eaters (1998), Bushfire (1997), Islands in the Sky (1992) and his more than 27 books including The Climate Cure (2020), The Eternal Frontier (2001), The Weather Makers (2005) and The Future Eaters (1994).

He has held various positions including as director of the South Australian Museum, as principal research scientist at the Australian Museum, and in academia including as visiting chair in Australian studies at Harvard University.

Prof. Flannery was named Australian of the Year in 2007 and has been chief councillor of the Climate Council since 2013. In 2021, Prof. Flannery was awarded the prestigious Geddes Environment Medal by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society for his work on climate change.

Tim Marshall, deputy vice-chancellor for the Design and Social Context College said Prof. Flannery would bring invaluable expertise and perspective to the university’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and regenerative futures.

“There’s no doubt that Tim is one of Australia’s leading voices on climate action and the unique ecosystems in the South Pacific,” Prof. Marshall said. “It is our great fortune to have Tim join the College of Design and Social Context to work alongside our academic and student community in pursuit of a more just, equitable and regenerative future.

“His extensive knowledge and experience will be instrumental in the creation of our new South Pacific Initiative and RMIT’s collaboration with partners in the region.”

The RMIT South Pacific Initiative activities will span teaching and learning, research, and public engagement, including advocacy and thought leadership. The initiative is expected to deliver intensive-mode courses and mentoring of early and mid-career academics, as well as undertaking partnered research projects, and engaging with our growing numbers of government, community, business and third sector partners on advocacy and advancement.

The initiative has an initial focus on Melanesia, Tonga, Fiji and Papua and will co-design and facilitate capabilities, interventions and strategies across the region.  

RMIT established a memorandum of understanding with the University of French Polynesia in March 2024 for the French Government-funded Nārua project. This partnership has facilitated study tours, research fellow exchanges and collaborative teaching and research initiatives, with additional cooperative opportunities under development.

RMIT’s vision is to be a leading university of impact in the Asia Pacific region, using technology, design and enterprise to achieve an inclusive and sustainable future.

Prof. Flannery will appear in conversation with ABC Radio National’s Hilary Harper at the Capitol on August 29 as part of the Now or Never event. They will explore how to hold onto hope in the face of climate catastrophe – and the transformations humanity must make to move toward a regenerative future.

Presented with the Now or Never festival, the Planetary Civics Inquiry and RMIT University, more information can be found at this link: I Have Seen the Future with Tim Flannery.

www.rmit.edu.au

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