Gallagher Bassett Australia has appointed Tanya Ward (pictured) as chief financial officer, joining the company’s Australian executive team with responsibility for the finance function across its claims operations. Ward has more than 20 years of experience in finance leadership across infrastructure, financial services, and technology. She holds Chartered Accountant and CPA qualifications and has previously worked in roles focused on financial stewardship, governance, and strategic transformation. Immediately before joining Gallagher Bassett, Ward was general manager – finance at Queensland Airports Limited, where she led finance operations. Her earlier roles included senior finance positions at Westpac and Pepper Financial Group.
Ward is moving into the claims management sector for the first time. She said the role offers an opportunity to apply experience from other industries to a different part of the insurance and risk ecosystem. “Claims is a new space for me. 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,” Ward said.
Ward said she intends to review existing processes and consider how technology can be used within finance and related functions. “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,” she said. In the CFO role, Ward will work with Gallagher Bassett’s Australian business units and client teams, with a focus on the organisation’s financial performance, risk settings, and broader commercial environment. She also identified diversity and mentoring as ongoing areas of interest, particularly in leadership development. “I’ve seen how mentoring can shift confidence, build capability, and open pathways. Diversity in leadership supports diversity of thought, which ultimately leads to stronger teams and better decision making,” Ward said.
Specialist risk insurer PPS Mutual has appointed Hasib Qayumi as business development manager for New South Wales. The appointment, effective May 4, 2026, will see Qayumi report to Sabrina Sequeira-Walmsley, state manager for New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. In the role, Qayumi will work with PPS Mutual’s network of accredited advisers in NSW. His responsibilities include supporting financial advisers who serve professional clients and managing relationships across the adviser network in the state.
Sequeira-Walmsley said Qayumi is already known across the advice sector. “Hasib is well known throughout the advice community and has established a strong reputation with advisers; I have seen it firsthand in the field. Hasib cares about our industry, understands the landscape, and brings a positive, can-do attitude. I am very much looking forward to welcoming Hasib to the PPS Mutual family,” she said. Qayumi has more than 10 years of experience in financial services, with a focus on retail risk and life insurance. He joins PPS Mutual from AIA Australia, where he spent over eight years in business and client development roles across retail distribution and group corporate channels. His previous roles include positions at ANZ, Asteron Life, and CommInsure.
Commenting on the move, Qayumi said PPS Mutual’s member-owned structure was a significant factor in his decision. “I am genuinely excited to be commencing my role at PPS Mutual and represent the opportunity to be part of an organisation that puts its members at the centre of everything it does. The mutual structure resonates with me, knowing that the focus is on delivering long-term value to members aligns strongly with how I believe financial services should operate. I’m particularly looking forward to contributing to a business that supports professionals in protecting their income and financial wellbeing, while also building strong and trusted relationships with our network of advisers,” he said.
