Head of social impact
Charis Martin-Ross began working in insurance four years ago after a career as an organisational psychologist – a background that has helped her in her current role in a large, complex organisation. As Allianz Australia’s head of social impact, Martin-Ross drives the company’s social impact strategy, including the execution of its global commitment to the transition to a low-carbon economy. “This also includes understanding and responding to broader issues that our Australian stakeholders care about, such as mental health and social inclusion,” she says.
When the pandemic ruled out face-to-face meetings, Martin-Ross found herself navigating a new landscape to engage the community. “No face-to-face contact has prevented traditional approaches to fundraising for our charities and volunteering in the community,” she says. “It’s hard to predict how the pandemic might change our community investment strategy permanently, but we’re working with our partners to identify virtual solutions.”
One silver lining of the current situation is that it has cemented Martin-Ross’ longstanding commitment to meditation, which she says aids her resilience. “Since the pandemic began, I’ve made a conscious decision to role model calm,” she says, “and I don’t think I would have been able to do this without the benefi ts of daily meditation on resilience and emotional regulation.”
