As National Reconciliation Week begins, IAG has introduced its first Indigenous Brand Design, created to symbolise IAG’s support of Indigenous peoples, businesses and communities.
The design, “Connections: Land, Sea and Peoples”, was created by Marcus Lee, Founder and Director of Marcus Lee Designs and a descendant of the Karajarri Peoples. Created in consultation with the IAG Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Employee Network Group, the design is a representation of IAG’s Indigenous Engagement Strategy and its people.
The stylised purple shapes represent Australia and Torres Strait Islands. Three circular meeting places with dotted rings symbolise three pillars from the IAG Indigenous Engagement Strategy: People, Business and Community. Graphic lines radiating outward from the meeting places refer to IAG’s focus in growing resilience, building cultural connection and addressing systemic inequalities.
IAG Chief Financial Officer and Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Steering Committee Chair Michelle McPherson said: “Creating a safe and inclusive environment and deepening cultural understanding within our organisation is an essential and vital role IAG takes seriously as part of our Reconciliation Action Plan.
The creation of an Indigenous Brand Design is something our Indigenous peoples can feel connected to and it’s a symbol of recognition that enables all our employees to stand together to embrace reconciliation.Michelle McPherson
IAG CFO and RAP Steering Committee Chair
In 2013, IAG was the first major insurer to introduce a RAP and in June 2022 introduced its latest Stretch RAP.
In this RAP IAG continues its longstanding support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart, with the belief that real change in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander outcomes will strengthen our nation and it can only be achieved if it is driven and led by First Nations peoples.
Other initiatives that IAG is undertaking as part of its RAP include:
- Procurement: IAG increased its spend with Indigenous businesses from Supply Nation from $329,000 in FY22 to $1.2 million in FY23.
- Just Reinvest: One of IAG’s focus areas is the reduction of Indigenous incarceration and re-offending rates. In partnership with the Just Reinvest program, IAG provides ongoing support to its community-led projects including the Learner Driver Program and more recently support for its Bail Reform Project.
- Jawun partnership: Jawun has been a RAP partner of IAG for nine years and over that time 50 IAG employees have participated in a secondment, enabling them to share their skills with Aboriginal Community Organisations and learn from these communities to create change.
- Aboriginal Carbon Foundation: In a three-year partnership, IAG has joined forces with the Aboriginal Carbon Foundation to support the creation of new First Nations-led carbon farming projects across Australia.
- CareerTrackers: IAG has partnered with CareerTrackers since December 2013. Over this time IAG has supported 96 interns with an opportunity and is excited for the next phase of its partnership in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
